The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1885-01-24

was eager to help the poor in his par
ish. Susy, having the children under
her control, was able to point out tc
him many avenues for his charity, and
thus added another link to the asso.
Citations that bound them together.
So, in the winter evenings, in the
spring walks, he let his heart go out to
Susy and gather her image into its
deepest recesses, while she, unconscious
of her own secret, felt that there was
no happiness so profound as Cyrus
brought by his mere presence. 1t was
a quiet, uneventful courting of six long
months, but it bound two hearts firmly
together for life. And Joe, looking
on, understood vaguely that Susy was
happy when Cyrus was near, that a
service performed for Cyrus pleased
Susy as we'll. And as events progress.
ed he understood that Cyrus would one
day take Susy to the parsonage as his
wife, and Susy would be happy there.
All this was firmly rooted in poor Joe's
clouded brain, and he knew that trou-
BILE to Cyrus would be sore grief also to
| Susy.
!. So, with an allegiance that was
touching, Joe transferred some of his
| devotion to the young clergyman, and
when he was at the farm would mutter
often:
"Susy likes him; Joe must be good
to him because Susy likes him. -
Summer sunshine was ripening the
grain and the berries were in ripest
cluster when Susy had an entire month
of leisure for the school holiday, and
Cyrus won from her promise to resign
her place and be his wife in September.
Her simple outfit became her daily
task, and the Collingwoods lent willing
hands to prepare for the wedding. Joe
was made entirely happy by the prom
ise of home at the parsonage, and the
long summer days seemed too short for
the happiness that filled them.
1t was nearly two miles from the
parsonage to the Collingwood farm, but
there were few evenings when Cyrus
failed to walk from his home to Susy's
for the sweet companionship he low
ed. And hisway ledhim through stretch
of lonely country, where the farms
were scattered far apart, for Mr.. Col
lingwood had bought farm at some
distance from the village.
By what instinct Joe knew that there
might be danger lurking in the road, I
cannot explain, but it became his habit,
solely of his own will, to follow Cyrus
Portman out of sight himself, till he
saw him safely within his house, and
then limp back again to his own barn
chamber. 1t may have been that the
talk of the farm hands about some of
the crimes perpetrated by tramps con-
veyed warning to his weakened mind.
But, whatever the motive, he was con-
slant in his unsuspected attendance.
Rev. Cyrus Portman, secure of his
place in the love of his congregation,
thinking his village home ever secure
from danger of robbery, or even the
fear of theft, was careless of the fact
that it was known he carried about him
large sums of money.
He drew his income quarterly from &
I Boston bank, and was apt to carry large
rolls of bank notes in his pocket-book
ready for his own expenses and chari
ties. He wore diamond studs and {
finger ring and heavy gold watch anc
chain.
All these facts becoming known to
Bob Carter, Joe's tormentor, led to the
act that proved the idiots deepest de
votion to Susy. One of the tramp
seeking employment at Brent Hill
proving congenial companion for Bol
Carter in his drinking frolics and idle
life, became his guest, and the two, un
der the influence of liquor, resolved tc
rob the parson.
"He's bound to have pocketful o.
money!" Bob said, "and we're hal
starved Well make it more equa
like -
So it befell that one August night
when there was no moon, Joe, faithfully
trudging upon his self-appointed tasl
of seeing Susy's lover safe in his owl
home, saw two men spring upon hin
as he passed high hedge.
Taken completely by surprise, Cyru
Portman turned on his assailants ant
fought for his possessions with the cour
age of truly brave man. But the.
were two to one, and had thrown hin
down when Bob Carter, lifting for
midable club of wood ordered him tt
give up his money and his watch
But instead of complying, he struggled
, more fiercely to free himself from tn
grasp of the other rufian.
"You will have it then," growlet
, Bob, lifting the club, and surely ther
, would have been an end to all Susy'
, dreams of happiness, had not Joe, witt
a cry, utterly indescribable, flung him
selfbetween the heavy, murderous weap
on, and Cyrus Portman.
Down came the wood with a crasl
, upon the idiots back and head, ant
, Cyrus Portman, with a sudden wrench
freed himself as the tramp lodged bacl
to avoid the blows.
At this moment the voices of part
vi fllldSC iLCli -AiiAhSAo WIZ AA~osA
. coming up the road, and the would-b
/ robbers and assassins turned and fled.
The calls of the clergyman hurrie'
[ the steps of the farmer lads comin
, home, and the well-known voices
the Collingwood boys were soon hear'
!, in eager exclamations.
, In hurried words the young clergy
man explained the situation.
"Poor Joe," he said, looking up, a
, he knelt to examine the PROSTATE body
/ 81 am afraid his devotion has cost hin
his life. 1 cannot feel his heart beat.
"We'll carry him home," Charlie
. Collingwood said. "Come, boys, it i
not half mile to the farm"
Willing, strong hands lifted the still
! insensible figure, and tenderly poor 10
+ was carried to the farm again. Susy
sitting still upon the wide porch, think
ing of her lover, saw the procession
I enter the gate, and ran quickly dowl
, the path.