Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1885-01-24

himself Tor college under Rev. Stephen
Coyle's instructions, he had gone to Har.
yard. had studied for the pulpit. and.
having preached IN Boston. had accepted
q call TO Brent Hill.
It was quite natural that he should
seek Susy. and the old servant at the
parsonage was warm in her praises. He
was wealthy man. having inherited q
fortune from his father, and he was eager
to help the poor in bis parish. Eusv,
having the children under her control,
was able to point out to him many
avenues for his charity, and thus added
another link to the associations that
bound them together.
So in the winter evenings, In the
spring walks he let his heart 90 out to
Susy and gather her image into its deep
est recess, while she unconscious OF her
own secret, felt that there was no happi-
ness so profound as Cyrus brought by
his mere presence. It was a quiet, I'M
eventful counting for six long months,
but it bound two hearts firmly together
for life. And Joe, looking on, under
stood vaguely that Susy was happy when
Cyrus was near. that service performed
for Cyrus pleased Susy as we'll. And as
events progressed he understood that
Cyrus would one day take Snsy to the
parsonage as his wife, and that Susy
would be happy there. All this was
firmly rooted in poor Joe's clouded brain,
and he knew that trouble to Cyrus would
be a sore grief also to Susy.
So, with allegiance that was touching,
Joe transferred some of his devotion to
the young clergyman, and when he was
at tho farm would mutter often:
sSusy likes him, Joe must be good to
him because Susy likes him. /"
Summer sunshine was ripening the
grain an the berries were in ripest
cluster when Susy had an entire month
of leisure for the school holiday, and
Cyrus won from her tie promise tn re-
TENDER. Her simple outfit became her
daily task and the Collingwoods lent
willing hands to prepare for the we'd
ding. Joe was made entirely happy by
the promise of home at the parsonage,
and the long summer days seemed too
short for the happiness that filed them.
It was nearly two miles from the par
sonage to the Collingwood farm, but
there were few evenings when Cyrus
failed TO walk from his home to Susy's
for an hour or two of the sweet compan-
ionship he loved And his way led him
through stretch of lonely country,
where the farms were scattered far apart,
for Mr.. Collingwood 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 on his own viii. 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 conveyed the warning to his
weakened mind But, whatever the mo-
tives, he was constant in his unsuspect-
ing attendance.
Rev. Cyrus Portman, secure of his
place in the love of his congregation,
thinking his home ever safe from danger
of robbery, or even the fear of theft,
was careless of the fact that it was
known that he carried about him large
sums of money. He drew his income
quarterly from Boston bank and was
apt to carry large rolls of bank notes in
his pocket ready for his own expenses
and charities. He wore diamond studs
and finger ring, and a heavy gold
watch and chain.
All these facts became known to
Bob Carter, Joe's tormentor. led to the
act that proved the idiots deepest de-
votion to Susy. One of the tramps seek
ing employment at Brent Hill proving q
cOngenial companion for Bob Carter in
his drinking frolics and idle life. became
his guest and the two under the infiu-
ence of liquor, resolved to rob the par
son.
ssHe's bound to have q pocketful of
money" Bob said, ssand we are half
starvedl Wen make it more equal
llkel
So it befeIl that one August night,
when there was no mo n, Joe, faithfully
trudging upon his self-appointed task
Of seeing Susy's lover safe in his own
home, saw two men spring upon him as
he passed high hedge.
Taken, entirely by surprise, Cyrus
Portman turned to his assailants and
fought for his possessions with the cour-
age Of truly brave man. But they were
two to one, and had thrown him down,
when Bob Carter. lifting = formidable
club Of wood. ordered him to give up
his money and watch. Instead OF com
plying, he struggled more tiercelv to free
himself from the other rufiian.
ssYou will have il. then. growled
Bob, lifting the club, and surely there
.pos,Id ha1o Fonr an end n ali C,.owse