The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1886-03-05
the lfillerites would have found out
what poor deluded fools they were, and
En0 Sinkley would feel too meachiu'

nuao sEMkley WOulu ICel TOO meachlu
to make fuss about anything"
Meetings were held with scarcely any
intermtssion on that Saturday. In tho
last watch Of that night the trumpet
was 10 sound, and worldly cares and
h0pes were all laid aside and forgotten
by tho Millerites.
But at none Of the meetings did DIR.
PeleG appear. He had retired to tho
woods, as he had habit of doing occa-
sionally, and it was reported that he
had one of his '.mclancholy spells, "but
the brethren thought he had better seek
the consultations OF religion rather than
those of nature, and where were they to
be found except in the meetings where
the faithful were singing and shouting
In an ecstacy of expectationp 1t was
feared that DIR. Peleg after having
preached to others had become cast
away.
Never did more beautiful day dawn
upon Saltwater than that Saturday. 1t
was early summer, and overhead was
intense. .cloulless blue-underfoot, fresh,
living verdnrc. Doves cooed placidly
on qeseayes,e bobolinks were riotous in
the meadows, the very air seemed full
of joyous life. But there was a strange
hush and solelnnity among the people.
The butcher was Millerite, and had
exchanged his frock for an ascension
robe. Mr.. Pcrtiah Saunders store was
opcn-Owing to the determined spirit
OF Mis- Pertiah, her lord being pru-
dent soul, who did not believe the world
was coming to an end. but thought ..as
there was consid' able many Of them
Millerites it want best to run across
the grain too much:"-for there was
another store. Mis- Pel'tiah sold moth
ing but an occasional plug of tobacco,
which was intended to revive the droop-
ing spirits of some unbelieving, and
Outwardly scoffing, but inwardly apprc-
hensive soul.
The dressmaker had halted between
two opinions until tho preceding night,
when she was thoroughly converted to
the Milleritc,faith by mysterious oc-
currence. This event was nothing less
than the accountable abstraction Of all
her hair-pins from beneath her pillow.
The same extraordinary phenomenon
had on previous. occasions prcsaged
wonderful happenings, which were re-
garded by the dressmaker as visitations
from her deceased husband. Coming ut
such timc she regarded this one as
conclusive evidence of the truth of the
Millerite prophecy, and she Immediately
abandoned all worldly occupations,
leaving Mis- Pel'tiah Sanders new
dress uncompletcd, to that worthy wo-
mans great wratll--which wrath was
only partially appeased by the reflection
that us the milliner was also Milllerite
she could not have had her new bonnet
to wear with it, if it had been finished.
The pastors of the two churches
preached earnestly against the Millcritc
doctrine, as 'unscriptural and unedify.
ing" but in spite of all their efforts the
heresy crept in among their flocks, and
many, like Mis- Deacon Spcttigue, felt
that it would be wisdom's part not to
clean house or to buy their summer
bonnets until they were sure that the
world was going to lust.
The night was spent by most of the
Millerites upon their house-tops, Some
were in a state of religious exaltation,
. few of the women were little hyster
ical, but most of thom viewed the mat
ter in. an astonishing practical light, and
seemed to take great satisfaction in the
prospect of getting the better of their
unbclicying 1cighbors,
They sang and prayed all through the
night, and with greater fcrvency rs the
last watch drew near.
The cracked old bell in the church
stceplc struck the hour.
A breathlcss hush followed For an
hour there lasted silence that could be
felt.
But instead of the sound of the last
trumpet came the cheerful crow of the
cocks from the barn-yard. A rosy flush
crept into the eastern sky. Some sleepy
robins aroused themselves and poured
forth jubilant song. The dawn came
on, fresh and dewy and sweet, and the
busy old world moved on, with it's bur-
dens Of joy and sorrow, as if 1t were
full of youth and freshness, and nobody
had ever dreamed of its end.
In the flush of the early morning Ju-
dith Sinclair and her lover walked across
the fields to Upper Saltwater, where
they were to be married.
Encas Sinclair had retired to his own
house, and barred the door against all
intruders. There were runlors abroad
that he. was hopclcssly crazcd. Some of
the Milleritcs believed that this disap-
pointment was only a trial of their faith,
but it was apparent that Eneas Sinclair's
faith was gone.
To Judith and her lover it seemed that
the old world with its doubts and breads
had come to an end, and u new Eden
had dawncd.
But the blissful illusion was shock
ingly dispcllcd From the shadow of a
clump of trees, beside the way, the ill
sane old man, Judith's father, suddenly
rushed upon them. He hcaped impre-
cations upon his daughters head, but
his fury seemed to b. directed chiefly 10
the young man; with the strength and
quickncss which madness gives lie rails
cd his heavy gun, and aimed blow ut
his head. But it fcll-not on Frank
Pritchard's head, but on that of the little
hunchback, DIR. Peleg, who threw him.
self before him. Then, apparently ter
rilied at what he had done the maniac
fled. Frank Priteharl raisod DIR. Pclcg's
head from the ground.
He saved my life," he said, "but he
has given up his own"
The hunchback opened his eyes with
nm effort, and looked wistfully up into
JMlith's face as il for some sign of
gratitude.
'It's no more than he ought to have
done! He told fathcr-he set him on!
He must havc-tlcre was no one elsc!'
she cried excitcdly.
"You don't think that of mo Judith!
You can't think that!' he moaned. II
was afraid he'd do it, and I've bocn
watchin' him, so S to prcvcntit. SOM
times the devil told me to keep ont of
the way; it want none of my business;
but didn't, and the Lord let mo save
him for you, and I'm thankful. I'm
ready to 60, now.-ready to go! And
mcbbe, J,ldit,-in the new Jersualcm-
things will be different atwccn you and
mc-''
IIigh-Fa-IOOtin.
Papa" said little girl chow many
miles is ii around the world?'
"a good many thousand, my child."