The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1886-08-18

ing. when the family were gafnereu aoou
the lawn. He came into the Will
a swaeper, unshaven, his boots recking o
the stable.
aOn purpose TO mortify us" thought
Grace, bitterly.
Il came TO see Joe's fine lady wife hs
said in a loud voice. Unless hes asham-
ed to introduce his scapegrace brother
MARY is not here said Mother Dem
ming. Where is she, Grace"
I'm Uncle Ben's room. She reads the
New York papers to him every day now
They play backgammon together and
they have one of those silly books of Ar
temus WARTS. ! heard him laughing and
swearing harder than ever, so he must
be pieased. i wonder how she can stand
it,
at is hard TO understand her" said
Isabella, dryly. Mary il not 50 careful
Of her associations as she should be"
Tom had been listening very eagerly.
Enough said" he broke out with a
thump of his fist on the table. "HJoe's
wife can take thought Of that lonely old
man up there, there's better stuff in her
than ] expected. III go up and make
her acquaintance"
For several days afterwards Toms voice
was heard joining in the Jokes and laugh
ter that came out Of Uncle Ben's room.
MARY seems to have enchanted them
both" said Grace. tom is clean and
shaved to-day and looks like "a human
being"
Perhaps she treats him like a human
being" said Joe.
But even he was startled when Mary
came down that evening dressed for a
walk, and nodding brightly to Tom,asked
him to 90 with her. Finish my book,
Joe. Brother Tom will be my escort"
Tom followed her slouching to the
gate. He stopped there. Shame, def
anee, misery, looked out Of his eyes.
See here, Mn. Demmingl | reckon you
wouldn't have asked me 60 go with you"
Polly's steady, tender eyes met his.
Yes, | know" =
Dye know I'm a thief? ] was in Jail
in Pittsburgh for a year"
Poly drew her breath hard. A prayer
to God for help went up from her heart
in that second of time. She held out
both hands.
Yes, Joe told me. But this is all over
now-all, all over. You have begun new
again, Brother Tom ; come y
She put her hand on his arm as they
walked down the street. He did not
speak TO her until they came back. I'll
never forget this of you, Mary, never
A month later the Squire said TO his
wife, Did you know Mary was going
oven her mathematics with Tom Reg
ularly coaching him. This little girl has
the c~learest head for figuring ! ever
knew. But what can be her object ?"
Mrs. DeInming, cleared her voice be-
fore she could speak. "She has applied
to some of her friends in Kentecky to
give Tom a situation. Father, ! think
there may be a chance for the boy. He
wants 10 begin his life all over again
among strangers"
"God help him" muttered the Squire.
He surprised Polly when he met her
the next time by taking her in his arms
and kissing her, with the tears in his
ewes.
In the spring Tom went to Kentucky
and began his new life. He has not
broken down in it yet.
1t was in the spring, too that Uncle
Ben began TO fail. The old man was 50
fond of Polly that she gave up most of
her time TO him, so much indeed, that,
Joe complained.
Don't say a word, dear" she said,
He has such a little while to stay. Let
me do what | can"
Il say, Polly, was that the Bible you
We're reading TO him to-day? ?"
Yes, ne asks for il often
Joe began to whistle and choked it
down into a sigh. Uncle Ben had been
such a Goddess reprobate in his youth
that it had never occurred to any of the
Demlnings there was a way To reach his
soul. He lived until late in the summer.
The SUNDAY before his death he sent for
Mr.. Floyd and talked to him for a long
time.
When the young minister ann out of
the dying mans room he was pale. He
had been much moved.
Il will give him the sacrament to-
morrow" he said to Squire Demming.
"Iou think he is worthy ofit?"
IF sincere repentance can make any
Of us worthy, he is. lie asked hat Lit
tie Polly should take it with him.
She has done this for me- be said, its
her work"
The girls overheard the conversation.
They sat gravely silent after the minister
was gone.
Il do not understand Polly" said
Grace, at last. "She never seemed to be
a religions person"
Perhaps" said the Squire, /" we
have not clearly understood what relig-
ion is"