The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-08-14
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| hldeouS excuses. 1t contained no ornament
| save red geranium flower, half concealed by
shawl OF a faded maroon shade, that gave an
| aspect almost Oriental to her head and bust.
| open ut the front, the shawl exposed the per-
Iect proportions of her young figure, clad in o
dress of that same maroon shade. She stood
there the personifcation of perfect physical
life.
Without letting the blind drop Eden reached
forth his hand and took from bracket q cabi-
net photograph of Miss Barham. For several
seconds he stood looking from one girl to the
other, and then with Sudden exclamation of
impatience threw down the photograph and
lit the lamp. He took from his desk
a small bundle of manuscript, ruefully
contemplating the number of pages
necessary to complete his SER
mon. lie wrote laboriously driving the pen
along tho paper and trying to close his ears to
the Diasphemous shouts that rose in turn from
every quarter. A volley of oaths, in which his
own name was mingled, seemed suddenly to
proceed from just beneath his window and,
white with passion, he threw down his pen.
80 they can't even leave my name alone he
mutterod. "The brutes! That's a good name
for their own spiritual adviser to give them;
bnt there, can't help t--they are brutes, and
I'm not a bit of good here. The only way is
to get hold of the children all the children
ii we can tram the Children" He stopped
suddenly On the pavement of the archway
beneath he heard a sudden rush of small feet.
as II the whole of the child population OF tho
Rents were running out into the main street.
IHSN TO always UfSt, nc muJtereu, ANA
now for the adults" The words were
hardly out of his mouth before they came
gathering down the pavement. The sound OF
one voice in the multitude caused him to walk
to the window and look out. The children had
formed ring with their fathers and mothers
behind, and in the center two women were
lighting. The cries of the bystanders soon de-
cided their identity.
600 it, Mother Flanagan that'sitl Hurrah
for Parson Sal Keep up your couragel''
n bp bn Ia nyocn far
meit III doubt; the elder woman's i'll used
body was no match for her adyersary's young
strength. Bleeding, and with her garments
torn, she made q final rush at Sal, who, step
ping quickly aside, managed to clutch heR
round the neck but before she had time to
strike the man with the short clay, who u lit
tie while before had ordered his mother up
the court, slouohed forward and separated the
women by seizing Sails hair and dragging her
away. The crowd jeered and laughed, while
Sal, crying with the pain, struggled to release
herself. Mother Flanagan, taking advantage
OF the turn the fight had taken, crept up to her
late antagonist, shook her fist at Sal, and Missed
out an opprobrious word The young girls face
underwent u sudden transformation; all the
color left 1t, and her eyes literally blazed; she
bounded forward, leaving some of her hair in
the mans hands, and dartod toward the woe
man who had lnsulted her; but the crowd
parted, allowed Mother Flanagan to pass
through and then closed again. Sal stood at
bay with her bosom heaving and hands clench-
vs.
repeated the word. Tho young girl giared
around for q moment, and then, rushing to
one of the caldrons, she dipped her hand into
the boiling tar and flung as much as she could
hold full at the ieering crowd.
Shrieks issued from half dozen throats,
followed by howls of execraton, and then the
whole mass OF people rushed at the girl, mad
for revenge.
Eden, who had been watching the whole at
fair, trembled when he saw the final develop
ment; he knew only too we'll the horrible form
OF revenge that lawless crowd would take IL
they caught Sal. For moment the idea
crossed his mind Of Fastening to the
nearest police station for help but moments
consideration showed the futility OF that
course. He watched the chase with sicken-
ing kind of interest. Sal tore down the street;
then she doubled, gaining several yards by the
vancouver; but her pursuers quickly recovered
the lost ground, and by the time she reached
the CO, : again they were almost abreast OF
her. Round and round and in and out Of
the spaces between the game OF life and
death was played, until to Eden the fearful
excitement Of the chase became unbearable.
He hurried down stairs, opened the street door
and peered ont. AS he did so girl crept up
under the shadow Of the wall and laid her hand
on his arm.
"Why, Liz, what -"
"Hush they'll kill her II they catch her.
Look you here She'll run up the court next,
md when she passes here you pull her in and
hide her. Pull her in, Mr., Eden d'you hear?
herl"
But Sal was not caught. She had fallen
just at the entrance to the archway To pull
her to her feet and to whisper Cup tho court"
was with Liz the question of O second. She
had hardly done so before the crowd were
upon her AS they turned round the corner
mad with rage at the escape Of their prey, Lila
suddenly threw herself full length In front OF
them. First one and then another fell upon
her, till dozen mon and women were strug-
Cling and cursing on the ground. They picked
themselves up one by one, and rushed down
the archway in the direction Sal had taken.
Bruised and bleeding, Liz also picked herself
up with a look OF exultation at the success OF
her stratagem.
Sal, quite unconscious Of her friend sacri-
fee. was only aware that by some means her
pursuers had received momentary check.
She understood at once that her only chance
of escape lay in hiding herself some
whore in the labyrinth OF courts before
they had time TO sec which turning
she had taken. She had hardly trayersed
half the archway when her arm waa
clutched, and She felt herself being drawn
through doorway. Then the door was noise
lessly shut, and all became quiet. The steps
Of her pursuers died away in the distance, and
she sank to the ground She was dimly con-
scious Of being carried somewhere, and of q
great confidence in the strength Of the arms
that upheld her, and then Of her burnt hand
being bandaged. And all at once the sense OF
security passed away. The house echoed with
figure which had been bending over her disap-
peared.
Sal suddenly recovered consciousness, and,
creeping to the top Of the stairs, listened
"pd Just like a word with you, parson, IL
you wouldn't mind"
"Well, what is it, my MANI" Eden replied.
throwing open the door.
Mother Flanagan's son shufled awkwardly
forward from the crowd Of people who blocked
up the court yard mo offense, sir, / hope,
but we're wanting Sal Christmas. Some of US
ERE want her particularly bad, too"
Ills that your reason for waking me up at
this hour? How should 1 know where Sal
Christmas ISL"
"Well, you see, sir, she turned down the
archway, and, as we can't find her nowhere In
the Rents, we thought rs how she might have
called In here-p'rap 90 give back one of
those books you Oblige her with sometimes"
The crowd burst into hoarss shout Of
laughter at this sally, and Eden turned pale
but he said calmly enough: "Pefhaps you
would like 70 search tho house and see fox
yourselves"
The magnanimity of tho offer at once won
Flanagan's heart
| "No, parson, we amt come 10 that yet II
| you say the girls not here, Wen believe you.
Hat "A -. 81