Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1891-02-21


It was lowering night in early June.
The sky was overcast-actually down
cast in its gloom. Flashes of lightning
revealed banks of fleecy cloud growing
somber and sullen as they approached
the west. The night air was heavy
with scents of blossoming trees and early
garden flowers. The day had been op-
pressive and unreasonable, as though an
August day had hastened in upon the
stage at the wrong cue.
AT the old house ut Fernwood the sill
yer haired mistress stood leaning against
the Intel of the wide front door, list
lessly watching the progress of the
storm, while on the steps below sat lit
tie Star with John Pidgin, and on gar
den seat nearby old Prudence, the house
keeper, knitting in hand, her busy nee
dies occasionally glistening in the al
most languid flashes of heat lightning.
John Pidgin, who between his garden
ing and his "'ossling' managed to i'm
5ibe little geometry and physiology at
the North End high school-John the
rude of speech and uncouth of manner,
was going some time 10 study theology,
perhaps eventually to preach to his peo-
pie, the poor whites in the south. "If
the spirit is willin' and the flesh not too
powerful weak" he sometimes said. AS
he sat watching the somber sky tonight
his conversation with Prudence took
theological turn, and greatly amused
Katherine as fragments Of it drifted to
her ears.
NO" he was saying, 'the Lord don't
confde in me very much as to his calcu-
lations for my future. He is the non-com-
mittalest upon that subject of any one
I've tackled for advice. Praps l ought
to been more self abnegatin' and stayed
on at the place and learned Goblin.
Or" be added. with sigh, ''if 'ostle !
must, Twill 'ostle to the point of martyr
DOM"
Prudence having no objections to offer
he was silent for awhile, but soon re-
mark from her brought out the startling
declaration that "Brother Milford is a
powerful expounder, but when it comes
to devotion, TO downright conservation,
Brother Tombs can knock the daylight
outen him."
Katherine laughed aloud in spite of
herself. "Are you there, mammaT asked
Star. "See the big red light over at
North End. Is it fire? What is it,
mammal"
At this John Pidgin sprang up with a
startled look. There began to be steps
in the street and horses feet and wagons,
men hurrying by, with now and then q
hasty word to each other er-SouthwicE
people in haste for once.
"The warehouses, the Touring mills"
"The Methodist church"
"St. Luke's hospital" they heard at
intervals. All! how Katherine's heart
stopped beating. st. Luke's hospital!
II DR.. Van Duyn should be there! He
was always there. If he should be hurt!
Alack, she who had SO cruelty hurt him
now cried to heaven for his safety.
What choking feeling in her throat at
thought of his danger. In flash she
saw what life would be without him; to
have him never again for physician, for
friend-oh, for something more than
friend; for at that moment, and as never
before, strong, overmastering love for
John Van Duyn, the noble, self sacrific
ing man--so strong, so gentle, SO patient,
swept over her, flooding her heart like
a mighty torrent against which she was
powerless. She knew then that she had
never before known love. In all the
world he was the one to whom her whole
being turned. Her heart lay in his hand
as jewel to be cherished, or worthless
pebble to be spurned and flung away
Hot tears sprang to her eyes--tears Of
Joy. tears of contrition, Of alarm, Of
many mingled emotions. She hardly
knew when or how she got into the light
wagon with John Pidgin, to speed along
over the dark road, lit only by the fitful
red light of the increasing flames.
On reaching North End they stopped
at the school house steps, where with
manv others they could look down On