The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1892-12-21

Suddenly he paused before great
building into which crowds were pour
ing. He joined the throng and drifted
in. There were lights and music. Some
body-a man with clear baritone voice
was singing something. To the ears of
the Ishmaelite stole these words,
I've found friend In Jesus;
He's everything to me;
He's the fairest OF ten thousand to my soul,
The Lily OF the Valley.
In him alone see
All need TO cleanse and make me fully whole
Then suddenly the great audience rose
to its feet and responded:
He's the Lily OF the Valley,
The Bright and Morning Star;
He's the faircst OF ten thousand to my soul.
johnson looked stupidity about. He
saw faces lined with sin and suffering
the faces of thieves and outcasts. But
everybody was singing. He looked Mt
the platform. 1t was filed with men
and women dressed in curious fashion,
In dark blue costumes, with big scarlet
letters on their breasts. During John
sons prison life the Salvation Army had
sprung into existence.
lie all my griefs has taken,
And all my sorrows borne;
In temptation he's my strong and mighty
tower
rang out the voice like n clarion call.
And once more the poor, sodden way
farers to whom he sang answered:
He's the Lily OF the Valley,
The Bright and Morning Star;
He's the fairest Of ten thousand TO my soul.
Something rolled down the cheek of
the ex-convict.
He put up his hand impatiently to
brush it away.
And then, half stumbling, he hurried
out into the night
But as he fled through the fast fall
ing snowfiakes he heard again the re-
fraiu well up like battlecry:
He's the Lily Of the Valley.
Next day as he aimlessly walked
about he came face to face with man
he had known in his old life. The man
started as If he had seen ghost, and
then shamefacedly and hesitatingly ex-
tended his hand.
"Howdy do, Johnsony" he said tim
idly.
ooh, I'm we'll enough" said johnson
with a short, harsh laugh. "Im trying
TO get something to do. Perhaps you
could help me-
"I-oh, novel;, you see, just now
everybody's taken up with Christmas"
eyes, 80 / see."
"Of course you understand it's not an
easy thing to recommend a-a"-
"A jailbird."
"Well, er-you understand"
"Yes, l understand. / won't bother
you. I'll get along In some fashion.
I've little money. But tell me, can you
give me any news of Raymond"
"Well, yes. You heard about his
failurey'
ellis failure? No."
"Yes, lost every cent year ago. Poor
as church mouse. Sick, too, heard u
few days ago. Rheumatism, l believe.
His wife,
eyes, yes, his "'ife."
"She's SUPP him, / understand
sewing. Tn, - somewhere ON the
east side in tenement. Horrible come
down! Well, can't stand here all day.
Goodby. II hear of anything"-and
he was gone.
johnson stood looking after him In u
dazed fashion until gentle hint froIn
a policeman reminded him he had better
move on.
So Raymond was poor and sick-llis
revenge, then, was partly bcgun-Gnd
that Christmas present?-some way the
thnVa,ht 81 lytllin., a. moon, invu1i1 li1 NOT
appeal 80 strongly TO the ishnaelite--
somewhere on the east side:-as wei
try to hunt the traditional nccdle-p0Or,
sick, and Nelly sewing to support him
we'll, there was some justice in heaven,
II not on earth.
1t was the night before Christmas
when johnson ,trolled asail into the
great rink where the Salvation Army
was holding its meetings. lIc listened 10
the burning words which fell from t.'o
lips OF sweet faced woman. She talked
of Gods best gift 10 man and spoke Of
peace and good will. Then cguin the
singer came forward, aud again the
strains which had rung in Johnson's ours
for two days rolled 10 the roof. While
listening eagerly his eyes suddenly fell
upon the face of woman who was sit
ting three seats from him. A pale, thin,
shabbily dressed woman.
II was Nellyl
When she roso 10 go ho followed her.
As she hurried AWAY no stealthily crept
behind her, his hand involuntarily
clutching the knife over h.J heart.
Up n rickety flight of stairs she went,
and close behind came her pursuer. She
opened the door ON the third landing
and went In. He crouchcd outside,
holding his breath.
The door remained ajar.
He looked In and marked tho poor
room, with its wretched belongings. lie
saw the bed and the sick man bolstered
mp by fiabby pillows.
"Is that you, Nelly" he heard Ray
mond say. ~ thought you would never