The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1892-12-10

and her thoughts reverted constantly tC
the sense Of peril that vaguely, yet per
sistently kept her upon the tenterhook.
of anxiety.
II wish nornin would come" she
said for the hundredth time. Lord
what a meeting there'll be them
The sound Of a stealthy football upon
the gravel without brought her to a sit.
ting position at once. Her heart beat
loudly rs she listened breathlessly. Yes,
it was moving around the house. Now
she heard it no more. Could she have
imagined it all: No; there it was again
in the back porch,
Then-then-she heard gentle creak.
ing sound. Ali The shedroom door
She sprang ont of bed, and hasty
bound brought her to the door leading
into the back porch, She wrenched il
open just in time to catch a glimpse Of o
tall shadow that disappeared within the
shedroOm
Good Lord, help mel" she family
calculated as she sprang forward, nerved
to desperation by this dreadful fulfill
ment of her fears.
She entered the room. There lay the
peddler, slumbering heavilyin the white
glow of the moonlight. His face was
strangely altered, for the heavy beard
had fallen off, leaving exposed clean
shayen, youthful face. But the white
bearded old man bending over the pros
trate form with uplifted knife saw moth
ing distinctly. To his morbid imagin-
iugs only the form of hated spy lay
helpless before him. A spy in the serv-
ice of the detested ''revenoos, who had
robbed him Of his only and we'll beloved
sen.
"Uncle!' screamed Nan, dragging
him back. "Unciel You shall not.
Can't you see? It's John-our john
your John!'
The peddler woke and stared upward
in bewildered way. The knife fell to
the floor as Nose, his eyes almost start
ing from his head, stared at his sons
white face. Suddenly he comprehended,
and the effect descended upon him like a
thunderbolt.
Uttering a low, quivering cry he sank
to his knees by the bedside and his head
fell forward Mans and Johns ewes met
in mutually recognizing glance; then
they turned their attention to the old
man. As they laid him upon the bed
Aunt Viney, awakened by the noise,
came IN. She fell as though confronted
by ghost.
joint she exclaimed. yet it can't
shorely be-
eyes, it is, mother. | didn't know
how you'd all take my beiu so long in
the pen, so when the governor pardoned
me out / lowed Id come home as a ped,
dler nd in disguise till | found ont il
you all cared for me any more"
While John was speaking Nose opened
his eyes, nnd tears blinded them as he
gazed.
My son, my SOM he murmured
brokenly. And | might have killed
him! My minds made up. There1l be
no more stillin done in Bear boiler after
this"
"Do You reckon Nan cares for me any
more, father asked John, while his
eyes sought those of Nan.
VI t'AttlHt silt W. lldSA hut Dtsl
grievm herself away ever since you wa,
took. She never looked at another
man"
Mans confusion seemed to sanction
this.
There's only one thing 10 be done,
interrupted Auut Viney decisively
They've just got TO so over to the circui
riders next Sunday nd git married. AT
ter that's over nd done with. Nose, dc
hope you'll behave yourself in futur'"
"Hain't l said | weren't a-gOin to still
whisky any more?" said Nose. 'Stillin'
| been at the bottom OF ali our troubles.
While The Old folks talked John tool
Mans hand III his, and they steathil,
kissed each other William PER-,
Brown in Philadelphia Times