The Portland daily press., 1892-11-26

insane hostility against all the World.
So uneasy did Nan become that at
last she rose, slipped on her dress and
stole out into the moonlight. An i'm
pulse she could not control impelled her
to peep in at the peddler's open window.
She was prompted by an indefinable
to start back, clasp her hands and gasp
for breath. Then, trembling in every
limb, she looked again.
"My God!' she faltered. "Am |
dreamin? Surely it can't bend yet l
must believe my own eyes"
Acting under new impulse she turned
and fled along the trail leading to the
still Arrived there she found the place
silent and deserted. There was no fire
in the furnace and nothing to be heard
but the cries of the whippoorwills upon
the mountain side.
Full of painful forebodings she re-
traced her steps and once more crouched
beneath the peddler's window. There
she waited until her limbs became
cramped and the night air chilled her to
the bone.
81 might as well lie down again" she
thought 81 reckon uncle's gone down
the valley, for he lowed today as he'd
have to go after coffee right away. I
could wake the man up, but somehow l
dassn't He might think / was forward"
But a second trial of the bed was no
better than the first. The peddler's
heavy breathing was ever in her ears,
and her thoughts reverted constantly to
the sense of peril that vaguely, yet per-
sistently kept her upon the tenterhooks
of anxiety
~ wish mornin would come" she
said for the hundredth time ssLord.
what meeting there'll be then!'
The sound Of stealthy football upon
the gravel without brought her to a sit
ting position at once. Her heart beat
loudly as she listened breathlessly. Yes,
it was moving around the house. Now
she heard it no more. Could she have
imagined it alla No; there it was again
in the back porch.
Then-then-she heard a gentle creak-
ing sound. Ali The shedroom door!
She sprang out of bed, and hasty
bound brought her to the door leading
into the back porch. She wrenched it
open Just in time to catch glimpse OF a
tall shadow that disappeared within the
shedroom.
"Good Lord, help rner' 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
shaven, 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-
ings only the form of hated spy lay
helpless before him. A spy in the serv-
ice of the detested ssrevenoos, who had
robbed him of his only and well beloved
son.
.sUnele!" screamed Nan, dragging
him back. .sUncle! 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
thunderbolt.
Uttering low, quivering cry he sank
to his knees by the bedside, and his head
fell forward. Mans and Johns eyes met
in mutually recognizing glance; then
they turned their attention to the old
man. AS they laid him upon the bed
Aunt Whey, awakened by the noise,
came in. She fell as though confronted
by ghost.
ssJohnl" she exclaimed. "Yet it can't
shorely be!'
eyes, it is, mother. I didn't know
how you'd all take my bein so long in
the pen, so when the governor pardoned
me out I lowed I'd come home as a ped
dler nd in disguise till I found out if
you all cared for me any more"
While John was speaking Nose opened
his eyes, and tears blinded them as he
gazed.
ssMy son, my son!" he murmured
brokenly "And I might have killed
hilnl Ny minds made up. Therell be
no more 'stillin done in Bear holler after
this"
.'Do you reckon Nan cares for me any
more, father" asked John, while his
eyes sought those Of Nan.
.'Of course she do. Hasn't she been
grievin herself away ever since you was
took. She never looked at another
man."
Mans confusion seemed to sanction
this.
"There's only one thing to be DONE"
interrupted Aunt Whey decisively.
They've just got to go over to the circuit
riders next Sunday md git married. At
ter that's over md done with, Nose, I do
hope you'll behave yourself in futur'.''
..Hain't said weren't a-goin to still
whisky any more?" said Nose. "'Stillin's
been at the bottom Of all our troubles"
While the old folks talked John took
Mans hand in his, and they steathily
kissed each other.-William Perry
I