The morning call., 1892-09-18

f0r miies. Shiloh MeeLln .HOuSc was "a
unpainted log room about forty feet square,
doing double duty as schoo-house for three
months in the year and church whenever
the circuit rider came to the settlement
in his rounds The house was lit by pine
knots stuck around the room between Inc
logs and casting weird shadows over the
congregation.
Luciap Hartredge fastened his horse 10
sapping and joined a group OF young
mountaineers standing ut the door.
The preacher. a middle-aged naive,
making up in feryor what he lackeu III
knowledge, was praying, his voice up on
high G, and interrupted every few SECONDS
by whoie-souled "Amen! from some
pi0us brother.
The preaching was over. and at the close
of the prayer the preacher made 1ervld
exhortatioD, beseeching the "unsaved SID,
ners'' to come to the mourners bencb, anu
he gave out hymn to be sung In the mean'
while.
The men with their dogs were sitting on
one side of the church. the women with
their babies on the other. Luclan soon
found Clarssa.
BY ONE fatality she was sitting in the
full glare Of pine knot, her mother on one
side of her and woman unknown to MN
with baby in her arms ON the 0ther. OIu
Mrs. Coffee had tin box in her hand, the
unknown female another, and all were DIP
ping snuff.
Lucian left as Though some one had
slapped him in the face. He had often seen
Mrs. Coffee with stick brush in her moutI,
but he had failed to comprehend lis slgnil-
cance. Now he understood. And ClarisSa,
| tool The hardest part to bear was the
manifest enjoyment she was receiving from
| her indulgence. Evidently his presence had
debarred her from pastime she found the
| greatest pleasure In.
| But the preachers exhortation had been
| warml responded to. The ''mourners
| bench was full, and the congregation was was
| getting very happy. The woman next Cla-
| riSsa dropped her baby in Mrs. Cotfee's lap
! and began a series of explanatory sentences,
| the only distingnishable part of which were
| Praise the Lordw Thank God!' praise
| his holy name" her voice growing shriller
with each ejaculation. Then she began 10
| clap her hands, to cry and laugh alternately,
| getting out into the aisle and shaking hands
| with every one she could reach, and when
| her excitement reached Its high water marx
leaping in the air and screaming.
This excited Mrs. Coffee. who In turn
dropped the baby in Ciarissa's lap and COM
| mcneed the same performance, ana almost
| before Lucian could catch his breath
| Clarissa dropped the baby in another
woman's lap and began her own "shout-
/ ing"
Lucan watched her few seconds. Then
| he passed his hand across his eyes AS though
| in physical pain and turned from the door:
| He went out and sat down on log ana
took off his hat TO cool his head. He feit
! daZed. About the cleareSt sensation De was
conscious of was vague pity for the poor
| baby, who was being passed around llke re-
| freshments. He wondered who rad II then.
When the Coffees reached home mat
night Lueian Hartredge had gone to ted
| ard was apparently asleep.
The next morning directly after break
fast he said gOod-by and departed. lie
| kissed Clarissa in rather perfunctory man
/ Il Ia nf inn nE
there was o constraint. and she regarded
| him with vague trouble in the beautiful
| eyes, He turned away hastily, mounted
| his horse and rode down the mountain, an
! intense relief coming over him as the cool
| morning air blew in his face and he felt
! that he was leaving his perplexity and NOR
| tificaton behind. hm, temporarily at least
| For days and weeks this feeling haunted
| him. But finally the reyuision sent In. Inc
recollection Of that last night faded gradu-
ally. He began to think of Clarissa only as
the beautiful girl he loved and who mad
promised TO be his wife.
| He was in his Office looking over his books
! when a sudden resolution came over MN.
| His income was mmense-it was lncreas-
| ing every day-and solution OF the din
! Guilty presented itself TO him IKE door
| opening silently before a prisoner In cell.
| He would arrange his affairs to leave home
| for an indefinite period. Then he would
marry Clarissa, take her 10 Europe. employ
the best masters for her and keep her there
| till he could present her to his friends with
out mortlfying either her or himself. WIN
inward excitement he went over the details.
| Yes, il vast should be-practicable. lie
felt like giving shout OF relief.
| "a dispatch, sir.
1t was his Office boy He took the teIe-
gram and opened it leisurely. To a busi-
ness man one OF these yellow envelopes
more or less was matter OF small c0nse-
| quence. But what vas this he was read
! ing?
clarssa dangerously i'll. Come imm edlately. By
! order Of JOSHUA COFFEE.
Like man in a dream he set off immedi-
atey for the mountains. he could not real
| iZe what hRd happened, the blow had de-
4 scended so suddenly. He felt certain that
| he would reach Clarissa and find it all q
| mistake.
1t was twilight when he finally reined his
horse in front of the cabin. No dogs were
| soon, almost as though he had been watch
! ing for the arrival, his eyes red and
swollen, the dirt on his face furrowed as II
! he had been crying.
"How is she?" hlr. Hartredge asked his
heart sinking at the sign of grief in the
/ boy.
"Pow'ful bad off," Jake answered. taking
| charge of the horse. ''The doctor lows
maybe she'll pul thu the night, an maybe
! she won't"
my Godl Is it so bad as that? What is
| the matter?'
Hits fever. Mos ev'ry body on this
hyar m0untngs he'd it, an consider bic NV
| ems dead CPrissy, she's a-askin' fur ye
mos ev'ry minute"
| Lueian entered quietly. ClariSsa was
| lying with her eyes closed. her face pale to
| grayness; she seemed scarcely O part of
! this life. The doctor was holding one wrist.
| her mother held the other hand, while her
| father and older brothers were seated near
the foot of the bed, their faces bowed on
| their hands.
They looked up as he approached. His
eyes questioned the doctor mutely.
''She is sinking fast" was the reply. shut
| Is perfectly conscious"
Clarissa opened her eyes.
| "Luclan," she mnrmured feebly, and held
| her hand TO him. He went to her and took
| her in his arms. Her head fell back Oh his
breast and her eyes closed again. He be-
gan 10 fear that she was alread dead. But
| no.
| "You-uns mustn't fret bout me-" she
murmured almost naudibly. He had 10
| bend his head to catch the broken whisper.
feared / never could ha' parnt to be. We
uns never could ha' bin happy. I've knowed
| 1t FUN the fust, but haint never had the
! heart ter say il. Hits q heap the best tn is
hyar way. But. oh, l loved We so! / loved
| ye sol" and, with unnatural strength, she
| turned and threw her arms around his neck
and kissed him twice.
But even with her lips against his they
stifened. her arms relaxed their hold, her
| head fell back on his shoulder.
| He laid her down gently. She was dead.
ELIZABETH McALLIsTEg LEYDEN in
| Globe Democrat.