The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1892-11-25

In his right mind, was dangerous, un-
certain parsonage when stirred by the
memory of his son into a spirit of half
insane hostility against all the world.
So uneasy did Nan become that Mt
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 indefnable
fear. What She saw there caused her
to start back, clasp her hands and gasp
for breath. Then, trembling in every
limb, she looked again.
"My God!" she faltered Gam l
dreaming Surely it can't bend yet
must believe my own eyes
Acting under Il new impulse she turned
and fed 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
Seneath the peddlor's window. There
she waited until her limbs became
cramped and the night air chilled her to
the bone.
Il might as we'll lie down again." she
thought. Il reckon uncle's gone down
the valley, for lie lowed today as he'd
have to go after coffee right away. !
could wake the man up, but somehow l
dassn't. lie might think was forward"
But n 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.
Il wish mornin 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 as she listened breathlessly. Yes,
it was moving around the house. Now
she heard i, no more. Could she have
imagined it all? No; there it was again
i'm the back porch.
Then-then-she heard a gentle crcak-
ing sound. Ah! The shedroom door
She sprang ont OF bed, and hasty
bound brought her to the door leading
into the back porch. She wrenched it
open just in time to catch a glimpse Of
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 heavily in the white
glow of the moonlight. His face was
strangely altered, for the heavy beard
had fallen of, leaving exposed clean
shGven, 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. \ spy in the serv-
ice Of the dotestei "revenoos," who had /.
robbed him Of his only and well beloved /.
son.
"Uncle~ screamed Nan. dragging
him back. Uncle! You shall not.
Can't you see: It's John-our John
your JOHN"
The pedller woke and stared upward .
in bewilde-ed way. The knife fell ;u
the floor as Nose, his eyes almost start
ing from his head, stared at his sons .
white face. Suddenly he comprehended, /
and the effect dcstcnGed upon him like a
Cttering low, quivering cry he sank !
10 his knees by the bedside, and his head /
fell forward. Mans and Johns ewes met
in mutually recognizing glance; then
they turned their attention 10 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.
"John!" she exclaimed. "Yet j: can;
shorely be!'
Yes, it is, mother. didn't know
how you'd all take my bein so long In
the pen, 60 when the governor pardohed
me cut l lowed IL come home as a ped.
Her nd in Disguise till l found ou. if
Iou all cared for me any more"
while john was speaking Nose opened
Ms eyes, and tears blinded them as he
yazed.
My son, my son. he murInured
And I might have killed
him. Ny minds made up. ThereIl be
10 more 'stillin done in Bear holler after
his"
do you reckon Nan cares for me any
more, father asked John, while his
yes sought those OF Nan.
''Of course she do. HASN'T she been
'rievin herself away ever since you was
ook. She never looked az another
nan"
Mans confusion seemed to sanction
his.
There's only one thing TO be done"
Interrupted Aunt Viney decisiycly.
'hey've just got TO goover 10 the circuit
ider's next Sunday nd sit rngrried. AZ
ar that's over nd done with. Nose. I do
ope you'll behave yourself in futur'."
''HaiA't | .aid weren't a-goin 10 still
-hisl.y any more" said ,Iose. 'Stillin's