Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1892-01-31
JOHN BRENT
By THEODORE WINTHROP
Copyrighted. 1884,
CONTINUED

ture ana measuring Win every worn lho
inefTaceable gulf between them. Yet
she was thoroughly civil as hostess. She
even seemed TO fight against herself to
be friendly. But il was clear TO by
Stander that she lOathed the apostle.
That she was not charmed with his So
ciety even his coarse nature could not
fail TO discover. Anywhere else the
scene would have been comic. Here he
had the power. No escape; no refuge.
That thrust all comedy out Of the drama
aud left only very hateful tragedy. Still
il was a cruel Semblance Of comedy oyer
a tragic Underplot, TO see the Mormon's
cringing approaches, and that exquisite
creatures calm rebuffS. SiLZum felt
himself pinned in his proper place, and
writhed there, with an evil look, that
he was noting all and treaSuring All
against his day OF vengeance.
Aud the poor, feeble old father-how
all his geniality was blighted ana with
cred away. he was 70 more the master
OF revelS at a festival, but the ruined
man, with bailitf in disguise at his
dinner table. QuerUlOUS tones murmared
in his voice. The decayed gentleman dis
appeared; the helpless fanatic took his
place. Phrases OF cant, and the peculiar
Mormon slang and profanity, gave the
color TO his conversation. He appealed
Sot izzum constantly. He was at once
the bigoted disciple and the COwed
slave. Toward his daughter his man
ner was sometimes timOrOuSly pleading,
sometimes almost Surly. Why could
she not reDresS her disgust az the holy
man, at least in the presence OF Stran-
gers? That seemed 20 be his feeling;
and he strOve 10 withdraw attention
from her by an eager, trepidating at
tempt 10 please his master. In short,
the vulgar, hard-heCded knGve had THIS
weak, lost gentleman thoroughly in his
power. Mr. ClitherOe was like lamb
whom the shepherd intends hrSt TO
shear close, then TO worry TO death
with ours, and at last TO cut up into
keebGubS.
Brent and I kept alOof as much as
we might We should only have in
suited the chosen vessel and so injured
our friends.
With sunset Elder Sizzum, after some
oily vulgariSmS of complaint 70 the lady,
walked of on camp duty.
We also rose TO take our leave. We
must look after our horses.
Mr.. ClitherOe'S old manner returned
the instant his spiritual guide left US.
"Pray come and see me again this
evening, gentlemen, said he.
1--WE will, certainly" said Brent, look
ing toward Miss Clitheroe for her invi-
tatiOn.
II did not come.
"Oh. yes" said Mr.. Clitheroe, inter
preting Brent'S look; my daughter will
ue charmed TO sea you. To tell the
truth, our brethren in the camp are
worthy people; we sympathize deeply In
the faith; but they are not altogether
in manners or education quite such as
we have some times been accOstumed 70.
IL is one OF the famous wrongs OF our
English systems Of caste that 10 sepa-
rates brother men, manners, language,
thought and life. We have as yet
. been able TO have little except
NreH gious communion with our
fellow travellers toward the Promised
I,and-except, of course, with Brother
Sizzum, who is, as you see, quite man
Of society, as well as an elect apostle OF
. a great cause. We are quite selfish In
asking you to repeat your Visit. Be
sides the welcome we should give you
for yourselves, we welcome you also as
a novelty" And then he muttered
half 20 himself: "GOd forgive me for
speaking after the flesh"
Come, Wade" said my friend. And
he gripped my arm almost savagely.
'Until this evening then, Mr.. Cllth-
erOe."
AS we moved away from the wagon,
where the lady stood, SO worn and SAD,
and yet so lovely, her poor fathers only
guard and friend, we met Murker and
Larrap. They were Sauntering about,
prying into the wagons, inspecting the
groups, making ObservationS-that were
perhaps only curiOslty-with base,
guilty, burglarious look.
He, her' laughed Larrap, leering at
Brent. .'Ill be switched eff you're not
sharp. You know where to look for the
pooty gals, blOwed eff yet don't!'
"Hold your tongue" Brent made
spring az the fellow.
mo ofTense, no OtfenseP muttered
he. shrinking back with coWardly,
venomous look.
"Mind your business and keep q civil
tongue in your head or there will be Of
fense," Brent turned and walked of
I'm silence. Neither OF US was yet ready
10 begin our talk on this evenings
meeting.
Our horses, II not their masters, were
quite ready for joyous conversation.
Tbev had encountered no panC in the
region Of Fort Bridger. Grass IN plenty
was there, and they nelghed US good
evening I'm their most dulcet tones.
They frisked about, and neghing and
frisking informed US that, in their opin-
ion. the world was all Eight-a per-
fectly Jolly place, with abundance to
eat, little TO do and everybody friend.
A capital world, according to Pumps
and Don FulanO,
We shifted our little caballada to fresh
grazing spots sheltered by brake. We
meant TO camp there apart from the
Mormon caravan. The talk OF our
horses had not cheered US. We still
busted ourselves in silence. Presently,
as I looked toward the train, observed
two figures in the distance lurking about
Mr.. Clitheroe's wagon.
,sSee. " said I, "theHe are those two
gamblers again. don't like such foul
vultures hanging about that friendless
dove. They looked Williams enough Tor
any outrage"
'tBut they are powerlesS here
SIN the presence Of steadier vii
lainy they are. That foul Sizzum Is
oujte sure of his prey. John Brent,
vvhat can be done? / do not know
which feel most bitterly for, the
weary. deluded old gentleman, doubling
his error, or that noble girl. Poor,
FrfaDdlesS SOulS'n