Evening journal., 1892-12-14

NAC WIS pAOhAptc0 ny th uuufAHhDlS
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.
"hly Godw she faltered. "Am /
dreamin? Surely it can't bend yet I
must believe my own eyes"
Acting under 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
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. Il reckon uncle's gone down
the valley, for he lowed today as he'd
have to go after coffee right away. /
could wake the man up, but somehow I
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.
81 wish nlornin 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 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 all? No; there it was again
in the back porch.
Then-then--she heard gentle creak-
ing sound. Ahl The shedroom doorl
She sprang out Of bed, and a hasty
bound brought her to the door leading
into the back porch. She wrenched it
open just in time to catch a glimpse of a
tall shadow that disappeared within the
shedroom.
"Good Lord. help mer' she family
calculated as she sprang forward, neryed
to desc Grafton 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 off, leaving exposed a 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 ''revenoos," !" who had
robbed him of his only and well beloved
son.
"Unclew screamed Nan, dragging
him back. "Uncle! You shall not
Can't you see? It's John-our John
your Johnl"
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 a low, quivering cry he sank
~ Ills hA4GIH Dg AlAC UNLelAltf anu HIS lltdAl
fell forward. Mans and Johns eyes met
in a 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.
"JohnT she exclaimed. ''Yet it can't
shorely bel'
Eyes, it is, mother / didn't know
how you'd all take my bein 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 out if
you all cared for me any more"
While John was speaking Nose opened
his eyes, and tears blinded them as he
gazed.
MY son, my sonl' he murmured
brokenly. "And l might have killed
himl My minds made up. Therell be
no more 'stillin done in Bear holler after
this
do you reckon Nan cares for me any
more, fatherF 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 Viney decisively.
They've just got to go over to the circuit
riders next Sunday nd git married. At
ter that's over nd done with, Nose. / do
hope you'll behave yourself in futur'.n
"Haiu't ! said weren't a-goin to still
whisky any moregp said Nose. 'Stillins
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
Brown in Philadelphia Times.
Children and Young Animals.
The playfulness that is characteristic