The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1893-11-10

precious sin-sicE soul he was thinking,
and that he hoped to reach through
this zeal for the brotherhood.
Poor SCARED Emma She had given
her influence-and | have shown that.it
was great-she had gwen her saloon,
which was also her throne, and now
she was shut up in miserable, tawdry
room. partitioned off from the rest,
dressed in her Sunday finery, waiting
until all the gang had assembled, when
she would walk in boldly and take her
seat with the rest. Well she knew that
no woman would be there. No other
woman would sit under the same roof
with her, and then she looked down on
her diamond -bedeclxed hands II can
buy and sell them all | am no mans
slave and my word is law. but" And
then a whole flood of tears came. But
soon she dashed them away and dried
her ewes. Another touch of rouge to
repair the ravage, and she was ready
ito go to church" as she phrased il TO
herself a determined, aggressive fig
ure, dressed in a smart black satin,
wearing a bow of pink ribbon at the
throat. 1t seemed as if the incongruity
of her attire struck her at the last
moment, for on the threshold of her
room she stopped, went back, and
threw a lace shawl around her shoul-
ders. Then she made her way TO the
front room, just as the noise of clatter-
ing boots and grating chairs was
hushed, and the minister bowed his
head in prayer.
4 dozen men made room for her.
Their faces frightened as she entered,
but she did not look at one of them
Like one walking in sleep she moved,
and never took her eyes from the thin,
meager form of the man who stood in
the impromptu pulpit pouring out his
soul in prayer.
1t was not until the petition was
ended, and the oppressed listeners had
relaxed with sigh, that she sat down
among the men, where she could see
without being seen.
The minister then chose a hymn and
lined il out:
Il heard the voice of Jesus say"
He was interrupted by Deputy Bill.
I'VE can't sing that, pard-I mean
parson. Give Us something we know"
They compromised on "A land that
is fairer than day" The parson heard
the sweet treble of a woman's voice,
and wondered much whence it came.
He looked troubled. and the cough that
shook him with its paroxysm brought
out bottles and glasses, but he put
aside all offers with a shaking hand.
''Hearllen to me, my friends he be
gan, solcmnly, ''and know that you are
listening TO dying man
lie had not time To announce the
text, the words of life were lowering
upon his lips. when there rang through
the room n woman's frenAed cry:
''Oh! Jimmy, jimmy
who spoke. who called me?" asked
the parson. with white lips, clinging to
th, table before him.
.'Oh! Jimmy, you're too late-and
you're killing yourself, and it's for me,
and I'm not worth it-Tm-not-worth-
it.'
She was making her way to him now,
and as his eyes lit up his death-pale
features he prayed:
AT last" he murmured, lat last,
and now I'm willing to die. Lord, I
thank-Thee."
His head fell forward. \ dozen stall
wart men jumped to his side, but when
h, was laid on the nearest bench it
was Scared Emma" who held his dy-
ing head on her arm, and it was into
her face he locke when he opened his
eyes for brief coming back TO life.
Don't cry" he said. tenderly, don't
cry, Molly-at least not for me-but
promise mc-quiclz, I'm going soon
promise me To quit this place-now-
forever
''Oh, Jimmy, I can't You've seen
them all-tcll me, Jimmie, are they
well-do they ever speak of me?''
''They-are-all- all-well-d and safe
over there. The dear old mother and
the little sister. And / promised them
I'd bring-you and-now I'm going
without you.'
Don't go. Jimmy. I'll do anything
if you'll only live I'll change my
ways, and do just rs you bid me, even
to turning my back on friends that
have been good 10 me. But Oh, Jimmy,
I'm not worth dying forts too late
for that"
Not TO meet the dear mother and
little sister! l tell you it is not too
late Oh. ! cannot die in peace if you
do not promise. You have no right to
lose your soul, chiId-it is not yours to
do with as you please, but is bought
with price. Take those off" look
ing with wide strange eyes at the gems
on her hands.
She obeyed him In moment she
had stripped every ring from her fingers
and then he gathered the two poor
SCARED hands in his cold ones, and held
them 10 his pale lips
saved" he murmured, then he
smiled as If in answer 70 something he
saw. and a moment later he fell asleep,
and the woman kneeling by his side
reverently closed his eyes, sobbing, but
not as one without hope
Less than year ago, and to-day the
quiet, respectable woman who il post
mistress in one of our small western
towns has the good will of every
citizen. They can see nothing in com
mon with her and the terrible woman
of Dead Mans Gulch except the SCARED
hands from which they receive their
daily mail. And they know the hon
orable history of those scars.-Mrs. VI.
L. Rayne, in Detroit Free Press.