Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1893-10-21

and never took her ewes from the thin
meager form of the man who stood in
the impromptu pulpit, pouring out his
soul III prayer.
II was not until the petition was
ended, and the oppressed llsteness had
relaxed with sigh. that che sat down
among the men, where she could see
without being seen.
The minister then chose hymn.spd
lined it out -
Il heard the voice of Jesus say"
He was interrupted by Deputy Bill.
"We.can't sing that, pard-I mean
parson. Give us something we know"
They compromised on "a Land
That is Fairer Than Day The par.
son heard the sweet treble of
woman's voice, and wondered much
wheuce it'came He looked troubled.
and the co1Qh that shook him with its
paroxysm brought out bottles and
glasses, but he put aside all offers with
a shaking hand.
"Hearken to me, my friends" he
began solemnly, "and know that You
are listening to.a dying man.
He had not time to announce the
text the words, of life we're lowering
upon his lips, when there rung through
the room a woman's frenzied cry:
ooh, Jimmy, Jimmy"
"Who spoke, who called me?" asked
the parson with'white lips, clinging to
the table before,him.
"Oh, Jimmy, you're too late-and
| you're'killing yourself. and it's for me,
and I'm not wou.u ..-I'm not worth
| it,"
She was making her wny to him row,
and as his eyes hit up his death pale
features he prayed:
cat last" he murmured, cat last,
and now I'm willing to die. Lord, !
thank Thee"
]. His head fell forward A dozen stall
wart men jumped'tc his side, but when
| he was laid on the nearest bench it was
"Scarred Emma" who held his dying
| head on her arm, and it was into her
| face be looked when he opened his
eyes for brieftcoming back to life.
Don 'tcry, ''he said tenderly. don't
cry, Molly at|least not for me-but
promise me-Flick, I'm going soon
promise me to,quit this place-now-
| forever"
ooh, Jimmy. l can't. You've seen
them all-tell me. Jimmy, are they
vell-do they ever speak Of me-
there, The dear old mother and the
little sister. And promised them I'd
bring you and now I'm going without
you!"
"Dor't go. Jimmy. TllHlo anything
if You'll only live. I'll change my
wavs, and do just as you bid me. even
to turning my back on friends that
| have been good to me. But oh, Jimmy,
I'm not worth dying for-it's too late
for that
"Not to meet the dear mother anil
little sister, tell you it is not too
late. Oh, l cannot die,in peace if you
do not promise. You shave no right
to lose your soul. child-it is not yours
to do with as yon 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 amoment she
had stripped every ring from her fin.
gers and then he gathered she.two poor
SCARED hands in his coA,ones, and
held them to his pale ones.
Saved" he muYmured. then he
smiled AZ If in answer to something be
saw, and a moment later he fell asleep.
and the woman kneeling bv his side
reveren,ly closed his eyes, sobbine, but
not as one without hope.
Less than a year ago, and to-day the
quiet. respectable woman who is post
mistress IN one Of our small western
towns has the goodwill Of every cIti
zen. They can see nothing IN common
with her and the terrible woman O
Dead Man Guich, except the scarrec
hands from which they receive theil
daily mail. and they know the honor
able history of these scars -Detr OIL
Free Press