The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1893-04-26

Was 4 dangerous. uncertain 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 st last
she rose, slipped on her dress and stole
out into the moonlight. An impulse
she could not controls impeIled her to
peep in at the peidler's open window.
She was prompted by.an indefinsble 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. "Am dream
in'2 Surely il can't bend yet must
believe my own eyes"
Acting under a new impnlse she turn
ed and fled 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 retraced
her steps and once more crouehed be-
meath the peddlers window. There she
waited until her limbs became eramped
and the night air chilled her to the bone.
~Imight as well lie down again, she
thought. Il reckon uncle's gone down
the valley, for be lowed today as he'd
have to 90 after coffee right away. I
could wake the man mp. bur somehow l
dassn't. he might think was forward"
But a second trial Of the bed was no
better than the first. The peddier's
heavy breathing wSs ever in her ears,
and her thoughts reverted constantly to
the sense Of peril that vaguely, yet per
sistently kept her upon the tender-hooks'
Of anxiety.
Il wish mornin' would come she
said tor the hundredth time. Lord
what a meeting therell be then =
The sound Of 4 steslthy 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 could hear il no more. Could she
have imagined it all? No; there it was
again-in the back porch.
Then-then-she heard a gentle creak-
ing sound. All The shed room door.
She sprang out Of bed, and a hasty bound
brought her to the door leading to the
back porch. She wrenched il open Just
in time TO catch glimpse Of a tall shsd-
ow that disappeared within the shed
room.
"Good Lord, help me" she family
calculated as she sprang forward, nerve d
20 desperation by this dreadful fulfill
ment OF her fears.
She entered the room, There lay the
peddler, siumbering heavily in the white
glow OF the moonlight HIS face Was
strangely altered, for the heavy beard
had fallen OF, leaving exposed 3 clean
shaven youthful face. But the white
bearded old man hsnting over the pros
trAte form With uplifted knife saw moth
ing distinctly. To his morbid imagin-
ing only the form ofa hated spy lay
helpless before him. A spy in the ser
vice ofthe detested ~reyenoos," who had
robbed hin Of his only and well below
ed son.
Uncle" screamed Nan, dragging him
back. ~UncIe, You shall not. Can't
you see? its John-oar John-your
Johnr'
The psdeler woke and stared upward
in bewildered way. The knife fell TO
the floor as Moses, MS eyes almost start
ing from his head, stared at his sons
white face Suddenly he eomprehended
and the effect descended upon him lik 9
thunderbolt.
Uttering low, quivering cry he sank
to his knees by the bedside, and his head
fell forward. Mans and JOINS eyes met
in q mutually recognizing glance then
they turned their attention to the old
man. As they laid him upon the bed
Aunt Whey, awakened by the noise, came
in. she fell as though confronted 5y 4
ghost
John" she exclaimed. aYe, it can't
shorely be r'
~Yes. il Is mother. didn't know nov
you'd all take nv bein' 50 long in the
pen, 50 when the governor pardoned me
out lowed I'd come home as a peddle'
md in disguise till 1 found out If you al
cared for me any more"
While John was speaking Nose open
ed his eyes, and tears blinded them as be
gAzed.
MY son, my SON. he murmursd
brokenly. "ARd 1 might have killed
him. Ny minds made up. There'll BE-
no more stillin' done in Bear hoIler aitel
this
do you reckon Nan cares for me any
more, father?" asked John, while hi:
eyes sought those Of Nan.
@Of course she do. Hasn't she beer
grievin' herself away ever stree you wa'
took. She never looked AT anothel
man"
Mans confusion seemed to sanction
this.
There's only one thing then to b,
DONE interrupted Aunt Viaey decisive
ly. They've Just got 10 90 over to the
eireait riders next Sunday nd git mar
ried. After that's over nd done with
Nose, do hope you'll behave yourseli
in futur' =
=Hain't said I weren't eoin' to 'stil
vhiskey any more27 s's illin's been a
the bottom Of all our trou es"
While the old folks talked John took
Mans hand in his, and they steAlthiis
kissed each Philadelphia TIsies.
The Place Was Open.