Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1893-10-06
THE EMMA SALOON,

When the stage reached the Gulch,
the Darson. who had come on from
Devils Delight, was in it, but he
stopped at the tavern until it was time
to 60 to meeting. It meant nothing
to him that he was taking his life in
his hands to preach the Gospel to
these men. What was his poor miser-
erable gift of q dying life, compared
with these lost souls? Besides-then
he couehed terribly, closed his eyes,
and wiped the cold sweat OF mortal i'll
ness from his face. All, specious hui
man nature Sophistries that keep it
from the debasement Of oyer-righteous-
ness! It was OF one precious sin-sick
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 I have shown that
il was great-she had given her saloon,
which was also her throne, and now
she was shut mp in miserable, tawdry
room, partitioned off from the rest
dressed in her Sunday fnery, 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-bedecked hands. 81 can
buy and sell them all. I am ro mans
slave and my word is law, but
And then a whole food Of tears came
But soon she dashed them away and
dried her eyes. Another touch of
rouge to repair the ravage, and she
was ready "to go to church, as she
phrased it to herself. A determined,
aggressive figure, dressed in a smart,
black satin, wearing 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,
,ent back, and threw lace shawl
around her shoulders. Then she made
her way to the front room, just as the
noise of Gathering boots and grating
chairs was hushed, and the minister
bowed his head in prayer.
A 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 a sigh, that she sat down
among the men, where she could see
without being seen.
The minister then chose a hymn and
lined it out.
81 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
womans 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
q shaking hand.
"Hearken to me, my friends" he
began solemnly, "and know that you
are listening to dying man.
He had not time to announce the
text. the words of life were lowering
upon his lips, when there rung through
the room a woman's frenzied cry;
"Oh, Jimmy, jimmy"
"who spoke, who called me?" asked
the parson with white lips, clinging to
the table before him.
.soh. Jimmy. you're too late-and