Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1893-06-25
VII.

1t was not until the spring OF last
wear that Jacob Laur was again seen In
Teignbury
One night soon after darkness had
set in, Mr.. Medd, q auent-tongued,
well-intentioned man who had set up
as preacher in the village on his own
account, was summoned to his door by
Just such timld, hesitating knock as
child might give.
"Jabob Laur!" the preacher exclaim-
ed, opening his eyes very wide after he
had opened the door.
AVE, it's me. Mr.. Medd. I've walk
ed up from Great Teignbury. I'm
golu' on home, But as l was passin' l
recollec'd as you'd been my friend when
friend was needed i the day o
trouble, an, took the liberty o. calm
to ask how you an Mrs. Medd was"
Come 10, Jacob! come 10, come In"
the preacher SAID. He took Jacob into
his best room, and Mrs Medd gave
him such q welcome as caused his
power OF speech to forSake him for a
time. Then, as the preacher chatted
to him cheerfully, the preachers wife
spread such a supper as Jacob may
have dreamed Of, but had not set eyes
on for many a year. He looked older,
this man from penal servltude; yet not
older than seemed natural in the time
that had passed. There was q deeper
seriousness 10 his manner, and a some
what unhealthy pallor had taken the
place OF the former sun6urn of his face.
But he did not at all look the broken
down creature certain plying souls had
imagined him. Nay, the preacher even
iancied he detected q suggestion OF
something like happiness-of quiet
contentment and peace ia his face,
such as one may see In the face of q
Undetermined man who is congratu-
lating himself silently and without
vanity on the performance Of hard
DAYS work. Mrs. Medd perceived this
too, and wondered at it. The good
woman marveled, also, Though she re-
NAMED discreetly silent on this point,)
TO see Jacob come back after all these
years wearing the same faded-brown
coat aud waiSt-coat, and the same
coarse corduroy trousers, which he had
worn at his trial. He was not allowed
to speak much until he had made q
sound supper. The good people Of the
house talked to him gayly meanwhile,
giving him such news as came to their
memory, but studiously supressng
everything that might give him pain.
When the meal was at an end Mrs.
Nedd was about to leave the two men
alone. but Jacob said: "I'd look upon
as a kindness Uord me, Mrs. Medd, IL
you'd bide a while an speak wi me.
us a comfort Z hear woman'S voice
again." he added, with shining eyes.
So the candles were put on the mantel-
shelf and they gathered around the
FIRE.
i've heard" Jacob said, ''aS Maggie
DelPs been accuSin' herself o don'
away wi her child. I heard it in the
prison, Maggie writ Z tell me-"
He stopped speaking; he appeared to
be at q loss 10 express himself.
"Of course, Mrs. Medd, you an the
preacher knows as she done this I
screen me"
ION, we all knew that, Jacob" Mr..
Medd said. Everybody knew what
her motive was"
Its not got her into no trouble?"
Jacob said, looking up anxiously.
"Oh. no; oh, no."
.It was noble thing for the poor
girl to do" Mrs. Medd said. at was
wrong 10 say what was not true-yes,
II was wrong; but nobody blamed her
for saying II, and I'm sure there was
many as praised her for it. But she'd
never list TO their praise; she always
nut EN- of, and maintained as she was
speaking only the truth. 1t was year
after you was-wss sent away that she
came home again from Queensland,
where, as everybody could see plain
enough, she went so ashley shouldn't
be able to call her as witness against
YOU on the tIial day, thouef she's
always denied that that was why she
left. l saw her soon after she chme