The Opelousas courier., 1894-06-02

hand that night at the little school
house, and there was a sprinkle OF the
other sex-women who had not
listened to a preachers voice since
they were little girls
The half-hour WAS devoted to read
ing stories, which We're responded tc
by hearty laughter and a few pathetic
ordinations.
When Parson Tom had finished and
was about to say goodnight, Paymaster
Bill o and reminded his compan-
ions that on the night the psrson had
called on them, it had been proposed
that a fund be started toward building
o church. Then he added:
81 don't reckon none of ye has got
a notion O. backin' down on tibet Their
%propersition. Eff ye has, let's hear
it," t
There was not a dissenting voice,
though the amount of gold and silver
dropped in the parsons pretty buck
skin bag was not SO large as it might
have been had the parson not "lost
his first winnin'."
The moon had dropped down be-
hind the peak of King Solomon, leav-
ing the camp in darkness, while soft
snow fell with that monotony which
indicates a heavier fall to come.
Parson Tom had just opened the
door of his cabin to step in, when q
heavy hand was laid upon his throat
and o hoarse voice demanded:
"Give me that money! .Quick!"
The parson was by no means q
coward. He struggled with his assail.
ant, and together they fell into the
cabin and rolled out into the light
cover of fresh snow which had fallen
on the frozen crust. Muttered curses
and a tighter grip upon his throat met
his resistance. -.
Parson Tom knew NOT how long he
had lain there, and, despite the
warmer temperature, he was numb
With cold when he crawled into his
cabin. He was SO completely over
come by the struggle with his sssailant
and the cold that he lay upon his bed
in q stupor far into the night.
When he aroused, the snow was fall
ing in great sheets, like drifts, from
the gulch above. He opened the door
and looked out. He could see moth
ing but the binding storm and the
darkness which was scarcely subdued
by the CHASTITY whiteness of the snow.
He dared not v~enture'out. No man
could live an hour in that terrible
storm.
Rebuilding the fire, the parson sat
down and tried to think-tried to
think where he had heard that voice
before it demanded his money. If he
could only recall that, he wonld be
able to identify the nan who had
robbed him. Without that recollec-
ton, his claim that he had been
robbed the second time would be only
laughed at by the men who had been
SO generous in their gifts.
But it was impossible to recall it,
though he knew he had heard it and
remarked it's peculiar tone. And there
he sat through the long, black night
hoping against hope.
Il was broad MONDAY when he
awoke, sitting by the dying embers
on the hearth. The sun shone brighter
than it had shone for weeks. It's hot
rays melted the snow on the roofs OF
the houses, and the day was like q day
in spring. But it brought no Joy to
the heart of PEARSON Tom.
The habitues Of Big Franks saloon
had hardly settled themselves down
to the pleasures or pastimes Of the
day--their morning hour being the
noon-time-when they were startled
by the ghost-1fke appearance ofParsor
Tom. In a trembling voice, he told
his story.
HE plays it WELL" .sneered Big
Frank; that's purity good make-uI
we've got on yer face. Yeid ought ten
be q performer. ThereH be chance
fer ye when the variety show opens
up in the spring"
This speech was greeted with laugh
ter by the crowd, and the poor parsor
was, dumb-but not deaf-with morti
fcation. How conld he face these meI
who disbelieved his very first utter
ance? He turned to go. -.
Hold on ther'!" cried Paymaste1
Bill .'tthis is twicet yer say yersbiI
robbed iii this camp. Both times i
was our money as ye was robbed Of
money at we give ye. Now ye're go'
ter prove it; fer we don't low nomar
t accuse NONE o us o Robin him thu
second time 'thout he perduces the1
proof. fs
.sT'her proofs wat we wantsp
shouted the crowd.
Parson Tom stood as still as death,
he could not speak.
can theirs another thing ye've go1
ter prove" continued Bill, as he saw
the parson would notreply: t'ye'veg ot
ter prove tibet re didn't rob som.
other parties besides yerself. More'1
one cabin was burglarized last night
an ct ye amt ther burglar, then
prove i'll" IS
But Parson Tom could utter N
sound, save q groan Of anguish. Coult
he but recall that svoicei But, no
His memory failed.
There he stood as dumb as though
he had been born without speech
while Paymaster Bill demanded tina
he prove his innocence, and the crowd
led on by Big Frank, sneered at AMI
reviled the accused.
During this trying ordeal fer The
parson, three men, selected by Biz
Frank, had gone to the parson'scabin