The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1894-11-10

hateful nghtS OF the DentVIlIe DOOrhOuSe
toward the hallowed silences of the olden
Dentville village church.
Back in the village its pastor and its
COOLEST, richest and most powerful citi :
zen had both finished their evening re-
pastS.
Singularly, both were i'll at ease As
the storm increased aud at times howled
dlsmally through the raging tree branches
above the parsonage. the pastors heart
bled for all who might helpiessly know
Its stlngs and hurts.
Gabriel Dent was truly troubled. It
was no more than twenty minutes
drive for his smart team to the poor
mousse. Dumping the wagons wretched
load into its doorway, was but mo-
ments work for Reuben Screws and old
Beetles, the keeper. But more than an
hour had now passed. and the Constable
had not returned.
As the storm shook the old mansion to
It's foundations, its owners heart was
troubled because finality concerning his
merclless act had not yet been fully as
sured. Where was Reuben Screws
W ny had he not returned? And why
could not Gabriel Dent, servant of the
Lord, Instantly know that his first de-
clslve measure for the lifting uD OF re-
lgIon in Dentville had been closed and
sealed past all recall by the implaca bility
OF his own memorable wish and will?
Uncertainty to such hearts of flint is as
the remorseIess droppings of water which
wear away and kill. He could endure it
no longer, and he plunged forthwith into
the wild and bitter night.
Mother and Ruth" said the Dentville
pastor at the parsonage. 81 can't bear
this ioreboding upon me that some one
IN DentvIlle is in great distress, perhaps
IN utter peril. Savage as it is outside, l
feel that L must go at once and look about
the village"
IF you should happen to bring back
any one, any one needing them, Philip"
were the last words of Mother Marden at
the whistling crack Of the door, you'll
ma the spare rooms ready and the kettle
boiling on the fire. God bless you in
your search, my son ~
thus two humans battled for time
against the storm which swept the little
village.
Whatever tinality had come to the con-
seriousness of Gabriel Dent in his deter
mined search, when Philip Marden,
startled at family flashing and paling
light from the window of his abandoned
study III the rear of the old church base
ment, had fastened through the parson-
age grounds to the unused study door, he
certainly saw old Gabriel Dent tearing
Lumbllng through the ghostly grave
stones OF the greWSOme churchyard to-
ward the village street, shriekng hor-
rIble maledictions as he sped madly down
the broadening way.
He saw, too, in another moment. as he
peered within the partly-opened olden
study door, what sent HIM bounding
back to the parsonage; what made him
tear his own door open as though he were
some savage spirit of the night and storm.
and what still made him, all inarticuate
for moment. stand staring at his mother
and sister IN mute and helpless dismay.
ID,,f H.,
pleaded Mother MarGeu, as Ruth chung
TO her frightened and distracted.
"Mother Ruth" he finally faltered,
They're huddled starving, freezing in
the old church study It's her, mother
Around her is the dumbness of terror.
Beside her is the silence of death. Don't
you understand? Mother Ruth! 1t
is-'
But here at the parsonage door is really
q savage spirit of the night and the storm.
1t bursts in upon the inmates turiously.
Bloodshot its eyes, chattering its teeth,
livid and paid its face by turns, like
tigers its wildly clutching claws.
philip MardenW it shrieks at the
pastor as the latter faces it bravely, ''if
knew your apostate hand was IN that
work of bringing those devils back from
the poorhOuse-Where l put 'em-before
I'd sleep I'd tumble this house down
about your heads here and I'd burn that
desecrated house Of God as level as the
graves around it."
The pastor seemed growing into gigan-
tic stature as these words were spoken
and his Mortified mother and sister sank
feebly under the awful outburst A
wondrous light had leaped into his face
and eyes. he raised his outspread hand
high above the silvered head of the in
truder.
Gabriel Dent" he almost whispered,
do L 1n 4
the darkness of unutterable despair?"
''Who ?-who?" shrieked the implaca-
BILE man wildly. Devils, devils, every
one! Bring the keys. Come with me-
You're parson yet!' he roared with
covert vindictiveness. Its your part,
not mine, to clear these vipers from the
house of God"
"Yes," returned the pastor with strange
intonation OF mercifuI compassion. But
we will go together. All but one shall
leave the church tonight. One, perhaps
even Gabriel Dent, would not have to go;
and one other L wish you to see, face to
face, with me. Mother. Ruth l will be
here with them all directly. One should
have our best spare room tonight Yes,
yes, Gabriel Dent. Come, we viii turn
Them out togethern'
AS the two left the parsonage, Gabriel
Dent was already hushed and wondering
from the PASTORS exalted vet submissive
manner.
''Softly now" said Philip Marden. as
they peered within the half-open study
door. I'VE must come upon the wretches
unaware !"
But there was little need now for quiet
or for stealth. Huddled about a flicker
ing blaze in the ruinous fireplace, iay
the actors; crowded together for each
others human warmth; sudden and still
in the exhausted and almost wax eless
sleep of hunger and of cold.
In a bundle of rags on the old com
munion table lay some unrecognizab bic
object; and flung across it, clutching ii as
in deafness grasp, was the form of a
haggard woman, stilled in the stupor of
mute despair.
This is the one" said Philip Marden
softly, pressing the hand of Gabriel Dent
into the clanmy hand of the BODY be-
meath the rags, Il thought you might be
willing TO have remain little longer.
and this one is the one 1 wish to have YOU
know"
Old Gabriel Dent was already trembling
like wind-whipped autumn leaf
The pastor bent over the two and spoke
low and clearly in the wreIched woman's
ear:
Lefty Lefty Dent! Gabriel Dent as
here TO SHcc07 yO1t ~
mot him Not him - she moaned as
she raised her head an instant, glared
vacantly at the now abject man before
her and sank back again upon the liteless
body, Gabriel Dent, her father, stumbling
after her, falling upon his knees beside
the same table where his lips for more
than halt century had received the
blessed sacrament, grasping pitifullv at
her bedraggled garments as II to kiss their
very hem, and crying aloud as a repent
ant human heart can only plead in I'M
utterable torment and remorse:
Lefty! Lefty Daughter minel For
give! forgivei Oh, may God have mercy
on my wicked soul ~