The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1894-11-10

unchaFit9bieless and merctless cruelty
set like flint within the church Itself.
toward every unfortunate. suffering
heart 70 which the divine Passion was
alone directed"
The needles OF Mother Marden and
Ruth few q little faster; bat beyond
sympathetic gLances toward the man At
the lattice, there was no response.
Think OF the treatment those poor,
miserable transformers down at the
tavern are receiving in Dentville this
very noment!" he said with vigorous
gestures Of eommiseration and condem-
naJon, as though eloquently pleading
their cause in his own pulpit
"Wbat are barn-stormers, Brother
PhilipT
"Eh? Why, broken.doWn actors or
reputable actors, who. under the bitter
stress OF necessity. 20 from one little
town 70 another with all manner Of pa
thetic shifts and expedients, clutching
like scourged beasts at something upon
which 10 live"
Little calculations OF surprise and
pity escaped tho gentle woinen's lips.
"rhese miserable beings have tried to
give entertainments at the town hall.
The weather has whipped every one
out Of the streets, and, more sorrowtul
sEiIl, old Gabe Dent, under the guise OF
religious duty, has warned away from
the hall every soul in the village his
wealth or the fear Of his hatred could
influence. Result: Not half dozen
present the first night, aud not more
than half that number last night. To-
night. In this bitter storm, what can the
attendance be7"
"Dear. dearp and "Poor souls" NUT
INJURED mother aud daughter sympathet-
iCaIly.
"Worse than all, at old Gabe Dents
instigation-as Gibbs leases the tavern
from him and is always behind in his
rent-their ragamuttin belongings have
been attached; they are without food.
as learned Mt the postotiice Rt noon;
the chief actor Is broken down and i'll |;
and all OF the few members Of the COM
pany are only half clad and are GER
tainly half starved"
"What are they to do? asked Ruth
with dismal face; while Mother Mar.
den, who had laid her work aside, sat
with half.closed eyes, soberly regarding
their own blazing fire.
"What are they 10 do, Ruth2 If
human or divine Interpolation does not
succor them, they will oil be turned
into the street to perish from hunger
and the storm. And this-God forgive
my unwilling efforts here!-is in q
Christian community. in the nineteenth
century and at the very helghth OF an
awakening OF Christian tervor aud
zeal!
"Isn't the first name OF tho leading
actress" began Mother Marden mus-
ingly, and yet with slight tremor in
her voice, "the same as-as-"
Eyes, mother, yes; the same as bis
daughter, around whom my very life
was once wrapped. 1t was so long, long
ago, that we may speak plainly Of these
matters now" returned Philip Marden
with sudden solemnity.
Here mother and daughter exchanged
iurtivc glances of tenderness and pity.
ut would almost seem that this alone
would touch the old squire's heart.
Why, I, who am not her blood. and who
80 long ago forgave her for the seeming
cruelty OF her leaving us for the allure
men.s OF the stage, have been deeply
stirred by this mere coincidence OF
names."
"Of course it could only DO coinci-
dence;" suggested Ruth. comfortingly.
"Why only be, sister Ruth Stranger
things are daily happening all around
US than that this broken life, in very
desperation OF all other recourse, in its
bitter extremity should steal back here
with some vague impulse OF Affection, OF
heart hunger. OF looking again, even in
this wretcLed fashion, in the faces OF
those she once loved. should some OF
them still be faces Of stone"
Phillip, have you felt that you had
any duty In this matter2"
When Mother Marden said this there
was that glowing in her due, plain face
which made II easy to know the noble
strain through which had como this
humble village pastors inilexible man.
hood and aIl.comp passing human charity.
Eyes. Just this. But come here, and
will show you a part OF 1t now" he
said quietly, as he seated himself at his
desk. In front OF him lay two huge pieces
OF cardboard. He traced upon these in
wide and generous lines few well
chosen words, and signed them with
his name. Then, turning to tho two
who were bent over him proudly, he
know, without speech, that what he
had written echoed the wishes OF their
own gentle hearts.
III these can help them along their
wretched way little, well and good"
he continued, as lie turned to the CHEEKY
fire to more quickly dry the ink. "lf
they do not them"
"rhen," interrupted Mother Marden
calmly and Ruth Marden enthusiastic
ally, following with their eyes Philip
Marden's happy glance around their
humble homo, I'VE can help them some'
what horew
"Yes, yo., deara! Now for my great
coat and hail"
The mother brought one. the sister
the other, and with many encouraging
pattings aud caresstngs, they both
brought him to the door and into tho
roaring storm, following his fine, manly
figure rs it labored slowly down the
street, with kIndling. loyeful, misting
eyes.
He had scarcely time to have re.
entered the parsonage from his errand
with the notices at tho postotIice and
church-door, when Reuben Screws stood
at the postotfice window before the pas
tors placard, his weazened face work.
ing grimacingly as he spelled out the
lines and beat tho words, for faithfully
carrying back to his master, slowly and
carefully into his hard old head. This
ia what be finally mastered:
NOTICE.
Owing 10 tho serious inclcnency Of the
,ran1hne thara will hN M ENFVinD mt tho nhuFoh