Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1894-02-07

A~etSoieSA eAio q ~" Pe@eAASs-S -
CARNATIONS.
When Parson Tom had finished and
was about to say good night, Paymastet
Bill arose and reminded his companions
that on the night the parson had called
ON them it had been proposed that a
fund be started toward building a
church. Then he added:
Il don't reckon none of We has got
notion O. t"ckin down on thet ther'
propersition Eff ye has, let's hear it,
There was not dissenting voice,
though the amount of gold and silver
dropped i'll tho parsons pretty buckskin
bag was not so large as 1t might have
been had the parson not "lost his first
wfnnin.
The Eacoa had dropped down behind
the pei: of King Solomon, leaving the
camp in darkness, while soft snow fell
with that steady monotony which indi-
Gates a heavier fall to come.
Parson Tom had just opened the door
Of his cabin to step in when heavy
hand was laid upon his throat and
hoalse voice demanded: -
'.Give me that money! Quick!"
The parson was by no means cow
ard. He struggled with his assailant,
and together they fell into the cabin and
rolled cut 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.
"D-n this snow; if this job could
have been done an hour earlier. I'd "a
bin all right, nuttered the voice as
the form moved away in the darkness.
That was the last the parson heard.
The light snow fell straight from the
sky. There was no wind to disturb its
course, and the soft, fine flakes were
hardly plentiful enough to furnish
bed for footprints.
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 overcome by the
struggle with his assailant and the cold
that he lay upon his bed in a stupor far
into the night.
When he arose, the snow was fall
ing in great sheets like drifts from the
gulch above. He opened the door and
looked out He could see nothing but
the binding storm and the darkness,
which was scarcely subdued by the
CHASTITY whiteness of the snow. He
dared not venture 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 would be able to identify
the man who had robbed him. With
out that recollection 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 re-
marked its peculiar tone. And there he
sat through the long, black night, hop
ing against hope.
1t 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 a day in
spring But it brought no joy to the
heart of Parson 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 noontime
when they were startled by the ghost
like appearance of Parson Tom. In a
trembling voice he told his story.
He plays it well," sneered Big
Frank That's purity good makeup
be've got on yer face. Ye'd oughter
ye performer There'll be a chance
fer ye when the variety show opens up
in ther spring.
This speech was greeted with laugh
ter by the crowd, and the poor parson
was dumb-but not deaf-with morti
fcation. How could he face these men
who disbelieved his very first utter
ance? He turned to go.
Hold on ther'n' cried Paymaster
Bill. "Thi5 is twicet yer say yer bin
robbed in this camp. Both times it
was our money as ye was robbed Of
money at we give ye. Now ye've got
ter prove it. fer we don't low no man
to accuse none O. us O. robbin him the
second time 'thout he produces ther
proof
"Ther proofs wat we wants!" shout
ed the crowd.
Parson Tom stood as still as death.
He could not speak.
AN theirs another thing ye've got
ter prove, continued Bill as he saw the
parson would not reply. "Ye've got ter
prove thet ye didn't rob some other
parties besides yerself. More;n one cab
in was burglarized last night, an eff ye
amt ther burglar then-prove it!''
But Parson Tom could utter no sound,
save groan of anguish. Could he but
recall that voice! But, no! His mem
ory failed.
There he stood as dumb as-though he
had been born without speech, while
Paymaster Bill demanded that he prove
his innocence, and the crowd, led on by
Big Frank, sneered at and reviled the
accused.
During this trying ordeal for the par
son, three men, selected by Big Frank,
had gone to the parsons cabin, and
there, upon the floor, had found aug-
get of gold belonging to Big Frank.
This they brought and fouted in the
face of the trembling victim. Well he
knew how it had come there, but it was
idle to assert OF protest. His words
if he could have spoken-would have
been to these infuriated men like the
screech of a wild bird borne on the wind
in bowling storm.
Eye hev no proof O. yer innicence, i"
said Paymaster Bill hotly, IAN we hev
this proof O. yer guilt. Wat dye say
now?'
Parson Tom saw that all hope was
lost, but with dying hope his speech re-
turned, and he said with much evident
efcrt:
Gentlemen, l see no hope of estab-
fishing my innocence, but still main
tain it. That nugget of gold must have
been dropped by the robber i'll our strug-
gle in the cabin. If 1 could recall the
voice, 1 should convince you. 1t was
none of you who did the deed, but one
who has once lived here among you.
r 4o1 L.