The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-10-28

"Anstruther Hammock, I knew you dare
not refuse to come"
Whatever the dread mystery enacted.
whatever the measureless misery to such
nature as this in the inexorab bic account
ing which was surely had, and whatever
the blighting judgment passed by the
dead or superstitious dead upon the grow
cling living, among these lone and wind
swept graves, the folk of MiIlvale ever
after knew only that some mighty and
wondrous change had come upon the
master Of KannOck Manse this night of
Halloween-a change that had made him
an old, old man; a man of blarched locks
and face; man of trembling and hating
step and hesitant, thoughtful speech, and
yet man more in the sunlight than in
the shadows of remaining peaceful days,
into which had come a blessed quickening
poor
Two only knew Of his absence from the
manse, and but one of these ever pos
sessed the secret Of what had left him
prone and unconscious upon his fathers
crumbling tomb.
On their way to the manse, as hidden
by the distracted miser, Charles Penruth
and his brother. Judge Penruth, bearing
some legal papers in their hands. had ia
ken the shorter but unfrequented path
which led from the village through the
churchyard on the hill.
Here they had stumbled over Struther
Hammock as he lay witless and almost life
less on his fathers grave They took him
between them and without disturbing the
merry-makers at the manse. at last got
him safely in mis- own bed. Here, as
they were vigorously chafing his hands
and limbs, he suddenly sat bolt upright
and calmly said:
please bring the papers and a penv'
This, with the first infection of gentle
ness the two at his side had ever heard
escape his lips.
The documents were brought and the
old man read them aloud, still in clear
and kindly tones. Then, as one brother
held a light and the other a book upon
which the papers rested, he signed them
decisively without slightest tremor of
hand or pen.
Shall We burn these others now?" the
schoolmaster quietly asked.
No. You may leave them with me-"
He took them, crunched them in his
hand little, and placing them carelessly
beneath his pillow, added:
They hold no more harm nor hurt now
than the vanishing shadows of Hammock
Mansew
Amen" came heartily and solemnly
from the other voices in the room; and in
moment more, as Charles Penruth and
his brother stole softly out of the door
way, old 'Struther Kannock's head lay
close upon his pillow and mis- sleep was
dreamless and peaceful as a babes.
Was there joy this Halloween night in
the ample olden room of cheer, to which
the two now hurried. No need to ask
the lips and eyes and hearts of mother,
daughter, son; of pupil Edith, blushing,
demure and sweet, and of Master Pen
ruth, grave and grand and tall; nor of all
the assembled company" athrill with
this ecstacy- bringing change and glow
until the thrilling and the glowing of it
all broke into such peals CT gladness as
Millvale hamlet had never known before
And, think you, was there a dance here
this Halloween night, where the shadows
had so long gathered and lowered like a
close and sitting pail? Ask the rafters
of oak above them that shivered a
century's splinters and mold upon the
waiting heads and heels of these glad
hearted AIillvale villagers. And ask the
stars that looked softly down upon this
scene of peace and JOY. until their shining
eyes went out in the brighter All Hallows-
dawn, which lifted flaming cones upon
the peaks of fair and far New England
hills!