The daily morning journal and courier., 1894-11-10

renowned stars would have the able support of the highest talent procura- ble in the dramatic centers of the east.
 The costumes were heralded as brill liant and gorgeous; the orchestral scores would be charmingiy rendered; to add to the unrivaied effectiveness of these ever-memorable performances there would be an impressive array of knights, courtiers. guards, men-at- arms. pages and attendants; and not withstanding the extraordinary ex- pense of this mastodonic aggregation of talent. prices had been reduced to suit the times and admission would only be: Adults. 25 cents: children, 10 cents; chil- dren in arms. free.
 The unrelenting and almost trium- phant face at the window of the chief mansion of the village was that of old Squire Gabriel Dent: for half century the dominant spirit of the hamlet that bore his name; man of iron will, stern as the granite hills above him and as infiexible in the principles of his puri- tanic creed as the immutable tenets of the hard Mosaic law.
 Within the same room sat Aunt Mar tha," his wife; tender as her husband was unydelding and grim: borne down by some great grief and faffiictlon; and with that timorous, appealing look In her face betokening the life of endless servility and abnegation she had led. Just inside the doorway was a hat less, bullet-headed, withered being, whose voice of mingled smothered snuff filings and growis proceeded, when he spoke, from the huge folds of woolen comforter, as through a ragged sieve. His beady eyes furtdvely followed the fiorid figures of the ingrain carpet and his two cracked and horny hands rested on the knob of a savage club. This was "Old Gabe Dents handy man," as he was called in the village. the Dentville constable, Reuben Screws. The latter had just entered the room and Aunt Martha had raised the corner of her apron to her eyes as if from long habit to check the gathering tears.
 'Tachment served, Rube?" demand ed the old Squire roughly from his man.
 "All sarved, slick and span;" was the muffled answer.
 Has tavern-keeper Gibbs got every thing locked up tight from that pack O tramps?" i! .-.
 "Everythings cleaned out offen 'em; thought didn't pear t me as how Gibbs jess liked 1t. Said 'twus a pity t be too tarnal rough on 'em."
 Did, did he?"
 "That's about it, Squire"
 "When did he shut off their supplies, Rube?
 "Last night, when they got back t tn tavern, after tn show"
 "Not given 'em mouthful since, Rube?
 Nary bite. save tn head un, who's down with sunth'n. Gin him some chicken broth t'day noon. Wouldn't a done that, Gibbs wouldn't, arter tn word you sent him, 'ceptin' he's afraid the head un's a goner."
 "Oh, father!" exclaimed Aunt Martha in tears behind her fluttering apron, remember the words we've been ns- tenin' to, all along through these revi- val meetin's, tn last four weeks Don't be to hard on the poor creeturs. Oh, Gabriel, don't! Mebby, somewhere in the wide world, our Letty's in sorrow an tribulation,: this very minute, borne down to the earth with need an want an grief. Remember"
 Remember! Amt I remembering? Eye for eye; tooth for tooth! That's Scrfptur, an mighty good Scriptur', too! Didn't them cursed play-actors steal our Lefty from us? Didn't them cursed play-actors ruin our home: Didn't I swear the girl never should come back, and I'd red Dentville of the vermin forever? Martha, you best re- member this town has had a great awakening!' .4 Jrs
 "A great awakenin';;" wheezed Reu- ben Screws '--a
 "The sword and the spirit have de- scended."
 "Has descended" echoed the blinking constable.
 "Root and branch, the devil must be driven from among us!" a,
 "Root and branchv' snuff1ed, Reuben Screws.
 And as long as I run this town, it's got to be a religious townv' thundered the excited Squire.
 Religious town:;" came the voice from the woolen comforter.
 ..Oh, husband" sobbed Aunt Martha, ."I'd rather have the touch of poor Let tvs hand, dead or alive, than all the hard, cold things that can be twisted and turned in religions holy name! What If that very woman you're helpin' starve at the tavern was our own Let ty? It's her name. Oh, it's our own Letty's name!"
 'Then I'd drive her into the storm, for an unrepentant child of Satan. I'd"
 But his wife, with sobs and stifed screams had fled from the room aghast at the dire threats she knew were well- ing from his implacable and angry heart.
 'Rube, what's that?"
 The constable wriggled quickly to the old 'Squire's side, and the two gazed with something akin to fascinated as- tonishment at tall, commanding fig ure, well clad against the furious storm, that had moved slowly down the village street, entered the post-office. attached beneath the Grand Star Combinations poster a generous placard. and. return ing from his errand, had given nasty glance at the tavern window from which the white and hopeless face had instantly disappeared.
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