Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1894-07-13

right in time.
On Sunday the sun shone ont bright
and clear, and old King Solomon was as
glorious a sight as one might wish to see.
His biblical namesake in all his reputed
glory could not have furnished a grander
inspiration. But Parson Tom had prom
Used not to preach. Besides, he was not
quite sure that the incredulity concerning
the loss of his money had entirely disap-
peared. So he must be careful what he
should say to them that night.
Every male person was promptly on hand
that night at the little schoolhouse, and
there was a sprinkle of the other sex
women who had not listened to a preachers
voice since they were little girls.
The half hour was devoted to reading
stories, which were responded to by heavy
laughter and a few pathetic EXPLANATIONS.
When Parson Tom had finished and was
about to say goodnight, Paymaster Bill
arose and reminded his companions that
on the night the parson had called on them
it had been proposed that a fund be start
ed toward building a church. Then he
added:
81 don't reckon none of We has got
notion o backin down on tibet Their prop
ersition. Eff we has, let's hear it,"
There was not dissenting voice, though
the amount of gold and silver dropped in
the parsons pretty buckskin bag was not
so large as it might have been had the par
son not "lost his first winnin.'
The moon had dropped down behind the
peak of King Solomon, leaving the camp
in darkness, while soft snow fell with that
steady monotony which indicates heavier
fall to come.
Parson Tom had Just opened the door of
his cabin to step in, when a heavy hand
was laid upon his throat and hoarse voice
demanded:
"Give me that money! Quick"
The parson was by no means a coward.
He struggled with his assailant, and to-
gether they fell into the cabin and rolled
out into the light cover of fresh snow
which had fallen on the frozen crust.
Muttered curses and tighter grip upon
his throat met his resistance.
damn this snow; if this Job could
have been done an hour earlier I'd a bin
all right" muttered 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 plenti-
full enough to furnish bed for footprints.
Parson Tom knew not how long he had
been there, and, despite the warmer tenn
perature, he was numb with cold when he
crawled into his cabin. He was so com
pletely 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 aroused, the snow was falling
in great sheets like drifts, from the gulch
above. He opened the door and looked
out. He could see nothing but the blind
ing 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 demand
ed his money. II he could only recall that,
he would be able to identify the man who
had robbed him. Without that recolec-
ton, 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 remarked its
peculiar tone And there he sat through
the long, black night, hoping against hope.
sitting bv the DYING embers on the hearth
The SIN shone BRIGHTER than II had shona
for weeks, Its hot rays melted the snow
ON tho roofs Of tho bn,,sos and tha do,, ,,os
like a dav in snrino Rnt il bron"Tt no
ioy to the heart of Parson Tom.
The habituGs of Rio Franks saloon had
hardly settled themselves down IN the rleas-
ures or pastimes of tbe dav-tbeir mornino
bOur bniOO a ppon WI 2 HOY, v,ora
startled nv tbe oLost-Iil,e annoaraHcn Of
Parson Tom. In \ trnnhlino VOICE he
told his story
M ,,lors :, nails, .,a,.,, pi,, Uno.,..
othdi,s P'''y9 - 'tS l'i'N
rc er% foco P, so Woh Ae%P We 80, o
;r,'. ~" ou5i's ''i pe pei 'o' iil'i'
ety show onane nm in tbai s,rino,'
This snaecb was o,pntal win 1,uqltar
NV the crowd and tbo moor narsnn ,,,s
dumb-but NOT daof-vitb mnrfifr,tior
How could he face those mon Who Iisha.
Geyed his ycrv first uttnroncoa lie tnrneJ
to 90.
"Uold on tbar,'' criod p,vuasto,. Ru.
"tbis is twjcet YER saw yer Kim robbeJ in
tLis camn Roti tfm6s If was ou, none,
as We was robbed of-moneva't we give We.
Now we've got ter prove it: fer we don't
low no man t accuse none o. us . robbin'
him the second time thought he produces
Their proof"