The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1894-02-16
IL wou1u turn up all right in time.

udu prOmlbeu uOJ 10 preach. Besides
he was not quite sure that the incredu
lily concerning the loss of his money haC
entirely disappeared. So he must bc
careful what he should say to them thai
night.
Every male person was promptly OF
hand that night at the little school
house, and there was sprinkle of the
other sex-women who had not listened
to a preacher voice since they were
little girls.
The half hour was devoted to reading
stories which were responded to by
hearty laughter and few pathetic ex.
CARNATIONS
When Parson Tom had finished and
was about to say good night, Paymastel
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:
don't reckon none of We has got a
notion O. backin down on tibet Their
propersition. Eff ye has, let's hear it. -
There was not a dissenting voice,
though the amount of gold and silver
dropped in the parsou' s pretty buckskin
bag was not SO large as it might have
been had the perst 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 indi.
Gates 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 cow
ard. He struggled with his assailant,
and together 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 a tighter
grip upon his throat met his resistance.
Oh 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 plentiful enough to furnish a
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
with his assailant and the cold
that he lay upon his bed in stupor fa1
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 hut
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 il |
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.
p11f b.
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. Its hot rays
melted the snow on the roofs of the
and the day was like day in
'pring. But it brought no joy to the
leart of Parson Tom.
The habitues of Big Franks saloon
lad hardly settled themselves down to
he pleasures or pastimes of the day
heir morning hour being the noontime
when they were startled by the ghost
ike appearance of Parson Tom. In
rembling voice he told his story.
He plays it WE'LL" sneered Big
Frank. That's purity good makeup
'e've got on yer face. Ye'd oughter
'e performer. There'll be chance
er ye when the variety show opens up
n Their spring"
This speech was greeted with laugh
er by the crowd and the poor parson
vas dumb-but not deaf-with morti-
cation. How could he face these men
Who disbelieved his very first utter
nee? He turned to go.
Hold on ther'v' cried Paymaster
ill. This is twicet yer say yer bin
Obbed in this camp Both times it
yas our money as ye was robbed Of
honey at we give ye. Now we've got
er prove it. fer we don't low no man
} accuse none o. us O. Robin him the
econd time 'thout he produces Their
roof. "
ether proofs wat we wants!' shout
q the crowd.
Parson Tom stood as still as death.
Ie could not speak.
IAN theirs another thing we've got
or prove, continued Bill as he saw the
arson would not reply. we've got ter
rove tibet We didn't rob some other
arties besides yerself. More'n one cab