The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1894-11-10

II vas as though the dead living then
trailed with this living dead along some
old familiar pathway, away from the
hateful lights Of the Dentvilie poor.
house toward the hallowed stlences OF
the olden Dentyille village church: :.
Gabriel Dent was truly troubled. II
was no more than twenty minutes
drive for his smart team TO tho poor
house. Dumping the wagons wretched
load iutoits doorway, was but q moments
work for Reuksn Screws and old Bee
ties, the keeper. But more than an
hour mad passed, and the constable had
not returned.
As the storm shook the old mansion.
its owners heart alone was troubled be-
cause tinality concerning his merciless
act had not vet been fully assured.
Where was Reuben Screws? Why had
he not retu rned? And why could not
Gabriel Dent, servant OF the Lo:d, In
stantlv know that his first decisive
measure for the lifting up OF rel gion In
Dentville, had been closed and sealed
past all recall by the implacGbilIty OF
his own memorable wish aud wIllY
Uncertainty to such hearts OF flint Is
az the remorseless droppings OF water
which wear away and kill He could
endure it no longer, and he plunged
forthwith into the wild aud bitter
night
vile pastor at the parsonage, u can't
bear this ioreboding upon me that some
one in Dentville is in great distress,
perhaps in utter peril Savage as It is
outside. feel that ! must 60 at once
and look about the village"
"If you should happen to bring back
any one, any one needing them. Philip"
we're the last words OF Mother Marden
at the whistling crack OF the door,
you'll find the spare rooms ready ana
the kettle boiling on the fire. God bless
you in your search, my son ]"
Thus two humans battled for q time
against the storm which swept the
little village.
Whatever Gnality had come to the
consciousness OF Gabriel Dent In his
determined search, when Philip Mar.
den, startled at a family flashing aud
paling light from the window OF his
abandoned study in the rear OF the old
church basement, had fastened
through the parsonage grounds 10 the
unused study door, he certainly saw old
Gabriel Dent tearing aud tumbling
through the ghostly gravestones OF the
erew.ome churchyard toward the vii
lage street, shrieking horrible maledic-
tions as he sped madly down the broad
ening way.
He saw, too, in another moment, as
he peered within the partly opened
olden study door, what sent him bound
ing back to the parsonage; what made
him tear his own door open as though
no were some savage spirit OF the night
and storm, and what still made him, all
InarticuIate for moment, stand staring
at his mother and sister In mute and.
helpless dismay.
"Philip! Philip! What has hap
pened" pleaded Mother Marden, as
Ruth chung to her frightened and dis
traught.
"Mother!-Ruthp he finally faltered.
"They're huddled starving, freezing. in
the old church studyl. It's her, mother!
Around her Ia the dumbness OF terror.
Beside her Is the silence OF death.
Don't you understand? Mother!-
RuthI II Is
But hero at the parsonage door is
really savage spirit OF the night and
the storm. 1t bursts in upon the in
mates furiously. Bloodshot its eyes,
chattering its teeth, livid and pale its
face by turns, like tigers its wildly
clutching claws.
philip Marden" it shrieks at the
pastor as the latter faces 1t bravely, III
knew your apostate hand was in that
work OF bringing those devils back
from the poor house-where | put EN-
before I'd sleep I'd tumble this
hou,e down about your heads here, and
I'd burn that desecrated house OF God
as level as the graves around It'll"
The pastor seemed growing into
gigantic stature as these words were
spoken, and his Mortified mother and
sister sank feebly under the awful out.
burst. A wondrous light had leaped
into his face and eyes. He raised his
outspread hand high above the silvered
head OF the intruder.
Gabriel Dent" he almost whispered,
do you know 1Ulso you are driving into
the darkness Of unutterabIe despair?"
"Who?-who? shrieked tho i'm.
placablo man wildly. "Devils! Devils,
every one! Bring the keys. Come
with me. You're parson yet" he roared
with covert vindictiveness "lts your
part, not mine. to clear these vipers
from the house OF Godw
"Yes;" returned the pastor, with
strange intonation Of merciful compass
sion. "But we will 60 together. All
but one shall leave the church tonight
One, perhaps even Gabriel Dent would
not have go; and ono other l wish you
10 see, face to face, with me. Mother,
Ruth! will be with them all here d.
rectly. One should have our best spare
room tonight! Yes, yes, Gabriel Dent.
Come, We will turn them out together"
As the two left the parsonage, Gabriel
Dent was already hushed aud wonder
Ing from the pastors exalted yet sub
missive manner.
softly now" said Philip Mardeu, as
they peered within the hall open study
door. "We must come upon the
wretchos unaware"
But their was little need now for quiet
or for stealth. Huddled about a flicker.
ing blaze In the ruiuous fireplace. lay
the actors; crowded together for each
others human warmth; sodden and
still in the exhausted and almost wake.
less sleep Of hunger and OF cold.
In bundle of rags on the old com.
munion table lay some unacceptable
object; and flung across it, clutching it
as in deathless grasp, was the form OF
a haggard woman, stilled in the stupor
OF mute despair.
'"rhIs is the one" said Philip Marden