Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1894-11-22
ty for you to begin a work that truss
may continue among u.s.
1t IL, l. q

y
In fact, he has a new black broadcloth
| suit he has never worn. have been
teasing him for more than year to
get it and have it ready in case 1
| should die or he should be taken him
self, or anything else in particular
should happen; and that you should
come home preacher is something so
very much in particular that you must
wear the suit. But supper is ready;
yoN must be hungry by this time"
''Wen, he said, soon after supper,
''if l am to preach tomorrow 1 must
| make preparations L will, if you
please, go early to my room, and 1
should like a Bible, pen. ink and paper
land if it is not too much trouble l
| should like to try on the suit. am to
wear to-morrow-so that l may not
feel altogether awkward in them
You certainly do not intend to put
him into that dainty best chamber"
said aunt Susie to the hostess, as she
was carrying the fine black suit up
stairs, with James very best linen
/ shirt and white necl1tie.
''Oh, yes. indeed; it is so nice 20 have
him come home preacher. l shouldn't
wonder if he should marry Jane, after
all. How romantic that would be!
She is good creature, and they could
live here with us if it was necessary
| there's room enough
well, you are saint! you are, and
no mistake said Aunt Susie.
THE joy of my homecoming is so
great, ana the labor of preparing my
sermon so considera BILE, that 1 fear
shall pass a sleepless night" said
Jude, as he stood rubbing his hands
before the glowing open fire in the
best chamber; land L hope no noise
that may make will disturb the fam
lily"
''Oh, certainly not, make yourself
perfectly at home, and if you want
something to eat go right down in the
back pantry and help yourself" said
James; and his wife added:
''And if you feel like sleeping in the
morning. do so. l can give you your
breakfast whenever you come down."
He seemed to be taking the fullest
benefit of this permission, for at ten
o'clock he had not appeared, and when
the farmer went up to warn him
| against being late at church, the room
was vacant.
The high feather bed had not been
disturbed, the fire had not been re-
plenished, the old weather-beaten,g gar
ments lay on the hearth. On the table
the Bible was open at Jude and the
fourth verse was marked around heaV-
lily with ink.
| Il think it was a Judgment" said
the farmer; ''wife acted so about my
getting that black suit. I'm glad they
are gone. I feel as if l had taken a
new lease of life"
My carpet bag is gone out of the
| front hail." said one of the guests.
1.-The sweetened chicken pie and one
of the pound cakes amt nowhere, -
| said Jane. coming in from the back
pantry.
My purse is gone out Of the pocket
of my cloak that hung upstairs in the
hall closet said Aunt Susie.
"Was it Jude?" said Mrs. James,
without mentioning that she had just
missed her own highly priced gold
watch from the parlor lowbuoy.
That was a question that has never
been answered. One of the townspeo-
pie who drove five miles to meeting
| that morning, as was not uncommon in
those days, told of seeing a stranger
in black carrying a carpet bag about
the time he left home, and the pro-
prietor of the village store confessed
that late in the afternoon before
-
gossips had pretty thoroughly talked
over the Tolman family from first to
last-even to the curious fact of their
always looking for Jude at Thanks
giving time, and that this year his old
love, Jane Bruce, was helping about
the house work. He remembered also
that a poorly-dresSed stranger was all
the time warming himself at the box
stove, and that as he went out he asked
where the Tolmans lived. But" said
the saloon keeper, 81 know jude and
never thought of it S being him.
Gould it have been?" repeated the
farmer, and his wife replied:>
Whoever it was, we did our best by
him, and if he took advantage of our
hospitality it is not our fault. Had it
been your brother and had we treated
him coldly, it would have been much
worse than this. The best rooms have
all been used, and my maxim that a
large house draws company has proved
true. And now if you please we will
give Jude, the brother of James, a
rest
'All right said her husband, ''but
was it Jude?'-Annie Preston. in
Springfield (Mass.) Republican.
The TaiIor's Apology.
A tailor living in Swinemunde
strasse, after receiving a ''sound
oud0eIiuo has had Iilxaxvisa tn anolo-