The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1895-10-17

as tney went Oh Den could have wont IN
Ills keener perception told him tbdps'-.
was LOOK Oh appeal in Grace's uptnrnas
eyes.
He made a poor companion at di,no.
and poor plain Maud knew, he esoniras,
ner only out OF pity. She was used ~
that and accepted it with a pathet;ce a 20
tempt to color it differently. ~
They got away about O'Clock.
6. ben drove the team, seated in the
front seat. with Maud. Driving toos
his mind off his weakness and failnruoA
Milton was very happy sitting has;S.
his latest sweetheart. There was
certain seclusion about the back seat os
the carryall which favored much merr VI
skylarking.
1t was growing dark as they drove mn
the Cedaryille road, a delicious eyen;np
hour. The curving road along the riyas
was relief from the rectangular and
sun-smitten roads of the prairie and thau
fingered under the great oaks and eimss
which shaded the wagon track in snntS
1t would have been perfect. Rem thonoht'
if Grace had been beside him oush',
He wondered how he should
to speak to her. There uos iaanage
when it seemed easier Now tho t ana
seriousness of his love made tho S;,,,, Son.
question seem like the great nns sst;iplest
Other teams were ahead I%aJ es.on:
limo
going. A camn meeting had So some
mean a score of amusements l;t Sone o; 10
ems. and vounp naonIo fro,,, -, nv q CT i
country drove down IN 'S Sun ah over tnel
to some celebrot ion With Sro,,i as IL
There's the lane ~ said R J;,top ..e4
that team goin' in ," 'on' pee
Ben nuIled IN and +bov 1oo,.o, ;.
doubtfullv ItIootod Jonoo ruOnJu ~
1t was nnite dorl, nov nnS po ouSiy liry'
" "AAH DSn odiu.,
SO that's ali r;P Ptt'e u ioau.
AS they listened thav cnnId h A..
voices of Z @ exhorters nearly NIL, Ile
away. II u.shed across tba cool +" snn nae
with n wild and savo%e So, I'D SpnTEes1
Young people thrilled With ern;tar,o ,t
"TRere thew are. that's tho ronSr,
Insects were singing in the erase
Frogs with deeneninS chorus seemed 10
mark the coming Of night and obov 20
these neocefnl sounds came tho via
shouts of ,the for-off nreachar echo;nr
through the cool green arches of tbee
splendid grove.
The girls sat silent listening tn III.
voices growing louder. 'He
Lights appeared ahead. and the roo5
led IN n slight hin TO n gate Rem drove
on under a grove of oaks. mast dimlv.
tighten tents whose omen fans shnwSd
tumbled beds and tables laden with
crockery. Heavy women were moving
about inside. their shadows showing
against the tent wall like figures in q
pantomime.
The young people alighted in curious
silence. As they stood a moment. ty-
ing the team. the preacher lifted his
voice in brazen, changing, monotonous
reiteration of worn phrases.
Come to the Lord-come now-come
to the light Jesus will give if. Now
is the annointed time-come 10 tba
light"
From n tent near nv came the proon.
ing, gasping, gurgling screams of n wo.
man in mortal agony.
80, my Godr'
1t was charged with the most pierre
ing distress. 1t cut the hearts palnitat-
ing center like poniard thrust. II had
murder and outrage in it.
The girls clutched Ben and Milton.
80, let's go homer
mo, let's 90 and see what If all is"
The girls hung close to the arms of the
young men and they went down to the
tent and looked in
1t was filled with a motley group of
people, most of them seated on circline
benches A fringe of careless or scoffins
on-lookers stood back against the tent
wall.
Occasionally a Norwegian Farmland.
or q bevy of young DeOple from some
near district, lifted the flap and entered
with curious laughing or insolent faces.
The tent was lighted dimly by Kerosene
lamps, set in brackets against the tent
poles, and by stable lanterns set here and
there upon the benches.
Ben and Milton ushered in the girls
and seated them little back. The girls
smiled but only family. The undertone
of woman's cries moved them in spite of \
their scorn of it all.
What cursed foolishness!" said Ben
to Milton.
Milton smiled but did not reply. He
only nodded toward the exborter. n man
with hideous tumble of features and
the form of a gladiator, who was utter
ing wild and explosive phrases.
"Oh. my friends! l bless the Lord for
the SHALL in the word. You SHALL
get light. You SHALL be saved. oh. B
the SHALL in the word! You SHALL [
be savedw
AS he grew more excited his hoarse
voice rose in furious shouts, as if he,
were defying hell. Foam Law on his Inns
and flew from his mouth. At every re-
petition of the word "shall' he struck
lie s hard hitter" said Milton.