The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1895-07-09
Sans Prayer Meeting.
by HARRIET CARYL cox.

lI udu OSen pfebIy pau wreck, 10 ID
sure, and the morning edition Of tn,
full collision that had occurred just q.
the train entered Lead Valley.
But now the excitement, in the place
of the disaster, had begun to quie,
down; for the rough miners of the
little settlement were too used to peril,
OF all kinds to be long stirred by thi,
wreck, withuits mlf-dozen lives lost
1t was all over now, they reasoned
and they had helped cheerfully as long
as help was needed; but now the
wrecking crew was at work, and only
an occasional straggler sauntered up
to look at the deraied cars and pile OF
debris ON either side OF the track.
The rest OF the settlement were In
the Office of the one hotel the place
afforded; and the room was blue with
smoke as they'sat about the sputtering
fire and related anecdotes, or We'd with
each other in tales of danger and
heroism.
Some of the stories were old ones,
as knowing glauces between the men
showed; but the crowd was good
natured, and new and old alike were
received with appreciation.
Ed Lsbes, the funny man of the
place, had just finished telling new
and very taking story. Ed had just
returned HON u neighboring settle
ment, and had, doubtless, brought the
story with him.
AS the shouts of laughter that had
greeted him died away, one of the
men shouted: Swearing Sans gOin'
ter sleep. Wake him up, and make
him tell us good one. Come, Sam :"
and they gave him hearty slap.
II could tell yer story" he said,
slowly, after moments hesitation
"but yer wouldn't believe it, and /
dunno as l want ter tell it :" and ho
replaced his pipe and relapsed into ST.
lence.
"Oh, come off !" they cried. eyer
T,on't sneak out er it that way. Guess
yer can stan,iS M-we don't swaller it
whole it can't be no womn,than some
what's been told ter-night; 80 20
ahead, old feller."
They looked inquiringly at him.
He drew his pipe out, rubbed its
smooth stem against his high boots as il
in thought; then, tucking it into. his
hoot leg, he glanced about the dingy
room.
1T amt exactly like any of yer stor-
night made me think of itsame's twas
yesterday.
"'Twas fifteen years back, when l
was a-logging up in Michigan, and
things was 80 dull and hard we was
mighty glad when anything interest
ing came up. So when one of the
loggers brought news up from town
that there had been u terrible smash
up, we was rather glad than other
wise. Course we was sorry for them
who had folks killed, but it didn't
matter Imuch to the folks what got
killed.
$50 whole crowd of us quit camp
and went inter town. There was
fifteen folks dead, and some pretty
bad shook up. There was one woman
who hadn't known a thing ever since
she landed on 'er head. And she had
a little girl, so Ben who kept the house
told us, and he was dreadfully upset
bout that child. Cause, you see,
ter look after it. Ben's wife had took
q sudden notion ter go East week
before, and she was the only one,
except the station agents wife, who
had died month ago.
ut does seem kind er tough that
there amt no woman ter kind or
mother her. Ben said, as he set about
tho stove a-talking sames we be now.
And she's most cried herself sick, too.
Wish the train hadn't seen fit ter
smash up here; and he scowled an
awful scowl.
eyer wouldn't have sold so much
beer, 30 yer needn't be blaming your
good luck one OF the men told him;
but he seemed q bit troubled all even
ing and kept a-gOing-, up ter listen
close ter her door and see If she'd
stopped crying. Bime. by, he came
back considerably relieved.
"'She sounds quiet he said (; 'and
now guess we can rest easy
$50 we were having rousing good
time, when all o. a sudden the feller
next ter mo gave me an awful start
and said kind er low: Sam, l see
ghost
"'Ghost, nothing I replied; but
looked where he pointed, and sure
enough there was something white a.
coming down the dark hallway.
"By this time some o. the others
saw we was a-lookin' at something, and
they looked too. And fore we began
ter realize what 1t was little bit OF
voice piped up:
"'Why don't Susan come up to hear
me say my prayers p
"If it had been real live ghost 1t
couldn't have struck us so sudden.
"'Better go back ter bed, Ben said,
trying to speak soft like. 'Susan's
busy now, and can't come; so run
along"
" But she knew he was a-foolin' her,
and she was spunky little thing.
"'I will have Susan" she cried, a.
stamping her little bare foot. Tell
her to come right now and she looked
real proud like.
"'Susan amt here; she's gone Ben
said, kinder shamed. Guess you can
say your prayers ter yerself this once,
can't yerp' he asked.
"'Course not,' she said, her eyes
big. There wouldn't be anyone to
say God bless you, darling, and keep
YOU ~ and that little under lip o. hers
began ter tremble.
II tell yer, boys there come a lump
I'm my throat so big, IL 1t had been
gold I'd "a been rioh man; and all oi
us was a-wishing we were back In
camp, twas so mighty uncomfortable
a-hearing that kid asking for some one
ter hear her prayers.
Sudden, she came further into the
room and looked all round ter us men
and yer never seen such q pretty sigh
In eli yer life as she made there. Hel
big blue eyes were filed with tears
and her cheeks were pretty and pink
and her golden hair was all frowzied
and her little pink feet peeped ou
hollow her white gown, like May
flowers when they shine through