Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1896-05-28

His mind was not SO much upon tho story
as upon his silent comments.
why, you Soc" said Mr.. bingham
botham, crossing his knees, "this is tho
way it was: You came in here, and you
had had II letter, you know, somebody had
sent to you to give Jason Sparks. You
remember Jnson2 He was u likely fellow
enough, warn't he? Only his hair was n
little mito too carrotty. A good mark
for the bullets, thoy used to say TO tease
Jason rs he was going off TO the war.
WE'LL you had had II lcttor from Jason,
and nobody know whore hod gone to.
You remember Jason cleared out just after
the boys como homer Then you told this
eanc ere story-this one about the two
dogs, and
Ibid Il" exclaimed the minister, and he
looked so startled that Mr.. Hinghamboth-
AIN pccrcd over his green glasses in sur
prise at him.
"By the way, did you ever find out
where Jason Sparks went top asked the
minister irrclovantly.
well, If he INIT dead" said Mr. Hing
hambothnm, "why he is living, and that
might be over in Sandman. You know
his wlfc'S father lived there, and when
Jason won't to the war he gayo up his own
home and his wife went to live with her
own folks
Tho minister got his tall length out of
the chair into which he had planted him
solf and reached forward and took the
pus,mastcr's rusty pcnholdCr.
"Hand us q sheet of paper, Will you,
Mr. HIlnghamhutham?' no said briefly.
And when the lcttur was finished M
Hnghambutham, not being able to SEQ
over the parsons shoulder just what was
being written, received it after 1t was
stuck together in its envelope and duly
stamped, poorcd ut it on all sides and on
account of the minister's presence being
unable to hold it UP between the light and
his eyes (a method which he roligiously
observed with ali other postal mattor), he
dropped it into tho box with sigh.
Now" said Pastor Bean, turning
around and facing him, ''if you can gather
anything else about Jason Sparks--l have
not thought Of him for score Of years, or
any one else that was in the same company
! Company G, you know, Of Vermont
guards you just let me know ms quick
rs you can get down to the parsonage
The next day Rex and Natalie had q
queer, solemn looking missivc handed in
| by tho minister's maid of all work. 1t
WAS directed to both of the young people,
and inside was very short letter that re-
| solved itself into four words, Como over
this afternoon
Never was bidding moro joyfully ao-
ccptcd, and that afternoon in the pastors
study there was "A conference of three, so
quiet and secret that not even n whisper
escaped through the study walls.
"Nuw, not "a word to any one" said the
minister, "and don't you look as though
/
| you wanted to-
1t was the night before Decoration day,
and it was prayer meeting night, the scry-
/ ice being held in tho old vcstry. There
wcro not many there to DO sure. Perhaps
they were saving their energies for the
next day. But there were enough TO be
astonishcd when Pastor Bean said at the
end of tho service:
"Thcre is an act of justice to he done
here in Brcr Hill tonight so startling that
it will require large hall, that all the
hearers may be seated Every one who
wishes to 90 can adjourn after this rlcct-
ing to the town hall. This is all l shall
say now.'
1t was not necessary for him to say any
more, and tho few mt prayer meeting could
scarcely wait with decent patience until
the minister snid Amen" and al journed
!
the meeting.
Then there was q scampering over to- the
town hall, those at the end Of the procession
fearing that thcy would he unable to get
seats, and all lost in wonder and amaze mt
the whole thing.
Nobody knew what they were assembled
for; whether the bank in the country town
had burst, or whether the minister was
going to resign and thought the church
would be too small for the audience that
would naturally be interested In the news,
or whether Il dozen and one other things
were about to burst upon them with one
fell swoop.
The tumult of all this whispering and
excitement suddenly ceased as Parson
Bean entered the side door, the sceotmer
close at his heels, and then There were seer
to emerge from the two doors of tho com
mittcc room, back of the platform, IA small
crowd Of people, each looking rs if he hat
something interesting to communicates
The parson stepped right to the front Of
the platform and said, 'Ict us pray!"
Down went every head, although some
times eyes pceied out between the fingers
of tho hands held dccorously before then
faces. 1t is safe to say that very few per
sons knew what the parson prayed. Ev
cry ono was watching the group on thu
platform.
But after tho prayer was ended the
heads were up again, and II was tho proper
thing to stare In n straightforward way al
Parson Bean drew forward tall, angular
old man, bent and withered, who seemet
e. have great difficulty 10 walk cyon IA few
steps to the front Of the platform.
"Fricnds and fellow citizens" said The
minister in deep tones, 1--WE have with III
u resident Of another town who has emery
, rd from tho scclusion that has envelope
him to do n simple nc. Of justice to one o.
, our townspesple, This is Jason Sparks
Perhaps some Of you know him."
Two or three people in the audience
started, crancd their nocks and stared lonl
and hard at the old man on the platform
, but the rest looked on carolcssly, no
, knowing in the least who Jason Spark
was
"Now, then, Mr.. Sparks" said Paste
, Bean, tell us what you know about thu
battle Of Bull Run-tho little episode il
, Chich you and your comrado, John Duns
combo, took part
, At tho mention Of John Dunscombe ev
cry man was alert with Indignation, an,
, the women also had a curious look Of scori
, OH their faces, SO deep had been the feeling
, Of anger ut the one citizen Of Brier Hill
, who had been discredit to them in TN
eyes Of tho world.
IL was with John Dunsoonbe, 4" sal,
| the trembling voice of tho man. 1T is
good many long years now, and I've kin
/ | of forgot bout most OF 1t, but it was
this way;
= at was just this way: John said to III