The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1896-06-26
RISING SUN, COUNTY, FRIDAY, JUNE 20, 1896

thraSh1ng as got tnen. lie n1b only
with the open hand; If he had used his
fists he'd have killed me. There was no
getting away from him, and no giving
him anything back. 1t was dirg-dong
all over my face and head until l
dropped In a heap, bleeding like pig,
and nearly sick. 1t finished me.
you're boss," said. "You can give
your orders. 1 only wanted to see."
He stood there smiling, as II he had
rather enjoyed himself.
"Pick up your boots," he said, sand
put them on"
On entering the window had my
boots hanging round my neck by the
laces; they had fallen off when he first
knocked me over. While was putting
them on he turned back his cuffs and
washed his hands at the sink. When he
had finished he pointed to the sink.
"There you are" he said. "You can
repair damages"
was bleedig from my nose, and from
o cut lip, but the COLI water soon
stopped that. When had finished he
asked me If 1 was all right.
Pretty WE'LL" l said. "l'm bit
shaky on the legs-that's all. You
gave me good doing"
'Take the candle, then, and go In front
Of me into the study. I expect you
know the way" Of course did. Show
me the outside of any house, and the
inside is no puzzle to me.
He picked up my knife, the revolver,
and the small Jenny, and followed me
into the study. He lit the lamp, gave me
the knife back again, and locked the
revolver and the Jenny away in u
drawer.
"And now," he said, "won't you sit
DOWN." He spoke to me as If were a
lady visitor. I sat down, and he, taking
chair opposite me, began to fill little
old clay pipe.
II really can't make this out" he said,
"you're so small and clumsy. You've
got nasty temper, but you're not very
plucky. What on earth made you think
of trying to be a burglar?"
II don't know" said. "But there's
one thing I'd like to ask you, and no dis
respect. What made you think of being
a parson-a man of your build and
strength, and so handy with your fists
I ask pardon, but you might have done
better"
He didn't seem to take that as cheek
at all. For a moment he didn't answer,
and sat sucking his little clay. Then he
sighed and said: "I have sometimes
thought so myself. But it is quite GER
tain that you might have done better
How did you come to this?"
II had no bringing up, and I read
penny trashy novels"
He tapped his foot impatiently on the
carpet. "Well, well-go on"
'Then 1 was led away by bad COM
panions and took to drink and gam
bling, and not knowing what it was to
have q mothers tender"
He got up and interrupted me. "Now
drop all that" he said. II want facts;
tell me the story of your life. How did
you come to this?"
Partly from admiring the man, and
partly from whim, did not tell him the
story, and told him the plain truth too
1t was pretty strong, but left nothing
out, and he never stopped me. When
had finished he thanked me.
'Then," he said, coming of decent
people, and with fair education and q
good chance in life, you none the less
have been from your earliest boyhood
just about as bad as you are now-bad
nil fhrOIIph-a1wavs had"
"That is about the mark. answered
Then thought to myself that 1t would
be one of two things-either he would
take me out and hand me over to the po-
lice, or else he would ask me to join him
in prayer. I expected the latter. He
did neither. He walked up and down
the room, with his hands behind him
saying to himself: "And I preach ser
mons-sermons-s Suddenly
he smiled again in that queer way OF
his. you've kept me up very late," he
said, land in consequence I've become
uncommonly hungry. What do you
say? Will you come and help me to get
us some supper? Very well, then, come
quickly. I don't want to wake the rest
of the house."
So went with him into the kitchen
and carried things from there into the
study. He laid the table-clean, white
cloth, silver forks and everything of the
best. There was cold game pie, ripe
Stilton, and n bottle of Burgundy.
never had better supper in my life. He
passed me everything wanted and filled
my glass. For the life of me couldn't
help grinning,
snow then" he said, whats amusing
you?"
II was only thinking, that's all. It
seems queer way for person like you
to treat chap like me. came here to
crack this crib, you fairly get me, and
no word about the police-never a
word. First you give me thrashing
and then you give me supper"
"Well, you can't deny that you want
ed them very badly. What else should
o parsop have done? What did you ex-
pect? Tell me honestly"
Speaking honestly, expected more
talk-more parson-talk. you know"
"And what do you mean by that?"
"Why, the sort of thing was always
hearing when was a boy-about the
sinfulness Of it, and repenting, and
hell"
"Do you think it would do you any
good n talked like that?"
"Well, no."
"Nor do l." He changed the subject
then and told me that there yyas orood
chance for work at Enton mills. They
were short-handed there for the mo-
ment, and he could give me line to the