The evening times., 1896-03-05
The Bearded Stranger

II was Christmas eve and all the world
was gay. lie stood in the doorway gazing
abstractedly at the crusted snow sparkling
in the moonlight and the black shadows
OF the flakes as they zigzagged across the
path, losing themselves In the frosty walls
of the church.
One might think he was too old and lit
tie too thinly dressed to stand so long in the
biting cold, but there he stood, as if lost in
thought, apparently counting the lcicles
fringing the oval window.
one might say his thoughts were OF the
Holy Child born so long ago, and that he
was watching for the stars which led the
wise men, Whatever his thoughts. he
sighed deeply as he turned homcward. The
old house. wcathcrbeatenand dingy enough
in the daylight, looks picturesque in the
glamour OF the moon; the windows are
mellow with light, strea ming down the road
like beacon fires. The wind howis and
shricks down the chimney, seeming to the
| group around the fircside Ike a chorus OF
| COLLINS singing Christmas carols.
Did you hear that basso?" whispers the
young girl.
They are singing:
| begin their rounds" says the Cd man.
drcamily.
Then the three sit and listen to the wind
songs in the chimney. fancyinE themselves
back in merry England. bearing again
J the pealings Of the chimes
Back Ia the time when anoi her form sat
at tneir firc=idc. and who bad listened
with little Bess held close to bis side IN
| xefr line
died away In the distance.
| lis It anrcls:'' Bess had whispered. and
the big boy had not coutradIc,ed her.
only kissing the cnubby face. and smuggling
her into her crib to dream OF Christmas
| stockings.
But the boyish form OF which they dream
belongs TO the old days.
When they sailed away from England's
shores they left behind every trace OF his
ever having been; and it was better so.
Their lives were sadly changed since then:
instead OF the prctt = rectory, with it's garden
all rose bloom. was the harsh New Eng
land scenery
The old house. with its shuttcrlcss win
dows. the stony garden ali run over with
burdock, the long stretch of pine forest
spreading lonely and black all about them.
himself among the hills. preaching his
simple messages to the few who flocked
around him. Under all the show OF gayety
in the homeiy room. with its quaint gath
ering of antagonlstic furniture, there is
gnawing pain in each heart
Before them is the vision OF n man pale
and thin. as they last saw him, sitting
with bowed head. in a dark cell in a
n ~,
for he has murdered n man, a cIassmate
at Oxford. and. although the Judge and
jury knew it was wine that did it and that
generous Rog Peyton would never have had
the heart to injure dog, much less his
friend, still the world looked upon him as
murderer, and as such he must pay the
penalty OF the law.
Father, / have thrown away my life!'
"You must think OF me as dead" he
said, hopelessly. when they badc him fare
well, but they had clung to him, assuring
him OF their undying love and devotion.
Troubles press upon one another. and
1t was not long before the new Lord
Archibald transferred the comfortable
living TO an Old friend, and the Peytons
prepared to move on.
This turn OF affairs was almost n relief
to the. father, WHO felt his sons disgrace
so kecnly.
His first impulse had been to fly: over
coming this weakness, he determined to
stay and live 1t down; but the opportunity
had been taken from him, and witha strange
sense OF utter desertion, he planned at
once to leave the country.
God rest ye, merry gentlemen;
Let nothing We alarm
peace, notary public, and proprietor of
the village store. was doing 4 thriving busi-
ness on this night OF nights. and no wonder.
for where could you find a more cheerful
spot?
In spite of the GOODNESS of the night, the
doors were constantly on the swing, for it
seemed as il people would never have done
purchasing, and were more greedy than
ever for their Christmas dinner.
Outside, in the clear winter night. hung
rows Of plump turkeys and squatty geese.
One had only to take a long sniff to smell
the delicious stuffing. with its slight sus-
picion of onion. There was a hare or two
and hiding coyly behind them hung fat
quail.
Oh! Caleb knew how to cater to the fas-
tidious palate.
lhSiue, tue great otiitcu Stove emitted
comfortable, cosy warmth, and shone
benignly on the hangers-on. who seemed
l0ath TO leave its hospitality.
One of the number. a slightly built.
heavily bearded man, who seemed
to be stranger. looked up with sudden
interest as Caleb's voice in loud expostula-
tion reached his ears.
II tell you, minister or no. minister. his
teachings couldn't have been wuth much.
hain't no preacher, but snum, hev got
sons hain't afraid ell ever be prison bir1s!'
well. Caicb,'' said the other, gently, 81 |
dunno nufhin'. bout the ratsin' of sons. never |
had any, bein' as I'm a bachelor. hut when |
a mans down hain't er goin' ter kick him; |
and. by gosh!' bringing his hand down on 1
the sugar barre, with sudden feroeity. "by |
gosh! ef the whole burned cerniunity turns
ag.in the elder because he's got q son In y