The state republican. (Jefferson City, Mo.) 1871-1896, 1896-03-26

&c 'N' '''s tAfVElNs ~
coming to a tree, they proceeded to put
a rope around his neck. Everything
was forgotten now, but that Heath con,
fronted John and in some way she
must save him.
Men,, " she said in q strained wild
voice, for excitement had made her
almost beside herself. "If you will
let him loose, and will 90 away and let
us alone, l will give you money, every
cent | have in the house, a thousand
dollars, If you will promise not to
modest him"
They looked at her in establishment.
ITS n bargain" said tho Captain
Where's your money!"
"Oh, no, Ellie, you shall not, said
John.
But | will, she said, "only they
must leave their guns and pistols every
one of them, in the house, and then /
will give them the money. Will yon
promise me. "Well ma'am," the
Captain said, wen do it, a thousand
dollars isn't picked up every day.
Take him back to the house and take
the rope off of him, " he ordered his
men, who were still eager to do the
bloody work, and 10th to give it up,
even for the money. Ellie was leading
the way to the house but she was
afraid to trust their promises.
Il will tell you, - she said suddenly
turning around, IF you will drop
your arms-your guns and pistols in
this well, You need not go in the
house, | will bring the money to you. "
You haven't got no trap to catch us
| hope, " said the Captain, "No" she
answered Il have not 1T will be
better for us anyhow, " said the Captain,
"for I'd hate for troops to come and
catch us in the house without arms, so
well risk it anyhow, and she's telling
the truth I'll venture. Off with your
arms, boys, we'll spile the water for
'em.
Ellie in a few moments brought the
sack of gold, she had hidden in the
mattress of her bed.
The robbers were so well satisfied
with their booty that they did not tarry
after receiving the money. Divested
of their arms they made their way sim
gly to places of safety.
DR.. Dabney and Ellie did not speak
for several minutes after they were
gone, She had sunk in the ground,
almost in a swoon.
Dear, precious child, " cried John
as he pressed her cold hands to his
lips, Il am not worthy of all this, for
You do not love NEEDN'T your"
He did not answer her in words, but
he read it palmer in her changing
countenance than any words could
make it.
II was too proud to ask your love,
after you fell heir to all those thou
sands, for fear you and the world
might think that was a consideration,
while in truth it was a barrier, for |
did not want to marry an heiress."
You need not, then, if you do not
wish it, said Ellie, "for I can give it
away i don't want any of that love
that the Bible says is the root of all
evil. If l have the dreadful root in
my heart, it can't help bearing its
wretched fruits. You saw tonight
how little l valued it in comparison to
your safety"
IF it had been all you had, to the
last dollar, would it have gomez" he
asked.
eyes, freely, to the last dollar" she
answered.
How happy you make me" he
said, and to think l have doubted
your love! But Charlie. poor fellow,
how | pity him,
A look of pain came into Elites face.
She felt the truth. of what John said,
and wished from her heart that she
knew that Charlie loved Mary. "Oh,
why was it that he could not2"
When she and John stood by Char
lies bed and told him all he smiled
family and said, "Well, be happy, it
will make me happy to see you so, for
I love you both as well as do myself. "
Charlie, don't you want to see
Mary happy too?'' asked Ellie, STOPPING
down and whispering, eff you will
love her it will make her happy"
81 will make her happy then, little
sister, if trying will accomplish it, +"
aud John said "amen."
Shall l add any more to this history
and tell how John and Ellie dispersed
their gold so bountifully that they did
not allow the ~ungainly root Of evil to
crowd out of their lives and hearts the
loyahle and beautiful. OF how their
wealth blessed Charlie and Mary and
Bertha, and soon Miss Margaret whose
wealth was only a myth.
How the vagabond, Lon Clayton, was
nursed and tended in a felon's cell,
provided for by these two, and how
with united hearts they prayed God to
forgive him for the trouble he had
brought to them and theirs.
LET us..cherish in u hearts. Ellie, -
John said, "a pity for the erring, and
with love try to win them over to the
right, As we see since the war is
over, all the old bad feelings have died
out, and Dur country is welded togeth-
er by a common interest, and growing
strong by its exercise of forbearance
and Christian charity, United we
stand, divided we fall so may ouI
house be strong and enduring, if we
enthrone love"
(The end