The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1896-12-28
recounted the wild-soose chase he had given

! recounted the wfld-Soose chase he had givei
the minister
and set ehe dolly and the cake" sale
Florry. @er eyes shining through her tears
In course" said Johnny. They'll get tn,
dolly back G1t you kin have Gated the
cake first" They looked at each other. anC
their eyes danced together over this heav.
en-sent inspiration. Then Johnny took of
her shoes and stockings. rubbed her cold
feet with his dirty handkerchief and said
Now you rot over 20 your mari
lie helped her through he loose picket OF
the fence and was turning AWAY when her
! faint voice again called him:
4. JOHNNY
lie turned back: she was standing on the
| other side OK the fence holding out her
arms 20 him. To Went TO her with shining
eyes. iftcd her UP and from her hot but
lovins iittle lips took fatal kiss.
| For only hour later Mrs. Fraser found
Florry IN her bed tossing with a high fever
| and light head. She was talking ,g
johnny" and god" and lad n fake of
metal In her tiny fist. When SIR. Staples
was sent for. and with the mother and ia III.
er hung anxiously above her bed to their
eager questioning they could only find OUT
that F1orry had been 10 a high mountain
ever so far away. and on top OF It there was
gold lying around, and a shining figure was
giving 1t away to the people.
And who were the people, Florry. dear?"
said Mr.. Staples. persuasively, anybody
We know here?"
"They wos angels" said Florry, with a
frightened glance over her shoulder.
7 greve to say shat Mr. Staples did not
look pleased at the celestial vision as he
might have, and poor Mrs. Fraser probably
saw that I'm her child's faco which irove
other things from her mind. Yet Mr. Sta
pies persisted.
And who led you to this beautiful noun
tainI Was 1t johnny"
mo"
"Who then?'
Florry opened her eyes on the speaker. 81
fink it was Dod." she said, and closed them
again.
But here Dir. Duchesne hurried IN. and
after single glance at the child hustled
Mr.. Staples from tho room, for
there were grave complications that
puzzled him. Florry seemed cas-
Ter and quieter under his kindly
voice and touch, but she did not speak
again-and so. slowly sinking, passed away
that night in a dreamless sleep This
was followed by a mad panic at Burnt
Spring the next day. ana Mrs. Medhkcr
fled with her two girls to Sacramento
leaving Johnny, ostenslbly strong and ac-
tive to keep house until his fathers return.
Bur MIR. Medlikers return WIS again delay
ed, and In the epidemic, which had now
taken a fast hold of tho settlement, John
ny's secret-anG indeed the boy himself
was quite forgotten. 1t was only on Mr.
had been lyins dangerously IN alone n me
abandoned house. In his strange rcticence
and hrmness of purpose he had kept his SUI
ierrngs TO himscif-as he had his Other Sc
crct-and they were revealed only in ths
wasted. hollow igure that teeD!y opened [
the door TO his father.
ON which INTEL gence AIR Staples was,
usual, promptly UA the spot with his story 1
OF Johnnys secret TO the father, and ms /
usual eager questioning 10 the fast sinking I
boy And now, Johnny" he said leaning !
over the bed, tell us all There IS one |
from whom no secl cts are md. Remember. /
too, that dear FlorY who is now VITA tho /
angels, has already confessed"
Perhaps il was because Johnny. even AZ
that moment, hated the man. perhaps u
was because at that moment hc loved and !
believed in Florry. or perhaps IL was only
mat because at that moment he was nearer
the greater truth than his questioner, but
he said in Il husky voice. You lie,'
Staples drew back with 4 flushed face.
hut lips That writhed i'm "a pciued and stiu
persistent eagerness. "But Johnny at /
least, tell us whcrC-wh--wOw- wow"
am Obliged TO admit that these undigni-