The news & observer., 1896-12-27

east his gittering fake OF gold on the
sterile ground at the other side Of th.
road, where the minister's path would
lie. Then, at point where the road
turned. he concealed himself in the brush.
The Rev Mr.. Staples hurried forward
IS he lost sight OF the boy in the sweep
of the road. but halted suddenly. John
ny's heart leaped. The minister looked
around him, stopped, picked up the piece
OF gold, thrust il hurriedly in his waist
coat pocket. and continued his way.
When be reached the turn OF the road,
before passing it he availed himself OF the
solitude TO pause and again examine the
treasure and again return it to his pocket.
But TO Johnny's surprise, he here turned
back, walked quickly to the spot where
he had found it, carefully examined the
locality. kicking the loose soil and stones
around with his feet until he had appar-
entity satisfied himself that there was 40
more, ard 70 gold-bearing indications in
the soil At this moment, however, the
two other inQuisitors came in sight, and
Mr.. Staples turned quickly and hurried
on. Before he had passed the brush
where Johnny was concealed the two
men overlook him and exchanged greet
ings. They both spoke OF Johnny and
his crime, OF having followed hlm with
view Of finding out where he went to
procure his gold, and Of his having again
evaded them. Mr.. Staples agreed with
their purpose, but, to Johnny's intense
astonishment, said nothing about his own
find. When they had passed on the boy
slipped from his place of concealment
and followed them at a distance until his
own house came in view. Here the two
men diverged, but the minister continued
on toward the other ''store" aud post
Office on the main road.
He would have told his mother what
be had seen and his surprise that the
minister had not spoken of finding the
gold to the other men, but he was check
Ied-first, by his mothers attitude toward
him. which was clearly the same as the
minister's, and, second, by the knowledge
that she would have condemned his drop
ping the gold in the minister's path.
though he knew not why or asked his
reason for it, which he was equally sure
he could not formulate, though he also
knew not why. But that evening as he
was returning from the spring with wa
ter, he heard the minister's voice in the
kitchen. 1t had been day of surprises
and revelations to Johnny, but the climax
seemed to be reached as he entered the
room, and he now stood transfxed and
open n-mouthed as he heard Mr.. Staples
say:
Its all very well, Sister Medliker, to
comfort your heart with vain hopes and
delusions. A mothers leanin's is the
souls deceivin's, and yer leanin' on Il
broken reed. II the boy truly found the
gold he'd have come to you and said:
Behold mother, / have found gold in
the highways, and byways-rejoice and
be exceedin' 1gladr and have poured it
inter yer lap. Yes" continued Mr..
Staples agrressiyely to the boy, as he
saw him stagger back with his pail in
hand, ''yes, sir, that would have been the
course Of the Christian childr'
or moment Johnny felt the. blood
boiling in his ears, and a thousand
words seemed crOwding in his throat
Them he gasped ana choked. Then!
he began again-and stopped with the
suffocation of Indignation.
But Mr.. Staples Saw in his agitation
only an awakened conscience, and, nudg-
ing Mrs. Medliker, leaned eagerly for
ward for reply. '9fhen, he repeated
with suaye encouragement, go en- John
ny! Speak it out!'
Then" said Johnny, in a high, shrill
falsetto. that startled them then what
for did you pick up that piece o gold in
the road this afternoon, and say nothin
Of it to the man who followed We? "
did; l seed yer! And We didn't say nothin
OF it to anybody an yer amt saying
nothin' OF it now ter Nav! An ye'ye got
it in yer vest! An its mine and ] drop
ped it! Gimme it."
Astonishment, confusion aud rage
swelled and empurpled Stapless face III