Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1897-10-27

WIt0 CERTAIN eOI8uIty iOEci8u " MS
usual mannsr-a survival. perhaps. of
other ways Of life and Of other visi-
tants than street preachers. After all.
II is the man who makes his surround
ings. parvenu can be vulgar In a
palace: our little doctor. despite his
bluster. might have been a prince In
disguise.
down In the arm chair-black horse
hair covered, and deficient In the mat
ter of springs-and glanced round the
room Mt the well-worn books. at the
oil-stove. which smelled abominably, at
the cupboard where the skeleton clat-
tered Its empty jaws among dry crusts
and ancient cheese.
Not much of a place, Is itr' said
JEFF. We've known better. beth Of us.
But 1t does-anything does. Excuse
me. but l want my supper. Do you
mind my getting itf Coin don't run to
many courses. But perhaps you'll help
me? Hate solitary meals-always did:
bad for the digestion. Pah! how that
Internal thing does smell. to be sure"
OF course the preacher saw through
the device. and Its clumsy. kindly dell
cacy touched him as few things had
done OF late. He murmured some COM
monplace reply and proceeded to take
a tender interest In tie retrimming of
the stove. ! fancy there were tears in
his tired eyes as he funbled with the
matches, and that he blessed Jeffs
grumpy hospitality with fervor
which would have agreeably astonish-
ed the doctor. who had received SO lit
tie gratitude in his time that he had
outgrown the usual habit Of expect
ing 1t.
He did not look at his guest as he
hunted in the cupboard and brought
out such modest provision as it con-
tained. and presently the preacher rose
and began to set the table ready in
silence As he lifted one of the books
something on Its faded cover caught
his eye On the brown leather was
stamped a coat-of-arms. almost indis-
tinguishable by reason Of its antiquity.
JEFF saw the glance directed toward
him, took the book from his compan-
ions hand and flung 1t roughly into q
corner.
Somebody's arIstocratic vulgarity,"
he said, shortly. What do they want
to seattle. their stupid quarterings
about forf l picked II up second
hand"
The preacher went on silently with
his task. He was quite aware that the
book had not been picked up second
hand, but he did not even look as If he
doubted Jefr's statement. Only think
the skeleton sidled a little closer to the
cupboard door. Ii Is a thing which all
skeletons will do at times.
The two men sat down at the table
and began their supper. They did not
talk much ut first. but presently JEFF
pushed back his chair and glanced
across at the preacher.
Il told you IL lie Just now." he said.
The preacher looked up. and the two
uen'S eyes met.
Il .rvS you did" he answered, sim
plv.
Il thought you didn't know. Rather
pride myself on telling a lie neatly.
Learned 1t at school-nbout the only
thing | did learn there. All. now I've
shocked you"
NO" answered the other. sadly. Il
l am not easily shocked
New sort of saint, eh? Well, we've
had about enough of the old"
There was silence for a moment and
then JEFF said:
How dc you known
by the way You flung the book"
"Ah! ! saw you looking at the old
shield and it hurt. odd how small
things do hurt sometimes. Perhaps
you know that. too?"
~ know 1t very WELL" murmured the
preacher, with his eyes cast down.
Thought you did," said jeff. with a
little smile which had touch Of irony
IN 1t.
The little doctor could never be quite
serious-his retrospective melancholy
had dash of amusement in 1t. He
had grown used to the idea Of himself
and the rest of humanity squirming be-
meath the dissecting knife of malignant
destiny.
Been preaching about here?" he
went on.
The preacher looked up, half nerv-
ously.
NO. Why do you askr
Not staying long, are you?"
No" said the preacher. with n quiet
sound in his voice. mo, 1 think shall
not stay very long"
JEFF sprang to his feet and then sat
down again. He looked hard at the
mans white face. and 1t looked back at
him. There was no fear In 1t, and the
sad eyes met his steadily.
"YOu-you must go away" said Jeff.
The preacher smiled little
"Yes-Tr ere-to the south OF
France? My dear doctor, that's not fOI
meat lenst not now. Once"-he
stopped. and his eyes grew dreamy
Not now," he said again.
JEFF did not speak at once.
You must leave London, then"
''It IS hardly worth while"
You're q fool, ard an enthusiast"
said JEFF. roughly, yet with =. sharp
catch in his voice, but you're good
stuff. I've seen you when-man, you're
killing yourselfF'
The preacher never WINGED. The
they were set tight
~ can't run away, doctor" he re-
piled. never did that, and can't do
1t now"
You weren't meant for this work
do you think have NO eyes? Write to
your people and tell them"
Il have no people," answered the
preacher, and his face was very stern.
JEFF tilted his chair waiting. 1t came |
at last. The preacher caught his eye, |
and hesitated for a moment.
II told you lie. then" he said.
Go on"
They threw me over. My father Ii
4 clergyman. l was to have gone into |
the church. l wanted to-you don't
know how much! But I could not nc