The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1897-12-17

| OF me when | was so sick that | was
| crazy and helpless for l don't know
how long. Has it been a year, Tom?'
"All the same he shall carry you
home right now or l will shoot that
pound of shot into him anyway for not
tellin' US? Where is the old gibber-
gosher?"
"He is inside. On, do run in and ask
him to carry me h. me. l will die if l
have to stay here another night
Tom went into tie hut; through the
first room, through the second; into
the third. There he sew the Prophet
kneeling before the altar. Both hands
rested, palms down, upon the open
Bible; the face was upturned and the
light fell full upon it.
Tom stopped suddenly and sat down
in reverent silence to await the conclu-
sion of the prayer. 1t appeared to
Tom to become en-, rely too long for a
reasonable prayer and he ventured to
signal his presence by cough which
was unnoticed by the worshipper. At
length the boys impatience overcame
both his awe of the Prophet and his
reverence fer the Prophets devotions
and he timidly exclaimed:
| "Amen!"
There was no effect and after while
he ventured again, louder and with
| boldness:
Amen, amen!"
| Still there was no effect, and after a.
time that Tom thought very long he
| got up and noisily moved a stool: then
| he tried coughing roughly two or three
times. Still the worshipper remained
undisturbed.
SAY"
There was no response and Tom be-
came desperate:
"Lookee here. John the Baptist, l
want you to carry Stell Zenith homer"
AS he made the announcement he
stood ready to retreat and fall back up
on his artillery; but there was no dem
onstration on the part of the Prophet
and Tom walked close to his side and
gaZed down upon him. Only for an
instant; then with CHASTITY face he
rushed out to Miss Stella and in voice
trembling and husky from fright,
cried:
''Oh, Stell! He is dead!"
She sank back against the hut and
silently wept in his memory, for she
lelt now how kind and unselfish and
devoted and tender he had been to her
and she loved him for his goodness.
His death was poignant grief to her
and she wept long in silence. Tom sat
on great stone in awe, sympathy and
silence. Finally Miss Stella, still weep
ing, said:
Tom, will you go home and send
after me?"
"Of course! Why didn't l think of
that before! Jimminy crickets! Won't
| raise the town."
At her words he sprang to his feet
and before his own were fully uttered
he started down the hill at a wild gait.
She called him back and demonstrated:
mo, no, Tom! That won't do! Go
to Bell Morton and tell her. Tell her
to get carriage and come with you;
don't tell another living soul! The
ing and Bell will know what to do"
"All right! l won't peach! Now Stell,
don't you get scared or lonesome, It'll
take couple of hours to git there an
back; but I'll run every inch of the
way, an won't let Bell Morton waste
minnit, you bet; but l don't spose
she'll wantta! Now don't you be afraid
Mebbe Mollie Zenith will find out boys
is good for somethin' on earth after
ALL"
Forgetful of his precious antique ar
tillery Tom dashed away down the hill
at his best speed Miss Stella kept her
eyes on him as he dropped lower and
lower, till he disappeared entirely.