Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1897-10-27
WITHOUT DUE
AUTHORITY.

A AU1HOhl1 L &.
lie stood at the street corner. looking
drearlly into the growing fog.
A minute or two before he had been
standing behind the ralllngs In the
park. absorbed in an effort. altogether
uuayalllug. to save tho souls of his fel-
low citizens in this metropolis OF evils.
A few yards away revolutionary
brickiayer-Out OF work and with the
strongest private objection TO being in
it-had hurled denunciations at the
iulquitous British constitution, to the
delight Of himself and the amusement
Of his audience, and Of couple of
placidly smiling policemen who stood
near In that impcrsonal yet protective
attitude characteristic of the force. A
llttle farther on. lightning artist Of
tender years furnished quiet antidots
to gesticUIs'0ry anarchy by the repro
ductiou on paper OF ~the Duke of
Hork's baby" TO a chorus of loyal APP
plause On the preachers other hand,
q martyr. whose motives his country
had IgnOrantly misunderstood. per
haps not without just occasion. had
related with some feeling much abuse
Of authorities, and more OF that luck
less eighth letter OF the alphabet.
which Is the chosen victim OF elo-
queuce in fGStiHn. the melancholy de-
tails Of an enforced retreat from public
life, which, TO Judge from appearances,
he had very richly deserved. When the
preachers audience tired OF his dis
course, they had only to turn their
heads TO imbibe iucipient anarchy and
detected patriotism, or cultivate n
healthy admiration for juvenile talent
and the rpigairg Louse-a combination
Of conflicting sentiments peculiar to
Hyde Park on Il Sunday afternoon.
The other orators, however. had
found compensa ton for their wrongs
In the delight Of airing them at large.
They retired from the field of battle
hOarse, but triumphant. The preach
pr's triumph was question which he
could only regard rs much more dubI-
QUE - moments of despair, which
sometimes fsll TO his lot, he knew that
his congregation merely regarded him
EN IN AZ It'l luAt- l'ta ~ ttlA tilt
tiOns of the political bricklayer and the
dismal rhetoric of the ex-thief. But, to
do him justice, those moments were
few and far between. He had fought q
hnrd battle from very early age, and
defeat had ceased to depress him save
at odd times when he was, perhaps. n
little colder. .hungTier or sadder than IL
was his usual fate to be.
As be stood at the corner hand was
laid GU his shoulder, and he turned to
Gnd himself face to face with Dr. jeff
They had met before, In slums and by
ways, ana each man knew enough OF
the others life 70 respect It, | cannot
assert that Jcf IS the little doctors real
name, and perhaps he has n story or
mystery, or bOth-a skeleton which he
hides In the cupboard at his shabby
lodgings. with the stale bread and high
IL unprofessiOnaI cheese which that re-
ceptacIe contains-but / am sure that
there Is no kinder soul in all London,
despite his snarls, his sarcasms and the
inexpresSibly unorthOdox opinions
which be scatters broadcast in this
way. All men have their hypocrisies,
and he has his. 1t is his delight to
shock people, to pose as something very
little better than the archfiend himself.
I have seen him succeed admirably in
his deception-with strangers. Those
who know the good little man know
also that he would not willingly bruise
q butterfly's wing nor offend the dir
test and most melodlous tabby that
EerenGdes his hard-earned slumbers.
Even now, as the preached turned his
white face and tired eyes upon him and
forced a smile. there was a charitable
scheme brewing in Jefr's mind.
Finished spouting?" he asked. gruf
fly. Walk my way, Will your Abom-
Unable weather.
He spoke with a savas- air, as
though the weather and be were on
terms Of violent hostility. Jeff's man
ner generally suggested the feud brief
and stlletto and other pharaphernalia
OF medieval murder.
They walked for some time In 81
leuce during which the doctor eyed his
companion with a bIoodthirsty express
sion of cOuntenauce.
Better give it up" ne said at last.
Wearing yourself out for nothing. Az
bosh"
Is it2' asked the preacher. half
sscIv. sometimes II almost WISH
my profession allowed me to think So
too. doctor. Bat It doesn't"
Hang your profession" jerked out
Ieff. You're not a parsOu:"
No"
Ever been oneE"
NO"
Then. why in the name of common |
ense don't you go and earn some |
money! My good fellow, you're"
Whats the good oc preaching?" he |
vent on. changing his sentence. The
roTld went very well for great many
jturies before you were born; it'll 90
iy well for many more after you're
uried. Let it co.
The preachers deep eyes flashed.
I'll never 30 that" he said. quietly.
They had walked ccnsidera Bile
'ay. and JcI looked up with a we'll
'sumed start OF surprise.
Hanged If this isn't my place!
ever meant to bring you all this way.
sme in and rest"
The preacher hesitated. but he did
| wish TO give Offense and finally
ey trampeJ UP the narrow stairs to
ifs sanctum-a little sitting room
th hideous cheap furniture, Q farng
asr Pad a table Uttered with books.