The Red Cloud chief., 1897-06-18

W and fields which
were scattered here
and there upon It. A light still burn
ed in the vestry. while Solomon
Mucklcbackit. the sexton, waited on
the porch for the minister to come
forth.
"There'll be shaw the night" he
nuttered, placing the key In the oaken
door, preliminary to lociing up:
"there'll be shaw the night, or I'm slir
mista'en. And the Annan"s rising
It's shaving moo amang the hills"
All at once the light in the vestry
wa extinguished. and the minister. o
man about fifty years OF age, appeared
on tho threshold. wrapped in a heavy
winter cloak and carrying a thick
stan.
Lick up. Solomon. my man." he
said.
Solomon obeyed. turning the key In
tho inner door. and then that OF tle
outer n OF solid OAK, while the min
ister stood waiting on the path. Then
the two, side by side, and with mCci
the same kind OF mechanical trot.
passed across the churchyard. pausing
now and again to struggle with the
fierce gusts. and to hold on thelr head
gear-the sexton his Sunday bonnet"
and the minister his broad-brimmed
clerical hat.
Reaching the iron gate, which was
rattllng and creaking In the wind, they
descended three moss-grown steps, and
reached the highway. Here all was
pitch dark. for the shadow OF tall yew-
trees fell from the other side. deepen
Ing the nocturnal b%lackness; but.
crossing the road, they opened another
gate. crossed the garden where the
yew-trees grew. and reached the door
Of the manse.
Standing here In complete shelter.
they heard the "sough" OF the blast
overhead among the tossing boughs,
like the wild thunder Of a stormy sea.
The manse was a plain two-story
bsiidins. 40 old as the times Of the
Covenant and containing numberless
cheerless chambers. the majority OF
which were unfurnished. Here the
Reverend Sampson Lorraine had
dwelt in solitude for five-and-twenty
years. He had come to the place as
, shy young bachelor, q student, and
b bookworm; and despite all the sieges
that had been laid to his heart, as was
Inevitable in a place where marriage
able men were few and spinsters many
4 bachelor he had remained ever since
People said that q love disappointment,
in early life had made him thereafte,
invulnerable to all the charms OF WON
en-, but at nrst his single condition
made him very popular. Presently
however. as his position as a bachelo,
grew more confirmed. and his eccentrl
cities increased, he ceased to awake,
much interest.
Opening the door with a latch-key
no entered a bare lobby, and strikin,
q light. led the way into a large room
on the ground floor. It was scantil!
furnished with an old carpet. an old
fashioned circular table with drawers
and several chairs; but on the wall
were numerous shelves. covered will
books. The room had two large win
dcws looking on the back lawn which
sloped down to the river, but was with
out curtains Of any kind.
A fire burned on the hearth, and
rude box Of peat fuel stood by tn
Preside. One side OF the table wa
spread with q clean cloth, on whic'
stood a tray with bread. oatcakt
cheese. and butter, and a large ston
water-jug. q black-bottle. and som
glasses.
"Sit ye down. Solomon" said tn
minister, placing a lighted candle o
the table.
Solomon stood. hat In hand. Ever
Sunday evening for many n long yes
he had entered the house In the SAN
way. at the same hour. and receive
the same invitation.
Seen In the dim light OF the roor
the sexton was q little wizened, whit,
haired man. with hoary, bushy ey,
brows, keen gray eyes, and sunke
tanned cheeks. He was dressed In d
cent black, with q white shirt, and Il
kind of collar known In Scotland
"stick-nps." The minister. on Il
other hand. was tall and s0mewh
portly, with q round. boyish face. &c
tie blue eyes. and mild. good-humor
mouth. His hair was white as sno
and fell almost to his shoulders.
"Sit ye down, sit ye down. he =
peated: "and take q glass-the mig
Is cold"
Solomon placed his bonnet careful
on the edge Of the table. and seat
himself respectfully on n Of Z
csne-bottomed chairs. Then, leisure
and solemnly, he poured out a glass
raw spirit. Meantime Mr.. Lorrair
having Invested himself OF his clio
ard hat. sat down in the armchair
The 0rcside.
Here's fortuna, sir" sad solomc
drinking on he~~hisky; then. wipi
his mouth with his sleeve. he sat BIO
a~~lnke aaS >..nro.k ut~u2 IN q