The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-04-10

ely.
4 am grfeved." he mid. TO have besa
the neans 81 Introducing . Discussion Of
thn Kind ! WIN refer ron 70 lGr. Drift
ned, one q cur deacons. and treasurer Of
the chapel funds. He en- answer Al
ssesstons better thaa can..
VII hear II from you. not from
Df1mesd." sid Jim What do you ac-
cuse ny father Of hAxfag DONE
II y no mere accusation.- sa3d the
mtaistef. In . nett:ed tone- HE avowed
i-co0feased II before tho church. Lea
sway ~ great temptation. IN . time q
pecuniAry ddmculty he spprepgiAted to
ME own m . sum Of mcnsy for the
chapel which had bssa placed IN his
chafve- We would nevee have believed
II but Tor his own confensfon-never."
James HornbIower's features had
changed from crimson to . Hvid gray
Hts jaw dropped. his eyes were nxed
upon HE fathers Qusvering face. down
which the Sow tears Of are had begun
TO fall
- sum OF money! How much When.
Ten me- the details QUICK
III was hft<en years ago thi1 month;
yud about the time when you left home,
James. II was Always thought E~obable
that you knew something Of the matter,
and would not wait to re your fathers
sad dtsgrAce. II was q sum Of E50--
Done up In = leather bar ready 10 70
to the bank. know. And father
father said
He said he used IT," said Mr.. shfiIito,
sadly. He could not refund e when
cAaed upon to do %: but I am glad to
my that years afterwards he paid US
the amount IN full. with interest ard
compound interest. We did not prosecute.
Of course
And you believed himf You turned
him out OF the church for thisy'.
JiT. my boy. be silent: it IL al, over
now"
He was deacon and superintendent ana
mead man at your chapel when ! went
away. You turned him outfs'
1t was impossible that he should rom
tiEus to hold those positions said the
minister. rather firmly. Jim's loud voice
and unabashed front took him By sur
prise.
What set Of fools you must ber.
exclaimed the man from the bush. .snot
TO Know him better than that! Why faith
er. what was the good Of Il? II wouldn't
that ] took it..'
You took 1T" gasped the minister.
took Il. thought It was my fathers
money and that he'd never miss IL. sent
u oack TO him Afterwards. and had no IDEA
but what 1t had been all right, though n
was mean trick TO walk of with the
money without his consent But thought
knew my father-and--and-Id didn't, after
ALL
He dropped down into the nearest chair
and hid his face in his hands. A mighty
sob heayed his broad shoulders. and his
father lay and looked at him with a ming
ling OF love. shame and pity. which was
heavenly In Its perfect peace The minister
stood up. and positively gasped for breath.
Il couldn't ha' made 'em understand"
H0rnhf0EoY IN
placid voice. They'd ha' called him a
thief. and not seen that he was only bor-
rowing on his father-as he thought. They
would have prosecuted. maybe. and that
would have spoiled his career. You see,
Mr.. Shillito. how well he's done for him.
sell. Was It for me to put hindrances in
"But my poor friend" said Mr.. shiili,o
almost unable TO speak, and taking the old
mans nerveless hand In his, you need not
have sacrificed yourself.
There seemed no other way" said
Matthew 1T was a question Of him or
me. Nobody else could ha' coined at the
money. And 1t was better to be me, though
II went against me. Mr.. Shiiiito. to tell the
iie--it did. indeed. never told lie before
nor since. 80 far as I can recollect. That
was why I could never profess the peni-
tence you sought to arouse in me But now
! do sore repent the lie told. and trust
the Lord will pardon me for II. conslderin'
the circumstances of the case. 1t seems to
me He must ha' forgiven me. now that
see my boy standing at my bedside again..
II don't care who knows the truth" said
Jim. standing up and speaking firmly.
MIR. Shiliito. you'll see to It. My fathers
names got 10 be cleared al any cost. I'll
go to prison IL you like"
mo. no. there will he no occasion said
the minister. Your father shall be hen
n~a n q he
Hornbiower my dear. dear old friend. can
you forgive me2'
Hornhiower smiled and put out his hand.
Lord nov iettess Thou Thy servant de-
part in peace" he nurmured. using words
.se. I'D often been In hts heart during
che last few days and weeks
You shan't DEPART" roared Jim. almost
beside himself with grief and something
not unlike a kind Of rage. You're going
10 live and show everybody what q hero
and saint you've been: you've got to 1--we
for other peoples sake-for mine most Of
all How can hear my life father. II yol
dieT You must live
And he did Tive. The stimulus OF his
sons presence helped him TO struggle back
TO fair measure OF health and strength.
sufficient at least to enable him 10 resume
once more his old duties as chief offlce-
bearer in the church, He wGs unanimous
~ elected 10 all his former oflices. and
knew once more the Joy OF being deacon
and Sunday school superintendent and
treasurer Of the chapel fund. And after a
few months he went with his son TO Aus
traiia where We heard some years later
that hls end--a quiet and peaceful end
had come
Perhaps the fullest compensation for all
his sacrifices was made him when. at the
weekly prayer meeting a. Salem chapel. In
hush OF stifled expectancy the minister
would rise IN his place and say. with GER
tain inslstsnce In his tone:
Our dear brother. Deacon Hornhlower.
VIII now conduct I'm prayer.
After fifteen years Of silence. cImpensa-
ton sndee1--ye. who could give him back
those ffteen enfpty years.
The End.
Baron Harden Hickey's Witty Paper