The record-union., 1898-10-30

sion of the old tree, and a fierce re-
sentiment and obstinacy flowed up
within him in answer to it.
He jumped down from his horse
knelt in the dusty road. and vowed
that though every leaf withered and
the tree stood, summer and winter,
gaunt and black. though the branches
began to crumble and fall one by one,
as long as the dead trunk stood erect
and pointed up to heaven so long
would he continue to hold his summer
night meetings at its foot. He had
never before done so theatrical a thing
as to make vow, and he felt half
shame-faced as he lifted his head and
met the eyes of the moon
1t took long stretch of galloping to
bring him to himself, and then he
relned his horse about and galloped
back to the tree to kneel down in the
same spot and ask that both he and
Wiley might be forgiven for their sins.
Wiley slept TRANQUILITY through both
the angry and the humble prayer only
waking up when the sun suggested it
by pouring broadsides of light into his
face. He walked round the tree again
and smiled at it, then whistled to his
horse. got on, and ambled away in
search Of some one who would rather
invite him to breakfast than have him
sit too long on the front doorstep as a
guest.
The day was Saturday, and that
night Brother MiHikin stood in the
sparkle of torches, preaching as he had
never preached before. The pathos of
the doomed tree which sheltered him
made him feel more deeply the pathos
Of our human lives. which may not
keep on and on. but have their limit set
upon them from the first.
There was hastier rustling of the
leaves Of the old tree, and far in the
north a gleam Of heat lightning played
back and forth like a subtle thought,
but Brother Millikin did not notice.
and not face was turned away from
him. The lightning grew more vivid,
and there was a loud growl of thunder.
single face wavered toward the
north. The motion was swift, but he
caught it and leaned forward speaking
with a more thrilling emphasis. The
wind swept upon him out of the north
west in a great cool rush, bringing the
roar Of a distant forest and setting the
branches twinging overhead The
thunder-cloud spread into an unde-
fined, menacing blackness, walling out
the stars, and the lightning blazed
across it in great streaks and vivid
darts of fire.
Brother Millikin's exhortation
strengthened with the crashing volleys
Of thunder. There had come to be a
fair contest between him and the storm
as to which should fill the ears of the
people, and he was not used to giving
up his rights. He paused and pointed
with solemn hand into the north. For
an instant there was not a sound, for
even the thunder ceased. 1t was an
instant Of victory. He made a down
ward motion, and the people sank upon
their knees, but before his lips were
opened there came the recurrent thud
Of a galloping horse, and a great voice
shouting out a song. The bowed
heads began bobblng up all over the
crowd and turning to stare into the
dark whisper passed among them.
Wiley Sides"
Brother Milhkin clenched his hands,
and, as the thunder crashed again, he
began his prayer. "Oh, Father, pride
goeth before destruction and naughty
spirit before a fall"
I'm Captain Jinks of the Horse Marines
beloved the voice in the darkness, and
the people sprang up and ran apart,
making way for a horse that charged
straight through the congregation to-
ward the tree. Two or three men seized
the bride, holding him back from
Brother Millikin, who did not seem to
hear The torches and the almost in
cessant lightning shone upon a huge
figure lurching forward in the saddle,
and great, broad, foolish face.
I'm Captain Jinks," Wiley reiterat-
ed: but suddenly he became aware that
another voice was lifted besides his
own, and he shifted a little farther for
ward with a friendly smile. Il tell you" ="
he declared, Il can yell a heap loudern
you-uns; JUS listen."
Brother Milikin did not cease to
pray A crowd of men gathered round
the newcomer, trying to pull him to the
ground, but he struck out at them
with blows which sent them reeling
down around the horse; then the i'm
mense volume of his voice poured forth
again, and he brandished his arms
wildly as if he were trying to brush
the minister's voice out of the way.
Brother Millikin's prayer struggled on,
and the thunder pealed.
The cloud had risen SO that II was
just above the tree when a flash leaped
down from 1t, tearing off the boughs.
and plowing it's way straight to the
earth Brother Millikin and Wiley
Sides and all the people near dropped
as If dead, while some who were farth-
er AWAY stood dazad and helnleSS