The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-03-19


thanks which he invariably offered up
from his board. 1t might have been no
ticed also appended to those fervent
thanks was an earnest duplication that
divine Providence in its all-seeing wisdom
might not judge harshly the weakness of
the erring children, all of which was lost
on Joel, inasmuch as it was well known
10 be a part of the deacon's religious phil
osophy 10 regard all earthly beings as
weak and sinful In the eyes Of the Lord.
As for the deacon he was SURPRISED to note
that Joels appetite seemed even better
than usual.
The meal finished, Mrs. Birdsell arose
and from force of habit began to clear
away the dishes.
Joel, the deacon said, trying to APP
pear natural and at ease, although in spite
of himself there was a threatening ring
in his voice, "Supposin' you walk down
to the barn with me for a moment. I've
got somethin' I'd like to talk over with
you this mornin"
Joel had picked up his hat and had start
ed toward the door. Better put il off
till dinner time, William" he replied,
carelessly. I'm an hour late now get
ting 10 the creamery. an"
Then the creamery can waltz I want
you should do what / say, D. you hear?'
AN right then; must be somethin' ter
rible pressin What's on your mind"
Joel detected a stern look on his broth
er's face, and sensibly concluded that ar
gument was a waste of time.
The deacon did not wait to make fur
Their reply, but started out of the house
motoning for his brother to follow him
Silently leading the way, he sought the
seclusion Of the store room, where a
nondescript collection of sleighs and bob
seds stood, covered and festooned with
a nf nd
cobwebs- The silence of the place was
impressive. and in its selection the good
man prided himself on the exercise of
neat bit of strategy. Furthermore, it
removed the most remote danger of in
terruption.
For some time the deacon sat in ST.
lence, his cold eyes sharply fixed upon
his brothers face. Then, when the sus-
pense had begun to grow painful, he clear
ed his throat with evident effort, and
spoke carefully weighing every word
Joel" he said, I've come down here
to talk to you man to man, an I'm in
earnest. It's hard, but it's got 10 be done.
It's been on my mind for a long time"
Il hope there amt any trouble Will
lam" The shadow of an impending ca
lamity had gradually formed before JoePs
eyes, and his face wore a pale and anx-
ious look.
plenty of it, The truth is, I've been
mother and I've been-watchn' you now
this last six months, an what you've been
dom is as clear to us as an open book"
Instantly a sheepsh, self-conscious ex-
preston spread itself over JoeIs face,
and his eyes sought the floor in embar-
rassment. The deacon noted the quick
change. and his last lingering doubt in
stanty vanished. His course was now
clearly defined.
Yes. JOEL he continued, with greater
earnestness there's no use denyin' it now.
Mother an me"
II amt denyin' nothin' William"
The deacon started suddenly, and bit his
lips with anger The last thing he had
anticipated was a frank acknowledgment
of guilt 1t came so Unexpectedly that
he hardly knew how to go on yet he real
lied that the best way to approach the
crisis was by successive steps The Gull
prit exhibited no further willingness to
speak in self-defense, so the deacon plung-
ed in again.
Yes" he repeated we've knowed all
about you right along. We suspicioned
you when you took to high-fangled notions
about stand-up collars and gay neckties
we was surer of it when you got TO spend
in your money on tail coats an such, an
then, dropping his voice to an insinuat-
ing whisper, and punctuating each word
with pause, I'VE finally saw through the
whole thing when you took to goin out
late nights"
Before such an accumulation of evil
dence Joel hung his head. His express
sion changed gradually from embarrassed
confusion to guilty assurance, while with
the heel of his boot he unconsciously drew
parallel lines on the dusty barn floor
well, what of it, William?" he asked,
with a faint smile. What if you have?'s
What of it?" The deacon repeated the
words with angry surprise,
yes, what of it? 1 don't see the good
of maxim fuss about it, anyway"
The deacon swallowed something that
seemed to rise to his throat to choke his
words. What of it?'' he repeated again
angriy. why. man. you have gone
clean mad? Can't you see that If you
keep on it's goin to make your life reg
ular he'll on earth?"
Even the unpleasant prospect of imme-
date earthly perdition seemed to have no
effect upon the culprit His confusion did
not diminish, but his smile broadened to
a faint laugh. Then he looked thoughtful
and sad:
Il shouldn't hardly think you'd like to
say that William"
Say it, man alive! Why don't know it
| DO you NIlAh L We D6Sn llNltl all these
| years for nothin'? Amt 1t always that
way?"
The deacon spoke the words in an angry
treble, accompanied by an impatient and
| deprecating gesture. AN, besides, Joel, q"
he went on, his voice rising to, a still
higher key, look at it this way, If il
amt too late. You've got a little money
put by in the savins bank. How long
do you suppose it's goin' to last if you
keep on?"
To a financial consideration of the ques-
| ton Joel made no immediate answer. He
seemed TO be actually reckoning up the
costs After meditating quietly for little
while, he composedly replied
| We'll, suppose it does cost a little
more. l guess it's worth the difference. "
The calm reduction of moral depravity
to a matter of dollars and cents brought
the deacon to his feet with an impatient
! start
"An' your frends-your new friendsv'
he exclaimed, what do you suppose
they'n do when your moneys gone! Are
they goin' TO stand by you them"
Come, William, you talk as If 1 was
| goin 10 commit a crime instead of lust