Evening star., 1899-03-18

clusion of the store room, where a nonde-
script collection of sleighs and bob sleds
STOOL @ covered ana 1estooned WIN sum
mers accumulation of dust and cobWebs.
The silence of the place was impressive,
and In Its selection the good man prided
himself on the exercise of a neat bit of
strategy. Furthermore. it removed the
most remote danger of Interruption
For some time the deacon sat in silence,
his cold eyes sharply fixed upon his broth
ers face Then when the suspense had be
gun to grow painful, he cleared 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 to be done. It's been
on my mind for a long time
Il hope there amt any trouble, William"
The shadow of an impending calamity had
gradually formed before Joers eyes and
his face wore pale and anxious look
Trouble? Yes. there's trouble, and plenty
of it. The truth is, I've been-mother and
I've been-watchin' you now this last six
months, an what you've been doin' is as
clear to US as an open book
Instantly a sheepish, self-conscous ex-
preston spread itself over Joels face, and
his eyes sought the floor in embarrass-
ment The deacon noted the quick change
and his last lingering doubt instantly van
ished. His course was now clearly de-
fined.
Yes. Joel" he continued. with greater
earnestness, there's no use denyn' it now.
Mother an me"
Il 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 realized
that the best way to approach the crisis
was by successive steps. The culprit ex-
hibited no further willingness to speak in
saif-defense, so the deacon plunged in
again.
Yes" he repeated we've knowed all
about you. right along. We suspicioned
you when you took to hgh-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 voics to an insinuating
whisper, and punctuating each word with
a pause, we finally saw through the
whole thing when you took to gon' out
late nights"
Before such an accumulation of evidence
Joel hung his head. His expression chang
ed gradually from embarrassed confusion
to guilty assurance, while with the heel
of his boot he unconsciously drew parallel
lines on the dusty barn floor
We'll, what of it, William?" he asked.
with faint smile What if you have?''
What of it?" The deacon repeated the
words with angry surprise.
yes, what of it? l don't see the good
OF maxim fuss about it, anyway"
The deacon swallowed something that
seemed to rise in his throat to choke his
words. What of it?" he repeatsd again
angrily. why, man, you have gone clean
mad! Can't you see that if you keen on
It's goin' to make your life a regular hell
on earth?'
Even the unpleasant prospect of imme-
dlate 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 throughtfuI
and said: u
4 shouldn't hardly think you'd like to
! say that. William"
Say it, man alive! Why, don't I know
it? Do you think I've been livin' all these
way?'' ''''
Ihe deacon spoke the words in an angry
treble accompanied by an impatient and
| deprecating gesture. AN besides, Joel -
| he went on, his voice rising to a still high
| er key, Took at it this way, If it amt too
iate. You've got a little money put by
| in the savins bank How long do YOU sun.
| pose it's goin to last if you keep on?''
| To financial consideration Of the oues.
| ton Joel made no immediate answer. He
seemed to be actually reckoning up the
costs. After meditating quietly for uttIe
while he composedly replied:
! We'll, suppose 1T does cost a little more;
| 1 guess it's worth the difference"
The calm reduction of moral GeDra yitv
1 to matter of dollars and cents brought
| tina deacon to his feet with an impatient
| start.
| exclaimed. What do you suppose they'll
| do when your moneys gone? Are they
| goln' to stand by you then?'
| Come, William. you talk as If / was
goin' to commit crime instead of jus,
| followin' out a mans natural way. There
amt much danger of starvin' anyhew
Josfs impatfence. too was beginning te
show Itself. IF you're goin to go back
| on me now, WELL. suppose there's Other
! places go to. wasn't expsctin' Il