The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-03-19
THE PATH TO PERDITION.
nr I'nr1s vINcENr DE ZOE.

house the bright rays of lamp marked
the forks of the country road which led
10 the right past the old quaker meeting
house, and. to the left, Through the worldly
and iniquitous village called into exist
ence only. a year before by the coming of
the rev railroad.
This little cluster of houses, mush-
room growth Of unpanted boards, includ-
ed, besides a blacksmith shop and general
store. both welcome enough in their way
a tavern conducted on wide-open princi-
pies under the name of Lowden's Halt
Way House, which had speedily brought
the locality into general disrepute. No
one mad discovered toward what goal it
marked the halfway point unless il was
that goal of torment which is the ending
OF every career of Incorporate prohigacy.
In the dining room which served likewise
as "a sitting room. the deacon was care
fully cleaning stray scraps Of wisdom from
the columns of the Michigan Agricultu-
rist. the silence Of the house disturbed only
bv the loud ticking of the farm clock on
the shelf in the corner and the busy Click
of knitting needles in the def fingers Of
AIRS Rirdseu Ii was characteristic of
the deacon that he always postponed his
study of the Agriculturist until after the
harvest when the information he might
gain was sure to be of least value to him.
Presently the clock tolled the hour of 8,
lingering Tong. il seemed, upon the maj
stroke. Deacon BirdseI started suddeh-
ly.
Mother" he said, don't you know it's
getun pretty late?'
Mrs. Birdsell paused in surprise ana
aropped the half finished sock i'm her lap.
Eight and after, an it's high time folks
was abed." said the deacon. Did you
shut down the back window an bolt the
kitchen door? An Joel-of course, Joels
in"
AS IL in answer to the deacons ques-
lion. the quavering, uncertain notes of
q song sifted, through the ceiling from the
chamber above.
"Shr Mrs. Birdsell said, holding up
her finger in warning.
The song from the chamber above grad
uaHy became more distinct until word
could be understood here and there in its
uncertain rhythm. 1t bore distant re-
eemblance to one of the popular songs Of
the day heard with great frequency in the
neighboring town, but justly abhorred for
ats worldly inslnuations in the peaceful
Quaker Church neighborhood.
william" exclaimed Mrs. Birdsen in
trembling voice, ''somethin' must be done
right away It's gettin' just awful! It's
been weghin on my mind until sometimes
] get that nervous"
The deacon gathered his shaggy gray
brows and stroked his angular unshaven
chin in silence for a moment. Il hate
to think of Joel" he observed, thought
fully but l guess il must be true. Have
you been noticin' anything else lately,
Nartha?" The deacon seldom addressed
his wife by her given name, except ON
occasions of great solemnity.
"Anythn' Good land alive!' Mrs Bird
sell swept her hands around her head as
If she was warding off a swarm of i'm
pending evil IT'S gettin' worser and
worser every day" she exclaimed with
great earnestness. AN the worst part OF
&c all is. he's gettin' that brazen about
tito think, too, William, that he's your
own brother." The song began again in
the chamber above this time accompanied
by the unmistakabie sound of shutting
feet.
Just listen to that now she went on.
with mournfui emphasis. Il guess you
can hear it for yourself"
Yes mother you're right pronounced
the deacon, rehectively, slowly nodding his
head in the affirmative. Poor Joel is GER
tainly goin' straight to the-I was almost
gon to say devil, an here we are, you
an me sittin' with our hands folded not
doin blessed thing TO put him right"
1T didn't get read bad tin the middle
of June-leastwise Joel didn't take 90 goin'
out night till then" Mrs. Birdsell
squinted thoughtfully through her glasses
as If to look into the past. II first sus-
piconed him circus day over in the town,
when he spent all that money for a box
of collars an them red and green neck
ties. He seemed right ashamed of 'em,
too-that is to say at first he did"
when was it he spoke TO you about
creasin' his pant legs?"
why, dear me, you amt forgotten that,
have you? 1t was the very same day he
come out from town bringin' his tail coat.
I'll never forget that! He was precious
careful to keep that ridiculous thing out
of my sight an when he spoke about the
pants ne blushed like a boy He says
10 me, Martha, sometime when you've got
a hatiron on I wish you'd press out my
gray pants an leave EN- creased before
and behind. Folks say, nowadays, it
keeps EN- from wearin' out so quick
almost gave him piece of my mind right
then an there. / says Joel Birdsell! An
az your time of life. too He didn't say
another word, but went off upstairs that
ashamed-an' that very night was the first
time in the twenty years he stayed out
till after mdnightr'
around his bony knee and bowed his head
IF / do say it, / watched him from the
window when he went out" Mrs. Bird
sell earnestly continued, IAN seen him
tramp straight off toward the tavern.
'Twasnt the last time I've seen him,
either"
The deacon suddenly started up and
thumped his fist hard upon the table.
Them Lowdens will get TO prison YETI
he burst out with Indignation. "'Twould
he a true religious act 90 set their cussed
dram shop on fire. I'd do il, too if
Mrs Birdsell reached across the table
10 place restraining hand upon her hus-
bands arm, but the tips of her fingers
bare.y touched his shirt sleeve. william. -
she said in a more composed tone, I'VE
mustn't get excited. What we must do is
10 tend to Joel's case. The Lord that
Judges between the righteous an the I'M
righteous will tend to the Lowdens Him.
self"
Before such an undeniable exposition OF
truth the farmers anger slowly subsided
You know the time Joel washed the
buggy an went to town." Mrs. Birdsell
m 10 Qr,F 81