The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-04-30

doubt that If the White-Haired Master had
come up with him the road he would
have Jared but i'll. But providence seemed
to have taken him under its wing
The White-Haired Master concluded to
wait in the neghborhood of Harmony
Grove until dawn, knowing that nothing
could be done in the darkness. 1t was
long, long night. The grandfather walked
up and down, up and down the whole time
and though the son of Ben Ali sat in tho
school house as still as a statue, he was as
impatient as the master. He had built
fire in the old sheet-iron stove and the draft
rushing into this puffed like a locomotive
and, for awhile kept time with the tramp
tramp, tramp of the grandfather.
But dawn came at last, and soon as
things were visible, the two were in the
buggy and away. When they had gone two
or three miles toward home, Aaron jumped
from the buggy and stroled on ahead of the
horse. 1t was quito light by this time and
he scanned the road carefully, searchinf for
the tracks made by the big wheels of the
army wagon. He could not find them
where they were not, but when he came to
the short lane that led to Mr.. Bobs' house,
he saw where the wagon had turned in.
Making sure that it had not come out again
he waited for the White-Haired Master to
come up. He said not a word, but pointed
to the tracks made by the wheels.
Now. 1t happened that Mr.. BobS had his
sister. Miss Elviry, for his housekeeper.
Miss Elviry was 40 odd years DID, and quite
independent of servants and 1t was her hab-
1t to rise at daybreak summer and winter,
kindle into a blaze the fire that had been
wrapped into blanket of ashes the night
before, and proceed to cook an early break
fast, SO that her brother might get to work
at his turning lathe, or his broom making
as soon as possible. Miss Elviry went to
bed early and rose early, as a matter both
of conscience and habit. But on this par
ticular morning she rose earlier than usual.
She had a "feelin," as she afteTward en-
pressed it, that everything was not all
right. Once or twice when she woke dur
ing the night she heard the house. dog Ut
terng smothered growls and whining, a
certain sign that everything was not as 1t
should be. She refreaned from rousing her
brother. but she had a good mind to. She
made up for her restraint in this matter
however, by rising half an hour earlier her
self She kindled a fire. put on a supply of
wood. to keep it going, and hurriedly dress
ed herself. Then although the stars were
shining, she unbolted the back door and
looked out. The little clubhouse in which
Mr. Bobs did his work and kept his tools
barred her vision. but she heard unusual
noises, such as the rattle of chains and
the creaking of harness and the snorting OF
horses or mules.
Now, Miss Elviry was not a timid wo-
man. She had some of the independence
and energy that would have made her
brother more prosperous had he possessed
a fair share of them. So, while she was
astonshed at the noises she heard, she was
not alarmed. Instead of rushing into her
brothers room to rouse him. she seized tho
ak, which was always brought in over night
in case of an emergency, and sailed out
to see what it was that had taken possess
sion.
The house dog heard her and came out
from under the house fairly screaming
with delight for he had a horrible night Of
it. Feeling himself adequately reinforced
by Miss Elviry's presence, his bristles rose,
and he rushed around the clubhouse and
proceeded to bay the back end of the wag-
on with the greatest fury. and his indlena-
ton grew even greater when he heard Miss
Elviry's firm voice urging him to Sic EN-,
Spot Sic emf
The voice aroused Sweetest Susan, but
did not seem to disturb the other sleepers.
The child rubbed her eyes, but for long