Evening star., 1899-03-18

10 the right past the old Quaker meet
ing house. and. To the left, through the
worldly and iniquitous village called into
existence only year before by the coul-
ing of the new railroad
This little cluster of houses mush-
room growth of urpainted boards. includ-
ed bs sides a blacksmith shop and general
store, both welcome enough in their way,
a tavern conducted wide-open princt-
pies. under the name of Lowden's Half
WAY House. which had speedily brought
the locality into general disrepute. No one
had discovered toward what goal ii marked
the halfway point. unless it was that goal
of torment which is the ending Of ever!
career of Incorporate profigacy.
in the dining room. which served Ike
wise a sitting room. the deacon was
carefully cleaning stray scraps of WIS
dom from the columns OF the Mlcn1San
Agriculturist the silence of the house dis
turbed only by the loud ticking of the
farm clock on the shelf in the corner and
the busy click of knitting needles in the
deft fingers of Mrs Blrdsell 1t was char
acteristic of the deacon that he always
postponed his study of the Agrcufturist
until after the harvest. when the informa-
tion he might gain was sure 10 be of least
value to him.
Presently the clock tolled the hour of
8, lingering long. ii seemed. upon the final
stroke. Deacon Birdsell started suddenly
Mother" he said, don't you know II
gstting pretty late?'
Mrs. Birdsen paused in surprise and
dropped the half-fnished sock in 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 Joefs
in"
As II in answer to the deacon's question.
the quavering. uncertain notes of 4 song
s!fted through the ceiling from the cham
Der above
.Shr' Mrs Birdsell said, holding up her
finger in warning.
The song from the chamber above grad
uaIly became more distinct until word
could be understood here and there in its
uncertain rhythm. 1t bore q distant resrm-
blance to one of the popular songs of the
day heard with great frequency in the
neighboring town, but justly abhorred for
its worldly insinuations in the peaceful
Quaker Church neighborhood-
William" exclaimed Mrs. BirdselI in a
trembling voice. "somethin must be done
right away. It's gettin' just awful It's
been weighin' on my mind until sometimes
/ get that nervous"
The deacon gathered his shaggy gray
brows and strOked his angular unshayen
chin in silence for a moment. Il have to
think 1t of JOEL he observed thoughtfully.
but 1 guess 1t must be true. Have you
been noticin' anything else lately. Martha?'
The deacon seldom addressed his wife by
her given name except on occasions of
great SOlemnity.
''Anythin't Good land alive,'' Mrs. Bird
sell swept her hands around her head as
If she was warding off a swarm of impend-
ing evil. It's gettin' worser and worser
every day." she exclaimed with great
earnestness. "an' the worst part of it all
is he's gettin' that brazen about ito
think, too. William, that he's your own
brotherT' The song began again in the
chamber above, this time accompanied by
the unmistakable sound OF shuffing feet
Just listen to that. now she went on,
with mournful emphasis. II guess you can
hear it for yourself?''
Yes, mother. you're right" pronounced
the deacon, Fefectiyely, slowly nOddIng his
head in the affirmative. Poor Joel is car
tainly goin' straight to the-I was almost
goin' to say devil an here We ara. you an
me, sitting with our hands folded, not doin
a blessed thing TO put him right"
1T didn't get real bad till the middle of
June-leastwise Joel didn't take TO GOin
out nights till then" Mrs. Birdsell squint-
ed thOughtfully through her glasses as Il 10
look into the past. Il first suspicioncd him
circus day over in the town. when h spent
all that money for a box of collars, an
them red and green neckti=s. He seemed
right ashamed of EN-. too-that is to .5s.y
at first he did
When was it he spoke to you about
cr-asin' his pant legs?''
why, dear me: you amt forgotten that
have You? 1t was the very same Cay n
come out from town bringin his taiI coat.
I'll never forget that. He was precious
careful 10 keep that ridiculous thing out of
my sight. an when he spoke about tha
pants he blushed like a boy. H. says to
me. Martha sometime when you've got a
fiat iron on j wish you'd press out my gray
pants an leave 'em creased before and be-
bird. Folks say, nowadays, it keeps 'em
from WARM out so quick l almost gave
him piece of my mind right then an
there. / says, Joel Birdselli An at yCur
time in 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
midnightI'
Deacon Birdsen cIasped his long fingers
around his bony knee and bowed his head.
IF 1 do say it, watched him from the
window when he went out Mrs. Bir rlSail
earnestly continued. AN i seen him tramp
straight of toward the tavern. ''Twasn I
the last time I've seen him. either"
The deacon suddenly started up and
tllumped his fist hard upon tn. table,
Them Lowdens will get to prison yetr'
ne burst out with Indignation. "'Twould
be a true reIssious act to set their cussed
dram shop fire! I'll do it. too if"
Mrs BirdSeH reached across the table to
place a restraining hand upon her hus-
bands arm. but the tips of her fingers
barely touched his shirt sleeve. William -
she said, in a more composed tone. 1--WE
mustn't get excited. What We must do is
To tend 10 JOeHs case. The Lord that
judges between the righteous an the un-
righteous viii tend to the Lowndes him.
seIfr'
Before such an undeniable exposition Of
truth the farmers anger slowly subsided.
You know the time Joel washed The
went on. He didn't get back that night
till quart-r past twelve, an he took mis-
boots off before he come into the house ]
know all about ii, because he clean forgot
EN- an left EN- on the porch
You wouldn't call them things boots,
would your The deacon threw his whole
available fund OF sarcasm into the words
Gaiters, l man." corrected Mrs Bird
sell. quickly. An that's another thing
just to think Of man takin' to CATERS
after boots has been good enough for him
for fifty years, It's a sure sign William "
Yes. mother, that's the long and the
short of it, Caters may be small thing fl
themselves. but in Joefs casa they ielr
powerful to show what fast livin and
strong drink will do, once a man gets goin'
In the wrong way.
The deacon started suddenly at the mean
Ing Of his own words. A spade had finally
been called spade. Mrs. Birdsen straight.
way began TO sob audibly. while her hus-
band searched abstractedly for his hand.
kerchief. which he finally produced from
the armhOle of his vest
Joel Birdseil filled the place of son MOI
only in the hearts, but in the home of the
deacon and his wife. Back in the sos