Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1900-11-21

break up the tedium OF his watch.
The minutes before midnight moved
slowly on and the aast sands were
dropping through the grass. Already
In the adjoining chamber the heavy
breathing of the friar told how quick
" sleep had sized upon his weary sen.
ues.
sSleep away, good MASTER" said
Miles approviugly. 81 will take as good
care of matters here as if thou vert
broad awake. For my own part, see
little sense in so much watching OF q
head, which for aught we know was
made out of an Old kettle or pair o.
battered helmets. AS for my master,
wise as he is, he must have a crack
In Ibis headpiece; else instead OF starv-
ing me and himself on bread cruSts
and spring waiter, he would call 10 ms
aid some of the brave spirits his art
can command, and order good smok-
ing hot meats and wine as good as the
king uses, and have rich raiment and
soft beds, instead of such poor acco-
mediation as he keeps now. If thou
caust tel him anything to better his
conditions, good Master Brazen-pate,
went ON MIues, looking up att the
gloomy features which in the dim light
seemed to frown upon him, do so,
and I'u set thee up for an oracle.
AS he spoke these last words. a low
sound of thunder mubtered through
the room, and shook gently the pedes-
tad on which the head rested. A single
flash of light lit up the immovable
features for one brief instant, and
from the lips, voice scarcely louder
than a whisper, Yet distinctly audible,
uttered the words:
TIME Isl"
lis that the beginning OF your
speech, old Brazen-nose, said Miles,
c,oolly regarding the head as if itwere
the most natural thing LIN the world
| for it to speak thus. go on, l pray
thee. and Let me hear if thou intendest
to eay anything worth noting. l will
not wake my master for SO slight a
ma,tter as that thou hast just an
bounced. Time u.s. foresooth! as u
that would be news to such scholar as
Eriar Bacon Thou hadst best speak
sense if thou wouldSt have him listen
to thee
Again the thunder muttered, but
boulder than at first; again the dght
ming CLEANED over the impassive feat
urss, and the voice murmered-
TIME WAS!"
"On nv life," said Miles scornfully
ito think that my master and hk
friend should spend seven good years
in making a head which says no more
wonderful thing than any fishmonge1
could tell us. Time was!' l am bu
q fool, and hope know as much a
that. Why not say something u
Greek or Latin, Or any of the Learned
tongues that Master Bacon knows a
we'll as he knows his brevfary? Or, !
thou can'st speak nothing but common
English, tell us something NOR
strange than Ithis. Dost think L shal
wake up my master 10 10 better en-
xertainmenit CT CO.. v.':a :. n than tho
hast offered him? Oh. upon thee TO
q braggart, that pIon'a.s ly III
looks more than thy tongue can eve
perform for thee"
While he was speaking. sudde
ERht Lit up the head with a brightness
like that of day. The terrible feature
wore a frown so dreadful that tn
Rlnce struck dismay to the heart o
the staggering Miles. AS he stoo'
motionIess. with awful accent and in
voice of thunder the head cried out,
TIME IS PAST!"
Then came a lightning flash so vivi
that the serving man fell prone t
earth, and with fearful crash tn
grand head fell, a shattered mass G
fragments without shape or sem
blance.
Amidst the dire noise Friar Baco
started up and rushed to his doorway
AIT his feet was the work of seve.
years a blasted ruin. Groveling anon
the fragments lay the wretched MILES
uttering loud screams Of fear.
"Peace. fool" comma nded the frial
raising him to his feet. "Silence! an
tell me how this happened. Did tn
head speak?'
"Aye, sir, he spake," answere
Miles, blubbering loudly. "But he san
naught worth noting. Didst tho
not say it would utter strange word
OF learning? Yet it said at first onl
two words"
"What words?"
"Why, ait first 1T said, Time u.s. en-
I, knowing that was NO news of COZ
sequence, waited for something bette
before I woke thee. Again it saic
time was and then with loud CT
It said. Time is past. and topple
over, giving my head ms.ny har
bump with the fragments"
"Wretch! idiot, viF5an." cried til
friar. seizing the frightened man as
he would have strangbed him. 9Th
6oolishness has cost me the work G
years. the hopes of a lifrtine. N
words can reveal what thy id.;ocy b
lost me. But go. leave INV sight, misea
able vag1bond! l could kill mysel
,, IL shame for having trusted thee,
and releasing hin hold OF Miles, Cd
fTaar sank into q chair and buried b
1ace in his hands.
1T is the last" he murmurs<
Henceforth ! bid farewell to ma9i,
From thus moment l wild close N
study and burn my books. Herea6te
. only to religion will L devote mysel
and dying l shall leave not even m
poor name to add to my country
) glory"