The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1900-05-19
MN@Ank1SaS Os SoSY
( Abducted by I
John the Baptist
ss,n- s@, ~Ss
: By Ward Pies !
By Ward Pies
COPYRIGHTED BY THE c. ?. \
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
CONTINUED
XXI.
TOM CoYNE ABANDoNS HIS AK
TILLERY.
[coNTINuED.l

TOM CoYNE ABANDoNS HIS AIT
TILLERY.
Miss Stella sat there In the welcome
glow of the sun, inhaling the pure
fresh air with a great physical delight
while the soft morning zephyr gentlyg
famed and refreshed her like potentaj
elixir.
What a restful rest 1t was! what
delight. what a glorious, satisfying
repose! There seemed to be nothing
IN the world left to be wished for-if
che could sit there forever, motionless,
absorbing light and air and sunSnins
and rest!
Far down within the lost, unmoved
depths of her tranquil MIND there was
q faint, unrealized inclination 10 tnihA
of something outside OF herself ana 20
yond the moment, In some olrection,
but to do y, involved an exertion wnicn
she lacked the desire to make. 10
think would be to invite fatigue anu
she felt so weak that she wished only
to rest forever, with her mind as piank
and still as the placid bosom OF an un-
troubled pool.
The LAPSE of time was unnoted ana
the protracted absence OF the Prophet
was unnoticed.
"Hullo!"
She looked around and saw Tom
Coyne with his elongated artillery on
his shoulder. His presence did no'
surprise her: she was not Interested IN
his presence or in his errand or N ahv-
thing beyond her own restful rest
She knew that Tom Coyne was Desios
her hut that fact was all that she ex'
erted herself to comprehend.
Good morning, Tom.
"Thurder! Jerusalem crickets! Stei
zenith, Where'd you come fromF :,
She was so thin and wasted and pail
that he had not recognized her TILL sh'
snoke. In startled surprise he reiaxe.
his grasp upon his gun, which Tell VIII
q loud rattle and clangor upon Tn
stones. She was not Interested In ZOE
or his artillery, but she was too lnoo
lent to be actively uncivil, 70 she an
swered:
sons!"
"But that was ever so long ago
You've been lost an given up Tor goo
an all this long time!
Have II" -
"Of course you have! Don't yo
know you have?"
mo"
"You didn't s'pose they knoWe
where you was?' ,,
az had not thought about 1t at all
hadn't thought about the folks
the time you've bean gone! lom J"
indignant. =,
co+icsd Ycr haven't grown up yet!
"see here. Stell Zenith! What a
Won, You look like a billed ghost
cold!"
II guess / have been SICK.
"Why in thunder don't you go no
when your pa an ma an carrie an
the folks an that auJutant ieiler
1ust crazy an dyin' about you pe
zone an lost? Why don't you 90 NJ
say?'' -,
His energy aroused her dorm
mind all at once. A great longing
he at home with her parents ana
tiers surged over her soul anu
cried: =.
"Oh. Tom. Take me home? l G. :,
walk; can't you take me nome
dear
"Golly. I wish l could carry you;
I can't! Can't you lean on me
walk" 49,. :,
mn ON =. -, lake me home! do
,na ..v.as. Please, Tom?'
She wept and Tom was IN great
tress and began to cry also.
"Say Stell, how d you GIT nsrs
/. THE Prophet carried me-
.The old thief, I'll shoot poun
.hot into him, The old abduction
"No no. Tom. He is kind ana
.ra ~ n hadn't been for him
h.va died on the hillside yonder.
carried me up here and has taken
=, me when l was SO sick that 4
cr.yv and helpless for | don't
how long. Has it been year, II
"Iu the same he shall carry
home right now or l Will snoo.
nound of shot into him anyway 10
sa,1;r, us7 Where is the old 81
gosher?" On
him To carry me home. l Will ai
have TO stay here another night.
Tom went into the hut; throus
Act room through the secono'
the third. There he saw the RI
kneeling before the altar. BON
rested, palms down. upon lns
pible: the face was upturned al
iirht fell full upon It,.
Tom stopped suddenly and sal
IN reverent silence to await 1ne :
sion of the prayer. IL appeal
Tom To become entirely too ions
reasonable prayer and he ventu
s,gnal his presence by cough
wa. unnoticed by the worsnippe
lensth the boys impotence ovs
both his awe Of the Piopnee
rsverence for the Prophets de'
and he timidly exclaimed;
Amen"
There was no effect and after
ne yentured again, louder al
boldness:
Amen, smen!
Still there was no erect anu
,,rns that Tom thought very
vot nm and noisily moved stoo
he tried coughing roughly TWO :
times. Still the worshipper re
undisturbed.
SAY" y
There was TO response anu
game desperate: u.
rLoosss he.e, John the %