Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1900-05-05
CHAPTER XIX.

CHAPTER Mn.
1t seemed to he the general opinion that
aimee Dicks warning Of the fate IN store
for him and all the other horse thieves.
II caught, horse stealing was ut an end
In Brownsville.
Consequently. feeling Of comparative
security took possession Of the settlers.
Most of them believed that Dick had
belonged to gang, II he had not been
the leader of Ii, and that his narrow es-
cape from the fate metcd out to horse
thieves had frightened him out Of the
country.
That It was we'll with him yet. Mamie
knew, for the supply OF daily bread which
she deposited In the hollow tree disnp.
pcared as regularly as II was placed
there.
The camp meeting opened with a great
promise Of success. The presiding elder
said he felt "as IF there was gOin' to be
q regular Ol'.fashi'ned pour-dOwn o. the
sperrit, an a stirrin' up O. dry bones
whcreupon NIL the brothers and sisters In
Israel shouted a vigorous "Amcn" In
concert.
There was gOohly attendance from
"down below" Never before had 50
many strange faces been seen In Browns
vile.
1t began, as I have said, on Friday
The first day got II only fairly under
Roadway. On the second day the ex
element, without which no camp meet
Ing was considered success In those
days, began.
Before night II had taken possession Of
most of those who were, or had been
members Of one church or another. VIVA,
the nature Of the excitement was shall
not undertake to say. 1t was something
which few could, or did, resist, and thu
anxious seat was crowded with pcnitents
At night. after the great fires were
lighted, the scene was one Rembrandt
would have delighted In, with It's vivit
contrasts Of light and shade. The rudd!
flames lcaped up and lit the forest lurid
~ for rods away, among the great trc'
trunks. Overhead the leaves shonc hk'
silver In the strong light thrown up0i
them from below. The rapt, eager face
OF men and women stood out with start
ling distinctness against a background o
shadow. They were all turned towart
the stand, where two ministers cxh0rte,
and prayed, alternately, with great fer
vor and a g0Odly exhibition OF lung pow
or. Devout brothers and sisters sui,
"Amen," regardless OF appropriate tim
or place. Soul.stirring old Methods
hymns were sung-hymns which hav
rung down the years like bugle calls, an,
whose echoes yet lingcr on our frontier
a. the star Of the empire moves west
ward.
Rhoda Stevens sat near Mr.. Wayne.
I have made mention OF the sickness
Of her brother. Samanthy's hemlOc
sweat had failed to produce the desire
effect. As Rhoda was entirely unused I
caring for sick persons, an aunt had bee
sent for from down below" to tax
charge Of the sick boy. She had con
cluded, after hearing OF the camp meet
Ing, to remain in Brownsville until
was over, and, In consequence OF he
presence IN the Stevens household. tn
visits OF the singing teacher had been II
frequent of late, for he did not care
go there very much while prOpriety,
the shape of a maiden aunt, was COZ
stantly regarding him with 4 suspicion
eye.
1t was perhaps a most fortunate thin
for Rh0da that her aunt was needle
there. Ignorant Of the ways OF the wOrl,
ana win commence III Tue honesty
Waynes 'ntentiohs' tue ,hhuence he hs
established over her might very likel
have been exerted for bad. such II
doubt would have been the case had Il
cumstapces been other than they ws-
aud RhOda been left unprotected. Sh
In her innocence, could not undcrstan
how 1t was possible for a man to be la
while Nc appeared 80 eh''reiy the opp
site, ana she wondered why nc 30 ~
ruptly ceased his visits atter her ani
came. HAD sue known tue trnth, 81
woaid nave known ,na' ~ M au' a,ra"
her aunts sharp eyes; Iney were ey'
that coaia see peyo"a sue" 'a"A
that when ne wore. -. ..
Oa tnat sa,urany evsS ,na." no hon.