The Oskaloosa herald., 1900-03-01

II
until know whether you have place
to go to for the night"
The man hesitated curiously, shuf
| fed his feet on the mat, put his hanC
| up to his face and passed it across hi
eyes with gesture of great WEAKNESS
There was look Of loneliness and OF
unknown sorrow about his whole fig
ure that touched Philips keenly sensi
| tive spirit irresistibly. LIZ the man was
little out of his right mind, he was
| probably harmless. They could not
turn him out into the night if he had
nowhere to go.
| Brother Man." said Philip gently
would you like to stay here tonight
| Have you anywhere else to stay"
| "You are afraid | will do harm. But
no. See. Let us sit down."
He laid his hat on the table, resumed
his seat and asked Philip for a Bible
Philip handed him one. He opened
1t and read chapter from the prophet
Isaiah, and then, sitting in the chair
| bowling his head between his hands
| he offered prayer of such wonderful
beauty and spiritual refinement of ex.
preston that Mr.. and Mrs. Strong lis
| tened with awed establishment.
When he had uttered the amen, Mrs,
| Strong whispered to Philip: Surely
we cannot shut him out with the
storm. We will give him the spare
room"
Philip said not word. He at once
built up fire in the room and In a few
moments invited the man into it.
Brother Man." he said simply, ''stay
here as if this were your own house.
You are welcome for the night"
"Yes, heartily welcome" said Phil
ip's wife, as If to make amends for any
doubts she had felt before.
For reply the Brother Man" raised
his hand almost as If in benediction.
And they left him to his rest.
CHAPTER XII.
In the morning Philip knocked at his
guests door to waken him for break
fast. Not sound could be heard with
in. He waited little while and then
knocked again. 1t was as still as be-
fore. He opened the door softly and
looked in.
To his amazement, there was no one
there. The bed was made up neatly,
everything in the room was in it's
place, but the strange being who had
called himself Brother Man" was
gone.
Philip exclaimed, and his wife came
in.
$50 our queer guest has flown! He
must have been very still about it. /
heard no noise. Where do you suppose
he is? And who do you suppose he Isl"
Are you sure there ever was such
person, Philip? Don't you think you
dreamed all that about the Brother
MANI" Mrs. Strong had not quite for
given Philip for his skeptical question
ing of the reality of the man with the
lantern who had driven the knife into
the desk.
Yes, it's your turn now, Sarah.
Well, If our Brother Man was a dream
he was the most curious dream this
family ever had, and if he was crazy
he was the most remarkable insane
person / ever saw"
"Of course he was crazy. All that
he said about our living so extrava-
gantlyr'
do you think he was crazy in that
particular" asked Philip in u strange
voice. His wife noticed 1t at the time,
but its true significance did not become
real to her until afterward. He went
to the front door and found 1t was I'M
locked. Evidently the guest had gone
out that way. fne heavy storm of the
night had co>"r2d up any possible signs
Of footsteps. IL was still showing furi-
ously.
Philip went into his study for the
forenoon as usual, but he did very lit
tie writing. His wife could hear him
pacing the floor restlessly.
About 10 O'clock he came down stairs
and declared his intention of going out
into the storm 70 see if he couldn't set
tie down to work better.
He went out and did not return until
the middle of the afternoon. Mrs.
Strong was little alarmed.
"Where have you been all this time,
Philip? In this terrible storm too!
You are a monument of snow. Stand
out here in the kitchen while ! sweep
you off"
Philip obediently stood still while
his wife walked around him with a
broom and good naturedly submitted
to being swept down, "as if / were be-
ing worked into shape for a snow
man." he said.
"Where have you been? Give an ac-
count Of yourself"
81 have been seeing how some other
people live. Sarah, the Brother Man
was not so very crazy after all. He
has more than half converted me-"
"Did you find out anything about
him?'
Eyes; several of the older citizens
here recognized my description of him.
They say he is harmless and has quite
history; was once a wealthy mill
owner in Clinton. He wanders about
the country, living with any one who
will take him in. 1t is queer case. |
must find out more about him. But
I'm hungry. Can have a bite of some
thing?"
Haven't you had dinner"