Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1900-05-03


erous hreplaces. with quaint mantels
and thing and hard wood floors gave
the house an appearance Of solid COM
fort that approached luxury The
church in Milton had purchased the
property from the heirs, who had be-
come involved in ruinous speculation
and parted with the house for d sum
/ little representing its real worth. 1t
had been changed a little and modern
/ lied, although the old tireplaces still re-
/ manned, aud one spare room, an annex
/ to the house proper, had been added
recently. There was an air of decided
/ comfort, bordering on luxury, in the
/ different pieces of furniture aud the
/ whole appearance of the room.
You understand" said Philip, as his
glance Travelled back to his visitor,
that this house is not mine. It be-
/ longs to my church. 1t is the parson-
age, and ! am simply living in it as
the minister"
Yes, l understand. You, a minister,
are living in this prineely house while
other people have not where to lay
their heads"
Again Philip felt the same tempta-
ton to anger steal into him, and again
he checked himself at the thought:
THE man is certainly insane. The
whole thing is simply absurd. l viii
get rid of him. And yet
He could not shake off a strange and
powerful impression which the stran-
gers words had made upon him. Crazy
OF not, the man had limited at the pos
sibility of an insincerity on his part /
which made him restless. lie deter |
mined to question him and see if he |
really would develop IA streak Of in !
sanity that would Justify him in get
ting rid of him for the night.
Brother Nam" he said, using the .
term his guest had given him, do you .
think l am living too exuayagantly to
live as / dof'
Yes. in these times and after such a
sermon"
"What would you have me doT" Phil
lip asked the question half seriously,
half amused at himself for asking adj
vice from such a source.
DO as you preach that others ought
to-"
Again that silence fell over the room.
And again Philip felt the same i'm
Of power in the strange mans
words.
The Brother Man." as he wished to
be called. bowed his head between his
hands again, aud Mrs. Strong whisper
ed TO her husband: Now 1t is certainly h
worse than foolish to keep this up any I
longer. The man is evidently insane. d
We cannot keep him here all night.
lie will certainly do something terri {
bic Get rid Of him, Philip. This may !
be a trick on the part of the whisky {
men" Ii
Never in all his life had Philip been
so puzzled TO know what TO do with ,
human being. Here was one, the /
strangest he had ever met who had I
come into his house; it is true he had Ii
been invited. but once within he had q
invited himself to stay all night and l
then had accused his entertainer of
living too eXuayagantly and called
him an insincere preacher Add to all
this the singular fact that he had de
nlared his name to be Brother Man" v
md that he spoke with calmness that o
was the very incarnation of peace, aud a
Philips wonder reached it's limit.
In response to his wife's appeal 6
Philip rose abruptly and went to the a
'front.' door. lie opened it. and a whirl s.
If snow danced in. The wind had
hanged, and the moan of coming a
heavy storm was in the air. d
The moment that he opened the door f
his strange guest also arose, and put r
ting on his hat he said, as he moved
slowly toward the hall; Il must Ice go :,
ng. | thank you for your hospitality, RI
madam" n
Philip stood holding the door partly i
open. He was perplexed to know just p
what to do or say. Il
where will you stay tonight?
Where is your homer ~
MY home is with my friends" re- =
llied the man. He laid his hand on T.
he door, opened it and had stepped n
me foot out on the porch when Philip, y
seized with an impulses laid his hand u
IN his arm. gently but strongly pulled
lin back into the hall, shut the door
md placed his back against it.
You cannot go out into this storm
Until / know whether you have place m
o go to for the night"
The man hesitated curiously shut :.
led his feet on the mat, put his hand
Up to his face and passed it across his -,
yes with gesture of great WEAKNESS.
r. \ I'm Va Va