The silver star., 1900-03-23

slept. 1t was long since he had Ia
bored even as severely as was neces.
sary for the girdling of tree. His
horse wandered of, according to habir
and browsed upon the wayside shrub-
berry. dreaming, perhaps, of time
when the country would be less wild
and there would be bluegrass along the
wayside instead Of only sassafras.
Just as the moon was lifting faded
face above the horizon. Brother Mill
Kin came riding along. humming a re-
vival hymn for the benefit of the black
hearted shadows which patrolled the
road. The moonlight, touching the
trunk of the old tree, showed the white
gash around 1t. and Brother Millikin
reined in his horse sharply, with an
exclamation Of dismay. He had grown
up In pioneer times, when the hasty
settlers deadened trees instead of fell
ing them, and he looked back upon his
childhood as weird season spent
among leafiess girdIed trees, which let
the sunshine in upon the struggling
crops. but made the country look as II
great areas Of the virgin forest had
been struck by plague.
He knew how slowly the tree would
lose Its vitality; it would not wholly
die in one year. Oh in two, and, after
1t was dead, II no storm shattered it,
1t would stand on in its place for many
years. But, although these things
passed through his mind, his most
vivid thought was one of personal af-
front. He did not see Wiley, who
CHANGED to be lying in deep shadow,
but he knew that the girdling must be
Wiley's payment to him for having
taken possession of the old tree, and n
fierce resentment and obstinacy flowed
up within him in answer to it.
He jumped down from his horse,
knelt in the dusty road. and vowed that
though every leaf withered and the
tree stood, summer and winter, gaunt
and black, though the branches began
to crumble and to fall one by one, as
long as the dead trunk stood erect and
pointed up to heaven, so long would
he continue to hold his summer night
meetings at its foot. He had never be-
fore done SO theatrical thing as to
make vow. and he felt half shame
faced as he lifted his head and met the
eyes of the moon.
1t took long stretch of galloping
to bring him to himself, and then he
reined his horse about and galloped
hDrk n IN tf, in, tho
same spot and ask that both he and
Wiley might be forgiven for their
sins.
Wiley slept TRANQUILITY through both
the angry and the humble prayer, only
waking up when the sun suggested it
by pouring broadsides Of light into his
face. He walked round the tree again
and smiled at it, then whistled to his
horse, got on. and ambled away in
search of some one who would rather
invite him to breakfast than have him
sit too long on the front doorstep AS
guest.
The day was Saturday, and that
night Brother Millikin stood in the
sparkle of torches, preaching as he had
never preached before. The pathos Of
the doomed thee which sheltered him
made him feel more deeply the pathos
of our human lives. which may not keep
on and on. but have their limit set
upon them from the first.
There was hastier rustling OF the
leaves OF the old tree, and far in the
north a gleam OF heat lightning played
back and forth like a subtle thought,
but Brother Millikin did not notice.
and not face was turned away from
him. The lightning grew more vivid,
and there was growl of thunder.
A single face wavered toward the
north. The motion was swift, but he
caught 1t, and leaned forward, speaking
with more thrilling emphasis. The
wind swept upon him out of the north
west In a great cool rush. bringing the
branches twinging overhead. The
thunder-cloud spread into an unde-
fined. menacing blackness. walling out
the stars. and the lightning blazed
across 1t In great streaks and vivid
darts OF fire.
Brother Millikin's exhortntion
strenthened with the crashing volleys
OF thunder. There had come to be
fair contest between him and the storm
az to which should I'LL the ears Of the
people. and he was not used to CIV
Ing up his rights. He paused and
pointed with solemn hand into the
north. For IN Instant there was not
a sound, for even the thunder ceased.
1t was an instant Of victory. He made
u downward motion. and the people
sank upon their knees. but before his
lips were opened there came the re-
current thud Of galloping horse. and
n great voice shouting out song. The
bowed heads began bobbIng up all over
the crowd and turning to stare In the
dark. A whisper passed among them.
wiley Sides"
Brother Millikin clenched his hands,
and, - the thunder crashed again. hc
began his prayer. "Oh. Father. pride
goeth before destruction and . naughty