The Saint Paul globe., 1900-06-03

career for a man Of mettle, and what
other? But Mrs. Morgan, over her knit
ting needles, must needs again weep
more and more silently, and more and
more secretly, 1t is true; for along with
the energy and hustle and movement
which characterized her lord and master
in what from her point of view almost
seemed a second Bereavement, there was
noticeable a faint irritability, as of a tired
man trying to strive to show that he is
far from being tired. 1t was family no.
ticeable, but it was there, and 1t did moro
to make Mrs. Morgan cease to mourn
than all the blowings and bIusterings of
reasoned wrathful sermons which her hus-
band could fnf1ict upon her in a month
For the little woman had a great. silent
love and respect for this fresh. clustering
spouse of hers, and, as for John Morgan
1t was known through the village how his
reason almost left him for two dreary
nights during which the doctor held it
not improbable that his wife would pass
from him
1t was only in the fitness of things that
when the political horizon became over
cast and the war cloud did at last burst
the village should wait with a complacent
curiosity to hear what John Morgan had
to say before making upits mind definitely
on the issues involved in the conflict: and
while the nightly little crowd assembled
at the postoffice dogmatized considerably
concerning each fresh piece of news, there
was always left open a IoophoIe for es
cape, or, rather, regret, should the posi-
ton to be taken up by John Morgan when
| he appeared make recantation necessary
The postoftce, pending the arrival of the
evening mail, was the village of St Ste
phen's, and John Morgan represented
equally the positions of speaker, leader
of the house, and, when necessary, the
Whole opposition There was consequent
ly no little CONSERVATION and not a lktIe
wonder when the time came that Jotn
Morgan ceased altogether from his at
tendance at the scene of debate and those
VINO We're skilled in noting such things
dated his absence from the day on which
news came to him that his sons reei-
ment was ordered on active service. Hes
feared for the days news, and that's
! what's the matter wi him." said one man
and the villagers did not speak in dis
praise Of such unspartanlil6e conduct. al
though they smiled furtively as certain
loud-voiced declamations concerning the
virtue of hardihood kept ringing in their
ears; and they listened in silence wneu
John Morgan, loud voiced and emphatic
as usual, gave it as his explanation that
the post was always late and the even
fngs were chilly as winter drew near.
AS was the case of Mahonet and the
mountain, however, so it was with John
Morgan and the villagers: if he would
not come to them, they assuredly would
ind themselves gliding up to him where
he sat ensconced in his comfortable arm
| chair in the house on the hill, and from
| the vantage ground of his own fireside
| he would enunciate the correct attitude
to be adopted concerning the war and its
| consequences.
81 take my facs from the ofeeshal re-
ports IN the paper there, where ye can
| see them for yerselves If we want to-"
were the closing words wherewith he in
variably fortified an argument which.
! standing by itself as a mere statement
unsupported by external authority. might
| seem somewhat shaky; and the emphasis
! OF the delivery generally insured silence,