Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1900-05-08
CHAPTER XIX

CHAPTER XIX.
1t seemed TO be the general opinion that
since Dicks warning of the fate in store
for him and all the other horse thieves,
if caught, horse stealing was at an end
in Brownsville.
Consequently, a feeling of comparative
security took possession of the settlers.
Most of them believed that Dick had
belonged to a gang, if, he had not been
the leader of it, and that his narrow es-
cape from the fate meted out to horse
thieves had frightened him out of the
country.
That it was well with him yet, Mamie
knew, for the supply of daily bread which
she deposited in the hollow tree disap-
peared as regularly as it was placed
there.
The camp meeting opened with a great
promise of success. The presiding elder
said he felt ''as eff there was goin' to be
a regular ol'-fashi'ne pour-down o. the
sperrit, an stirrin' up O. dry bones, =
whereupon all the brothers and sisters in
Israel shouted a vigorous Amen" in
concert.
There was a goodly attendance from
down below Never before had so
many strange faces been seen in Browns
vile.
1t began, as / have said, on Friday.
The first day got it only fairly under
Roadway. On the second day the ex-
element, without which no camp meet
Ing was considered success in those
days, began.
xs,rhf - hol tul- ~
most of those who were, or had been,
members of one church or another. What
the nature of the excitement was shall
not undertake to say. 1t was something
which few could, or did, resist, and the
anxious seat was crowded with penitents.
At night, after the great fires were
lighted, the scene was one a Rembrandt
would have delighted in, with its vivid
contrasts of light and shade. The ruddy
flames leapcd up and lit the forest lurid-
" for rods away, among the great tree
trunks. Overhead the leaves shone like
silver in the strong light thrown upon
them from below. The rapt, eager faces
of men and women stood out with start
ling distinctness against background of
shadow. They we're all turned toward
the stand, where two ministers eXhorted
and prayed, alternately, with great fer
yor and q goodly exhibition of lung pow
er. Deyout brothers and sisters said
Amen" regardless of appropriate time
or place. Soul-stirring old Methodist
hymns were sung-hymns which have
rung down the years like bugle calls, and
whose echoes yet linger on our frontiers
as the star of the empire moves west
ward.
Rhoda Stevens sat near Mr.. Wayne.
| have made mention of the sickness
of her brother. Samanthy's hemlock
sweat had failed to produce the desired
effect. AS Rhoda was entirely unused to
caring for sick persons, an aunt mad been
sent for from down below" to take
charge of the sick boy. She had con-
Guided, after hearing of the camp meet
ing, to remain in Brownsville until it
was over, and, in consequence of her
presence in the Stevens household, the
visits of the singing teacher had been in
frequent of late, for he did not care to
go there very much while propriety, in
the shape OF q maiden aunt, was con-
stantly regarding him with suspicious
eye.
1t was perhaps a most fortunate thing
for Rhoda that her aunt was needed
there Ignorant of the ways of the world,
and with confidence in the honesty of
Wayne's intentions, the influence he had
established over her might very likely
have been exerted for bad. Such no
doubt would have been the case had cir
eumstances been other than they Wee,
and Rheda been left unprotected. She,
in her innocence, could not understand
how it was possible for man TO be bad
while he appeared so entirely the oppo-
site. and she wondered why he so abb
ruptly ceased his visits after her aunt
came. Had she known the truth, she
would have known that he felt afraid of
her aunt's sharp eyes. They were eyes
| that could see beyond such a mask as
that which he wore.
| On that Saturday evening, AZ camp
meeting. be looked around from the bench
on which he was sitting and met Rhoda $
eyes. he smiled. and presently came and
sat down beside her.
Are you here aloneg" he asked.
mo, Aunt Sarah came with me-" an
swered Rhoda. ''She's sitting over there
with Mrs. Porter"
Il hope she'll stay there. so that 1 can
have A chance to talk with you, without
| feeling that she's listening ito every
word" said Wayne. Its been long
| time since Eve had such chance.
II haven't seen much of you since Tom
| was sick" said Rhoda. i hope you
weren't afraid of catching the fever.
s.No. but was afraid OF catching some
thing from that aunt of yours, be an
swe~ed. Il don't think she likes ne very
much. At least il struck NE that way
the first sine / eame Is see you after she
took up her hisatation in your family
| And, then. too. I've been very busy.
| Rhoaa looked at him a little sharply
when he said that. FOR she knew better
| You lock as if yoa did not believe
| me" he said
| DO /: Wen. perhaps / don't.
RhOGa was inclined te resent his poor
| excuse. for it indicated thar he thought
| any explanation would satisfy her. And
then. she had begun to have some doubts
about him. Samanthy had exerted ar
| influence sgaiEst him. aud when Saman
| thy .-didg't Ike body. she didn't, an
| that xSs al there was to il" according
| 10 her own statement. and she had lef
| no stone unturned IN her effort 10 maxi
4 point against Wayne. She had beer
| influenced By two motives; She did no
| like Wayne. and she did ike Rhoda.
Yes. Soa look somewhat lncredulons,
| he said is il necessary Tor me 10 tel
| You all have been doing TO prove 70 yo'
! that / have been busy ;"
~Oh. yen needn't put yourself 70 tha
srauble.' said Rhoda. with a stimulation
4 a.er.-..... Oh. r~aSv*@ ~oSng "a Ia