The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1901-08-29


me. Just leave the key 10 the DIM:
room door under tho stone by thi
steps. an I'll get In all right"
There was no reply.
"An that reminds me-" the cu|yrit
went on, "the next time so to town
I'm goin to take that key alone with
me an have one made like II. No ,;sr
talkin, man ought to have a latch.
key"
This last worldly whim. moro u;rr,n.
cant than anything else. worse even
tAh the reckless get up Of the cos.
tune, fell with astounding weight on
the farmer and his wife. 1t was moth.
( Ing less than the limit OF moral dc.
prnVity. In the suddcnncss OF tic
shock there was no chance for reply.
Joel hcstatCd q moment, then pickc,l
up his hat and went out
The deacon and his wife rc,,,,i,rd
seated, rigid with conStcrnation, until
they heard him step Off the porch.
Then with one accord they arose and
tlptocd to the parlor window. Pccrin.
out into the darkness, they watched
him walk through the yard to the cntp
ana then turn his steps in the tlircc.
tlon or the tavern, the lights OF which
tinklcd dimly half Il mile away down
the left fork Of the road.
"Ihc times come. Martha" the ucn.
con burst out. Joel will hear from
me the first thing tomorrow morniu!
Hes got to be shut Off his scand'lo,ls.
drunken ways instantcr or, by the
Lord, he'll never stay another day ul
der my roof!'
Mis-. Birdscll wa" fairly struck ,,uml,
before her husbands awful drnuncia.
| tion. 1t was the first time In her mar.
ricu life thAt he had 80 ruthlr>siy
broken the third commandment. aud
she laid herself down to broken slrrp
and troubled dreams.
The first CLEAN OF the rising sun was
| already painting gold and purple hurS
| III the eastern sky when the ur"run
slowly reused to the troubles OF Il new
day. Quickly throwing on his working
| clothes. lie fastened to the foot OF the
| stairs.
"Jocl," he called to the upper c!.um.
| bcr, Joel, be strrin! The suns morr'n
an hour high. We've OVERSIGHT scan
| ulOus.
NO answer came from above.
'Joel!' This time there was an an.
CRY ring In the word
And still no answer.
The deacon did not call again but
| started briskly for the stables. his
heavy boot heels mukiny dark half
circles in the light frost that covered
| the ground. He was SURPRISED again
to find IT," heavy doors thrown wide
open to t." morning brcrzcs. Sounds
were issuing from within. and as ho
paused lie heard his brother .iorls
| voice lifted IN song. the rhythm punctu.
Mcl by the steady swish" OF milk
against the bottom and sides Of the
| tin milk can.
IN" absolute nnrXprctrdnrss OF the
situation caused the deacon to hesitate
| lii doubt m0mrnt on the Threshold
Bending slightly forward and listening
att"ntvely. he mnnagcd to catch the
words:
| Ret my money Oh the old bay mare,
| Somebody bet on the gray
The doggrrel had only one meaning
| to the deacon. 1t was Il shameless de-
frnSr OF Horse racing. an unholy pas
time iHto which he had gained some In
SIGHT through the innocent medium Of
| country fairs.
"Mornin, william" The greeting
was fresh and cherry surely not spo-
ken with the ianguor that is supposed
to follow night Of dobaUchcry. "Gucss
you kind of ovcrslcp. Must be you an
mother kept late hoursp'
~ here's one way You might Of know
ed how late hours mother an me kept"
The draco::'S answer hristied with
marsh lnSini:ation. but 1t was all lost
Oh thc erin" one. WhStling softly
to himself. lie picked up the milk pals
again ana started for the house. while
the deacon, myStified and nngrrcd,
clambrret ~ the perpendicular ladder
to the hHyloft He threw do vn a
generous quantity OF sweet smelling
clover to the neighins. impatient
horses below and then leaned mcdi.
tntivcly upon the fork handle to mr..
range In lis ;nind the Aumonitory talk
which he was more certain than ever
alone interviewed between his brother
and irrrdcCmablc dnianatiOn.
The morning meal In the little farm.
house was not aS c0mfortaDl as usual.
particularly for tie farmer and his
wife. 1t might have been noticed that
the deacon fingered long and fervently
over the thanks which he Invariably
offered up from his board. 1t might
have been noticed also that appended
TO those fcrvcnt thanks was an earnest
SupDlicatton that Divine Providence in
Ds all seeing wisdom might not Judge
'hrShly the weaknesses OF his errlng
children, all OF which was lost on Joel.
inasmuch as 1T was well known to be
part Of the deacon's religious philos-
ophy to regard all earthly beings rs
weak and Sinful In the eyes of the
Lord. AS for the deacon, he was sur
prlsed to note that Joc's appetite
seemed even better than usual.
The meal finished, Mrs. Birdsell arose |
and from force Of habit began to cleal |
away the dishes.
"Joel," the deacon said. trying to ap |
pear natural and Mt ense although in |
spite of himself there was a Threaten. |