The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1901-08-29
THE PATH . .
TO PERDlTION
BY LOUIS VINCENT
DIE FOE.
i Copyrilist,, 1901, by Louis Vinccnt Do Foe.

Ss~s-o"s~s~o"sfsROM the window Of Dca-
&: &: 4: !: !: !: !: !: : !: !
I II con BirdScll's house the
! bright rays Of Il lamp
I i marked the folks Of the
! ! country road witch led
] to the right, past the old
3,f Quaker meeting house,
and, to the left, through
the worldly and iniQuitous village call
ed into existence only year before by
the coming Of the new railroad.
This little cluster OF houses, a musll-
room growth Of unpaintcd boards, i'll
cluded, besides a blacksmith shop and
general store, both welcome enough In
their way, n tavern conducted on wide
open principles under the name of
Lowden's Halfway House, which had
speedily brought the locality into gen
oral disrepute. No one had discovered
toward what goal it marked the halt-
way point, unless 1t was that goal OF
torment which Is the ending or every
career Of Incorporate proiligacy
In the dining room, which served like
wise rs Il sitting room, the deacon was
carefully cleaning stray scraps OIL WIS
dom from the columns Of the Michigan
AgrIculturlst, the silence OF the house
disturbed only by the loud ticking OF
the farm clock OH the shelf In the cor
ner and the busy click Of tho knitting
needles in the dcft fingers of Mrs.
BirdScll. 1t was characteristic of the
deacon that he always postponed his
study Of The Agriculturist until after
the harvest, when the information he
might gain was sure to be Of least
value to him.
Presently the clock tollcd the hour
Of s. lingering long, it seemed, upon
the final stroke Deacon Birdscll
started suddenly.
"Mother," he said, "don't you know
It's gettin pretty latc?"
Mrs. Birdsell paused in surprise and
dropped the half finished sock in her
lap.
eight and after, an it's high time
folks was abed" said the deacon. did
you shut down the back window an
bolt the kitchen door? An Jocl-of
course JoelS H."
AS If in answer to the dcacOn'S QucS.
ton, the quavering, uncertain notes of
song sifted through the ceiling from
the chamber above.
"Sh!' Mrs. Birdsell said, holding VI
her finger In warning.
The song from the chamber above
gradually became more distinct until
word could be understood here and
there In its uncertain rhythm. 1t bore
q distant resemblance to one Of the pop.
ular songs Of the day heard with great
frequency in the ncighborng town. but
justly abhorred for its worldly insinua.
tionS in the peaceful Quaker church
neighDorhUOd.
"Nilliam,' exclaimed Mrs. Blrdsell IN
trembling voice, "somethin must be
done right away. IT'S gettin just awfull
It's been weighin on my mind until
sometimes l get that nervous"
The deacon gathered his shaggy gray
brows and strolcd his angular unshav.
en- chin in silence for moment. 81
hate to think it Of Joel" he observed
thoughtfully, 'but I guess it must be
true. Have you been notcin anything
else lately, Martha:" The deacon sci.
dom addressed his wife by her given
name except OH occasions OF great so.
ieINnltN.
Anything! Good land alivew Mrs
blrdsell swept her hands around her
head as If she was warling off a swarm
OF impending evil. ITS gcttin worscr
an worser every day" she exclaimed
with great earnestncss, "an the worst
part or 1T all IS he's gettin that braZcn
about Ito think, too William, that
hes your own brothern' The song be.
gan again IN the chamber above. this
time accompanied by the unmistakable
sound Of shuiiling feet.
Just listen to that now" she went
on with mournful emphasis. 81 guess
you can hear 1t for yourselfv
yes mother. you're right" pro.
nhuhceh the deacon rcfcctIvely, SLOWLY
h0dh!ng his head In the affirmative
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