Rural Retreat times. [volume] (Rural Retreat, Va.) 1892-1918, 1903-04-17
The Vigilance Committee.
By w. R. Rose.

than any man in Winterfield, a fact
that thoroughly convinced the villagers
that he must be engaged in some me-
fariOus pursuit where letter writing
was part of the swindle.
The little postmistress yielded up the
letters reluctantly
Needs lot O. good care" she said
with her beady black eyes on the boy.
Yes" Abner agreed, as he turned
away. w
Most unwholesome child | ever
saw" the little postmistress explained
to Mrs, Baxter, the wife of the village
banker. He looks scared and abused.
and I'm just sure that old miser's
homes no place for him"
Somebody ought to look after the
poor little yagabond," said the bankers
wife. what have we got humane So
cieties for?''
The boy was rarely seen in the viii
lage. He was delicate in appearance
and seemed timid. He kept close to
the old man and resisted all attempts
to draw him away.
He's thoroughly cowed," said the lit
tie postmlstress to the young minister
as she held that worthy with her gilt
tering eye. Looks to me like child
that's been half starved and beaten and
had all the spirit taken out of it. Some
body with authority ought to inyesti-
gate-and right away, too or it may
be too late"
The young minister flushed little
and seemed about to speak. Then he
abruptly checked the impulse and
picked up his letters.
II think said the little postmistress,
shat it's your duty to interfere, Mr..
Browning"
The young minister smiled
1T isn't always easy to see ones
duty clearly. Mrs Twitters." he said.
"And while you are waiting for clear
err vision the worst may happen" said
the little postmistress.
The minister's face grew grave.
II hope not" he said. and turned
away.
The little postmistress gave a sniff
as he passed through the door, little
sniff that was expressive of profound
contempt for the dilatory ways of mas
culine. humanity
Then came time when the boy was
not seen for several weeks and public
anxiety grew intense. Nor did the old
man appear. He was there in the
ancient cottage. The milkman and the
baker and the grocer saw him on their
rounds. But they saw nothing of the
boy.
How is the little feIlow?'' the grocer
volunteered to ask one day.
Hes all right" the old man gruifly
replied.
II haven't seen him out" the grocer
persisted.
"No,' said the old man, and closed
the door behind him.
At the expiration of three weeks
Selectman Briscom sought out the
young minister.
"Parson.'' he said. elm here at the
request of several of our most reputa-
BILE citizens They think something
should be done about Old Man Moxham
and thatboy."
"W'hat do you propose:' inquired the
young man.
1--WE thought maybe you could sug
gest something"
The young minister was silent for
moment
'We must be CAREFUL he said.
"Of course"
I'VE have no proof that anything is
wrong" ~
1T looks mighty queer"
The young minister hesltated.
Out where spent year or two
after l left college," he said. 'they
would have made this the subject for
vigilance committees attentions.
When social duty of this sort was
"noer consideration rope was usually
az hand where it could be found when
wanted" ~ 49,
"Of course" said the selectman HASH.
~. we non't intend to go that far"
The young man smiled.
But the vigilance COMMITTEES ,ae,
suits yon?" ~
The idea of a committee to visit tho
old man suits me-
Good said the young man. "Tbere
can be no harm in that"
"And you'll join U.s."
Yes
Tomorrow night::"
YES
Wen meet at the church a, 8
o'clock"
|
VERY WE'LL"
The selectman paused.
sand will you lead ns?"
'If you desire it," said the vouno
minister.
And SO it happened that the first yiri.
lance committee that Winterfield had
Fever known plodded determinedly. al
though at leisurely pace, up the long
hill in the bright moonlight. and finally