The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-12-19

one not willing to resign from 1t must
leave the church. | am asfonished
that heads of families and men Of
probity should band together for such
a purpose"
Truthful Smith, who was president
then, denied that there was any lying.
There might have been in the begin
ming, and the name still chung, but the
story, told by every member, was the
truth and calculated to entertain and
enlighten. He then had several of the
members tell their favorite yarns, but
the minister was not to be deceived.
He reiterated his ultimatum, and at
the next meeting it was resolved to dis
band the club. The only one who stood
gut against il was Philetus Swiftfoot.
He had paid the lightning rod man a
dollar extra for lessons, and he had a
story about being out on the plains and
lodging the Indians for two weeks.
They got him at last and were burn
ing him at the stake when a squaw
who had been in love with his grand
father came forward and saved his
life. Philetus had told that story over
and over until be had come to believe
it and made his wife and children be-
lieve 1t. He was ready to sell his farm
once to a stranger for a good price, but
because the man refused to believe the
Indian story he was told to go on about
his business. 1t was once told from
the stand in place Of q Fourth Of July
address, and 1t fired the public heart
to beat Bunker Hill all to pieces.
d you mean that I've got to quit
telling my Indian story?' asked Phile-
tus as the motion was made to dis
solve.
Unless you tell it on the steps of the
grocery, and then nobody will believe
you," was the reply.
Then | shall kick. You fellers may
go out of the club and be hanged to
you, but I'll keep it going. l think just
as much Of the church as any man, but
nothing can induce me to drop that
story. Why, what was the use Of my
being almost roasted alive by them In
juns If | wasn't to live to tell of it?"
But the old man was sat down on.
The club dissolved, and he was left
alone, and every time he started out to
tell his story he was laughed and
sneered at. At length he gave over, but
folks noticed a change in him almost
at once. He began to lose flesh and to
look drawn about the eyes, and there
was no longer a cheerful ring to his
voice. The thing was preying on his
mind, and it did not pass off after two
or three months, as folks predicted.
What made the matter worse was that
the lightning rod man came back on a
visit after all those years. He expect
ed to find the Liars club in full blast
and better than ever, and when he was
told that it had dissolved and that the
best liar in it could no longer get an
audience, he hunted up Philetus and
said:
TELL me that lie about the Indians I
made up for you ten years ago."
"Lie? Lie? What lie do you mean? p
asked Philetus.
"Why about your being tied to a
stake when a squaw rescued you. You
paid me a dollar in cash for that lie,
and I understand it always took the
cake"
"Sir," said Philetus as he drew him.
self up, 81 know nothing about any lie
When a young man I went west
and"-
"But you were never as far west as
Buffalo"
II went west, and after lodging the
Indians for two weeks I was''-
you never saw an Indian in your
life"
"What! Wasn't I captured and tied
to the stake?"
Never"
"And didn't a squaw rescue me just
as the fagots were lighted?"
mot on your life. I made the whole
thing up for a lie, and you knew it was
a lie. Mr.. Swiftfoot, come off your
perch. The liar has had his day in this
town"
do yCu mean IT."
"For sure"
PhiletUs turned away without anoth'
er word. and that night he went to the
barn and committed suicide by hang
ing. Life was no longer worth the liv-
ing to him. NJ. QUAD.
A Good Example.