The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1905-08-31

/ and huShiug the Wdrbling of his feath-
cred friends. The Reverend Sextus turn
ed to greet the newcomers, wondering
not Il little at their strange appearance.
shaggy Of beard, unkempt and unclean
Of body and clothes, they appeared out
Of all harmony with the scene.
All. Shaggy, we have s0methin'
here" spoke one of them. with twang
in his accent. What dye call it?
SOmethm broke loose from the picter."
Shaggy pushed his companion in the
background, replying; 'Ye don't under
| stand yer bisness, Pete It's me ole
frien' what gave me a lift when l wuz
yOUngSter. He's a minister. Amt
yOu?"
The Rev. Sextus Worterly rose with
dignifed slowness from his seat on a
log and made reply as beftted his posi-
ton in life:
You surprise me at your rudeness.
1t pains me exceedingly to see you in
your present plight
Jest what I was tellin' me pard."
Shaggy made sharp reply. advancing.
It's painful to be broke, an we're
sick Of it. We've cum to ask We to
help US"
4 should be only too glad under or
binary circumstances to lend assist
ance to you, but the suspicious appear
ances of things compel me to-
"Ie shouldn't suspect honest men
jest because they happen to be down
on their luck. Now, see here, if you
wuz''-
The man seated himself on the log
which the aged minister had just va
Gated, but Pete suddenly pushed for
ward and groWled:
Il amt got no time fer yer tomfool-
| cry, Shaggy. Ye can sit here an talk
with the old gent all day. but I'm off
after I get what he's holdin' in his
pockets. Come, old man, shell outr'
Pete had thrust a hand into the
pocket of the affrighted and dunn
founded minister, and while he was
rifing it the Reverend SeXtus gasped
aloud:
do l understand that this is high
way robbery-that I'm a victim of foot
pads. Of common thieveS?'
INTERESTINGLY up to this time the vic
tim of the hOldup had permitted them
to extract from his pockets all that
they contained, but at the sight of the
letter addressed to Cynthia his whole
manner underwent a marked change.
He clutched the hand that profanely
held the love epistle.
Not that" he said. "All else, but
not that"
AN why not?" demanded Pete. 1T
must be valuable if We set so much
store by it."
He flung the OBTAINING hand from
him and held the letter above his head.
The Reverend SeXtus lost his balance
and rolled in the dust and leaves. When
he recovered himself the two men
were moving away counting their
cash and-and-yes, reading his epis-
tie to Cynthia.
The men cast a leering grimace over
their shoulders. Pete held the letter
aloft and jeered. Wen see that she
gets it. Wen take it up to her or mail
it if we don't have the time. By-byr'
When the men disappeared as sud
denly rs they had presented them
selves, with the leafy foliage inclosing
them so that they We're lost to sight and
hearing, the agonized minister lifted
his hands and head in mute appeal
to heaven for justice The tears weled
from his eyes; the lines of his face
deepened; his limbs trembled and
shook as though stricken with palsy.
The sonnet and epiStle writing habit
had at last born its bitter fruits! Gym
thia would in one moment know all,
and through such a source. To have
common tramps to deliver a letter of
proposal to her was too humiliating.
She who had won and held the love of
two noble husbands must view with
scorn and contempt such a profane
abuse OF a privilege
The minister brushed his clothes of
the leaves and twigs as he hurried
through the narrow path leading back
to Daleville. An hour later he stepped
briskly, if somewhat uncertainty, up
the gravelly path leading to Cynthia
Trimbles pretty cottage. She was
there on the porch to receive him. For
once he did not see her welcoming
smile or the curves of the plump checks
or the mantling flush of the brow
IT'S a pleasant day" she greeted
afar off, rising to meet him
The Reverend Sextus painted with his
eXertiOn. He dropped into a seat on
the porch and gasped.
The letter! Have you received it?''
She smiled eagerly and shook her
head. Il have received no letter.
What letter is it?'
\ crafty expression entered the dark
ming eyes Of the minister. He hesitat-
ed and stammered: "The letter-ah
yes, what letter? I forgot. You did
not know"
NO, did not know she murmured
But I'm anxious to know"
Il caSnot tell you now" he STAN
mered. Some day-yes, some day. will
tell you"
Then, thinking of the tramps and their
threat to mail 1t if they had no time to