The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-06-25

keeper punched the tickets of some
and passed them in, motioned others
towards a great dark gage-looking
room and for others again called a
policeman and had them summarily
hustled away to / know not where.
Just ahead of me a party of three
approached the gate-keeper and hand
ing cards up seized baggage and press
ed forward impatient to enter. One,
q woman, short and stout, stood pant
ing somewhat with an air of self-im-
portance and a certain resentfulness
that turnkey at the gate should halt
her or deem necessary any examina-
ton of her credentials. BY her side
was another female. tall and slim, with
sharp nose slightly elevated as she
glanced at the people crowding close,
catching her skirts the while a little
nearer. These two were not old
enough to be wise nor were they young
enough to be young. The man who
followed them. the third Of the party,
was of that depressed, melancholy,
washed out variety, one of those in
whose veins had flowed not enough
rcd blood to make love nor fight nor
hate. He had never III his life thought
thought of his own nor acted upon
his own initiative. He had never done
anything which was not an established
custom nor scarcely ever spoken
convention. He had never eaten good
beefsteak, nor smoked a cigar, nor sip
ped a julep. nor INDUCED in a hearty
laugh; one of those men, in short, who
scold their wives beat their little
children for their spiritual good and
expend their whole strength in grow
ing long whskers.
As ] said, the three seized travelling
bags and pushed up confidently. But
to examine their credentials with
doubt. The waiting line grew impa-
tent and began to press forward. Tho
two women shifted nervously from
foot to foot as the old gate-keeper with
much deliberation noted the dates and
punch marks and then still dubiou'
drew on his spectacles to verify the
signatures and annotations. The fat
woman. red and resentful. remarked
sufficiently loud for all about to hear
that she had supposed tho gate-kecper
to have been there long enough tC
learn the business and she would Ger
tainiy report him for OBTAINING then
in the gateway in such a manner.
But at length the metal punch of
Saint Peter rang out sharply as he
OK-ed their card and ] saw him mo-
ton TO them impatiently to pass along
through
'Of courscn exclaimed the stout
female reprovingly, why did you
keep us waiting with that common
mobt"
OF coursc," exchocd she of tbs
sharp nose and wiry neck.
The man said nothing, only locke"
q little moro sour if possible, He had
never resented anything in life but hi:
meek and humble wife and his shad'
was not disposed to be resentful nov
that ii faced one who could handle
sword and was reputcd to be kind
sudden like.
But having observed that Petcr did
not understand his business any hette'
than he ought the stout female halte
her companions just within the gate
and turned about to advise the or
saint with her woman's intuitive per
ccptions.
The people next in line and just be
fore me were neighborG of mine
There was an old man who had some
times worn his trousers in his boot
but had shaken these out now in re
spoct for tho presence Of tho Saint an
carried besides his broad hat rever-
emily in his hand His hair was Whit
and over the full rudy face was the
stamp Of that keen homely inteli
gence which is wont to look throuS
the veneer of things into their yer!
core. woman followed him in tbs
ghost land as she had followed hin
all the years of their lives. and as thu
old man stepped forward humb!y an
doubtfully busted a few grey hair
from his collar and smoothe1 wrin
kle from his coat; she had smoothe
many from his life. They did no
speak but with downcast eyes stoof
abashed before the portal Saint Pete
gave but single glance and was abou'
to pass them in when the stout female
aforesaid lifted her voice.
Surely gate-keeper you arc no
going to let those people come in her.
with u.s. That man plays whist. II
goes to shows. He encourages youn>
people to dance, ] have seen that wo
man mix juleps for him. and she
member of tho church, too! Tia
wicked sinful fellow declares the doe
trinc Of the Trinity to be monkisi
tomyrot and that the great Teache
was horn of his mother like other mer
And nc uses such awful language
Peter! I have heard him say DEVIL
and SCIENCE right out loud! He i
not fit company for church members
Surely you arc not going to lot hin
come into Padadise with as
With punch and ticket poised II
hand Peter stood gazing intcntly
her, while the two old people witt
bowed heads listened to the voluablf
Indictment: tho old man. mouth am
chin tremulous. she with tears on hei
soft eyes.
Il was afraid of it," I heard he
whisper to him as she rested ne
hand tendcrfy upon his arm, Blu
&c he sends you down | am going witt
you"
Thinking the gatekeeper was abou'
TO turn them down ] pressed forward
and raised my hand to catch the GOO
saints eye. ] knew those old people
and their reverent kindly lives
Through all their years they had stood
in attitude of receptivity towards al
things divine. / could not see them
condemned unheard. outside the bar
though [ were. [ raised my hand. but
Peter was looking intently az the stout
female and suddenly burst out as
never before nor since have | heard
saint speak,
You think ! don't know my bust
ness Half that stuff | never heard
tell till I'd been here a hundred and
fifty years, You think 1 don't know
thorc people, Haven't / seen this old
man stand reverently before his God
from childhood to old age, Has he
not been tender with wife and little
childreni Has he not been kind and
neighborly towards white man and