Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1905-04-28
OHAPTBR xvT.-tContinued, !

that / expected; but a quiet smile Of
malignant satisfaction stole over his
face. He merely remarked, "Then the
Rev. Mr.. Porter will have a visitor next
Sunday that he little expects. Let me
see" unused the Professor. Bury St
Edmund's. / can take the early train
on Sunday morning, and get back at
night. j shall have plenty OF time to
do my business, and his, too"
What do you mean to doTs asked
Josiah.
Never you mind; | will tell you all
about 1t when get back"
"Oh, what a jolly revenge 1t will be,
for all he made us suffer, to bowl the
old hypocrite out so cleanr' cried Josiah,
gleefuliy. You can give mine and
Silas' compliments-"
No, no; for heavens sake, do not
mention my name in any wayr' / ex-
claimed excitedly.
Why notr' asked Mr.. Montgomery,
turning sharply round and casting upon
me one Of his old scrutinizing glanees.
Because-because- I could not
give reason. "Oh, please to promise
that you will not speak Of meg' l plead
ed.
He did promise. But, somehow. put
very little faith in his keeping his word.
When l was at old Browns; the
printers" said Josiah, II heard q good
many things about our reverend pastor.
who was not in very good odor, except
among his own sect, in spite Of his sane
timOniousness. When he FIRST came into
the town, he was an open air preacher,
with no chapel or congregation; but he
managed to ingratiate himself into the
good graces of a bevy Of old women;
and upon the death of the minister Of
Little Bethlehem, which happened about
the same time, the elders or deacons, or
whatever they call themselves, OF the
chapel got him appointed So he set
himself up as a converted cobbler; and,
as converted reprobates of all kinds were
the rage just then, he dropped into tidy
thing"
While we were yet talking, old Mr..
Jennings came downstairs to 20 to his
mornings work. We had sat up the
whole night. It was just 5 o'clock.
Spite of my new anxieties, fell asleep
the moment my head touched the pillow,
and woke about five hours afterwards.
Martha had good laugh at my misera-
bic looks when l went in to breakfast.
Neither Mr.. Montgomery nor Josiah APP
peared until much later. They took a
newspaper between them and discussed
1t over their breakfast. While ''the Pro
fessor" was languidly scanning the adj
vertisement sheet, he suddenly uttered
an exclamation Of surprise, and read
something with keen attention.
Just cast your eye over that" he
said, handing me the sheet, and pointing
with his finger to a particular advertise
ment. With the utmost dismay, l read
the following:
"AbscOnded, from Tabernacle House,
near Bury St Edmund, a young man,
nineteen years Of age, about ave feet
nine in height, slightly built, long, dark
hair and dark eyes, small features, very
pale complexion. Whoever win send in
that will lead to the appre-
hension Of the same to the Rev. Mr..
Porter shall be handsomely rewarded.
N. B.-Should this meet his eye, no fur
Their proceedings win be taken against
him IL he at once returns; but should
he be apprehended, he will be proceeded
against on a grave charge. The police
are on his track"
The newspaper dropped from my hand
and / thought l should have tainted.
Martha was obliged to battle my face
with cold water to recover me. This
little scene was not lost to the sharp
eyes Of Mr.. Montgomery. / saw him
quietly noting it, but he made no re-
mark. Josiah began to hector, and beast
what he would do If he were in my
place.
was to see Clara in the afternoon;
and, for the first time, l felt 10th to
meet her. That advertisement reused up
a train of painful thoughts. What was
doing feeding a mad love for one
woman, while another could claim me
as her husband! How could it all end
but in misery? If Clara should learn
10 love me, and then discover all, what |
4 monster she would think me!
In the face of such impending dan
ger, but one course was open to me: to |
zee her for the last time, bid her adieu, |
and then fly from her forever. Yes. | /
would do 1t, If my heart broke in the Of /
'ort. called in at Martha's as passed |
BY for something | had left there. Mr.. |
proposed to bear me com
,any as far as our roads lay together.
Don't you make yourself uneasy /
lbout that advertisement" he said. as
We walked along at is half gas; es-
,ccially that part about the police. He
must set some value upon you to make
his fuss. There's something more In
his than you know Of, or choose to tell"
lie added, with a sharp look. II know
Bill Stokes so well; he wouldn't take all /
his trouble without some very good
aaRon Rllt al said hafnra So..p4
righten yourself. It is more than like
', before this day week, that he may be
dverised for as 'absconded.'"
Had I looked through the newspaper
hat morning, I should have seen two
Their advertisements that concerned me
quaiiy with the one / did read. One
an thus:
III the young man named So