Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1905-06-16

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lace as he passed along the street, and he
remembered thinking at the time with
a self-conscious complacency Of how
much better the city was than il would
have been had he not been there 10 curb
and stem the currents of vice. But with
the latter thought came the memory
of the awful violence Of the night of
his appeal for order and decency, and OF
the mad brutishness which made the
people indifferent to his authority and
deaf to his appeals The coming Of the
two strangers TO Sodom had aroused
hellish passions and hatred which he
had never dreamed existed in the city.
How dare he pause? he asked him
self. He knew the two strangers were
Gods messengers, and again their warn
ing rang in his ears, and feverishly he
hurried on. The night was far spent.
and save for an occasional straggler re-
turning from a late debauch, the streets
were deserted. AS he proceeded, the
sound Of wild, drunken revelry was
heard in the distance, and as he drew
nearer, he saw the lurid glare of the
torches of the attendants as they pilot
ed the roisterers TO their homes Had
Lot not been in such haste he would
have made a wide detour to avoid them,
but thinking he could slip by unnoticed,
he continued on his way. He was al
most past the group. and a few more
steps would have taken him into the
sheltering darkness just ahead, when
one of the fellows pushed his way to the
side of Lot and, leering up into his face
said. in a half-drunken gutteral:
We'll. by the gods if 1t isn't Father
Lot"
And then. throwing wink and nod
towards his companions as they gath
cred about him. he continued, with a
facetious chuckle:
The sweets OF Sodom taste best at
night hey Lot. It's time you were get
ting few of the pleasures. Sorry you
didn't come sooner. Oh but we have
had a night OF it,"
The outburst OF wild laughter would
have encouraged the speaker TO con-
tinue his ribald speech had not some
hing in the expression on Lots face
caused him TO pause What a scene that
VAS. The drunken crowd; the hickering
lights which lit up the vice-seamed
aces; the wild, reckless laughter, and
Lot, trembling and overcome by the hor
ror Of il all, revealed in his face the re-
vulsion OF feelings which the goddess
life of Sodom was rolling in upon him.
1T is not the seeking of pleasure
which brings me out this night Lot
responded. laying his hand on his SON
in-laws arm And | cannot share in
your testing for this place is TO be de-
stroyed; and we must nee."
Lot spoke so earnestly and positively
hat his words for the moment stilled
ihe reckless spirits of the men before
nim.
Have you tidings of the coming of
hostile King and his army quickly
questioned his son-in-law, Prince Bera.
we were never better able TO resist an
attack. will see my father, the king,
at once, that We may be prepared"
Nay, | would that it were only hui
man foe we have 10 fear. But IL is more,
for the God Of Heaven hath sent His
AA4SoHNA S'Ao' Sas MS tudl tuc titg - 10 Dc
DESTROYED because of its wickedness! -
A wild chorus of laughter greeted
these words. and then followed coarse
testing and vile abuse such as Lot had
never before been forced 10 endure At
last realizing that further effort 10 con
vince his son-in-law was useless. he
broke away from him and the rest of
the company. and disappeared in the
darkness
Say. ! knew the old man was a little
queer sometimes. but he's crazy now.
sure, remarked the prince when he had
gone
Hell try TO- got your wife and her
sister to 50 with Linn. III wager. spoke
mp another
They u uorcr eo." was the quick
respou-. and b.n after moments
silence he suddenly C3-pod his hands
on ai knees aul exclaimed eIecully.
I,ege is iaIEt"
They AM shouted good ms he AN
folded bis plans 90 them. and then
quickly separated