Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1905-06-24
CHApTER XXXI

A soft evening in June. The sky of
deep, cloudless blue, save towards the
west, where the sun Is sinking into a sea
Of crimson light. Not breath of air Is
stirring-the trees are motionless; not
the CULVER of a leaf. There is buzz of
insect life in the air, mingled with the
music of the birds. Upon a lawn, over
which Is scattered numerous flower beds,
gay with bright colored blossoms, stretch
ing before a picturesque cottage covered
with roses, sit three men. One is young,
not more than twenty; the second Is a
stout, forid, benevolent looking man;
the third Is thin-visaged, sadlooking,
with iron-gray hair The three men
were l, Silas Morant, Mr.. Jonathan Rod
well, and my father. My father was
speaking-"What his ultimate intentions
could have been, | am at a loss to I'M
derstand. Probably to cast me, in my
insensible state, into the flames"
(which, it seems, after all, he did not
kindle," said Mr.. Jonathan, shuddering
at the remembrance.
, "That is the most wonderful circum-
stance of all. Chance, or destiny, or
whatever you please TO call 1t, had actu-
ally anticipated him, Porter must have
overthrown his lamp In a state OF stupor.
Judith lived long enough to tell how she
had seen the fire first in her fathers
room, and he lying across the chair, dead
or insensible."
Il could not help plying the unfortu-
nate creature" said Mr.. Jonathan, "in
spite Of the evil she had wrought. She
at least deserved better fate than to
perish by the brutal violence of the man
x.-bor,, ha lovad co 1avofadlv -
Il have often thought" said my faith
er, what a divine mercy it was that
only one Of the kilograms fell into that
wretched mans hands. 1t appears that
the lad had put one in his pocket-the
one addressed to you, Mr.. Rodwell-and
was holding the other in his hand, when
he ran against his master. who snatched
it from him and forbade him to leave
the house. The lad said nothing about
the other, but watched his opportunity
to leave the premises. and deliver 1t at
the office. The delay, however, was very
near proving fatal to more than one of
us"
THAT unhappy man." said Mr.. iona
than, "had telegraphed to say that he
would be with me that night. But
felt half inclined to start for Essex with
out waiting for him, and chance the con
dition Of the house. But lookl here are
two old friends of yours coming this
way, Silas"
Such was the fact. Walking up the
pathway towards the house were Martha
Jennings and Josiah Cook.
l FASTENED to meet the good, kind crea
ture who had sheltered me, fed me and
clothed me when l was houseless ant
destitute. She was dressed with un
usual smartness-a white bonnet, blue
silk dress, and a bright-colored, or rath
er many-colored, shawl. Josiah was alsC
got up in an unusual style; bright greer
satin necktie, buff waistcoat and whit,
hat.
After a little conversation. the secre
came out the worthy pair had been mar
ried that morning.
"Marriedw ! exclaimed; "why | ha,
not the least idea that such a thing wa
ever thought Off
. "No more had we, Master Silas.
, few weeks ago." answered Martha
| blushng, "and, you know, you have no
seen us since Christmas. So. as yol
, had kindly sent me an invitation to com
down and see you, | thought | woul'
take the liberty to bring Josiah alon
! with me. and make 1t a sort of marriag
/ trip"
! 81 am very much delighted to see yol
both, and you shall stay with us 10
your honeymoon l said. shaking a ham
of each. But you might as well hav
e invited us TO your wedding"
Martha laughed and blushed; and the
. my father and Mr. Jonathan offered thei
b. warm congratulations to the happy brid
S and bridegroom.
+ And are you still at the Corinthiar
s Josiah? 2" I inquired.
e "No," he answered; Martha has pei
b suaded me to relinquish public life. an
b her father has procured for me an al
r pointment upon the railway as a porter.
little time afterwards. Martha cam
j. to me with a radiant countenance. "Onl
d think" she said; that dear. good NJ
IS Jonathan IL going to set us MP in bus
e ness for your sake And. Master Sila
(, what did / use 10 say when you mad
such fuss about the little | could d
$ for you-didn't tell you you would |