Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-06-12
THE SAGE BRUSH PARSON
BY A. B. WARD.
poeyrisAs. isos. ~ Little. Brow. . oeap..y9

said Barker soiemnly. 'Tf there's anything
In this world / hate, It's one thing more N
another" He lay down again. mutterins,
and was once more sound asleep.
This sort of thing went on. at int rivals,
all through the night Again and again.
the drugged brain faltered and 81 imbled
and fell back poweriess before It's self-im-
posed task. Thought went to pieces before
II. action was impossible. Again and again
Vaughan strove to fix the floating intelli-
senee which evermore drifted out Of his
reach
"Barker!" he called. "Barkeri try TO CONS
back. try to be yourself. Try to throw this
on There Is so much at stake"
II he could reach that thing which stood
TOT Barker's soul, and grasp and raise It.
the poor helpless body must obey. Bar
kerr" he called into the deaf ear: listen
to me-" You must. and save yourselfi
Come up out of those depths and be a
mani Assert YOURSELF
This is your last chancei II you don't
respond to IT you will go down-to stay
the state A true friend. loving fatheri
You can do It. You must do II. Think OF
your daughter! Think Of Louisei"
At length he seemed to grip something
and to hold It. CLEAN shot from under
the purple eyelids. Where am II" asked
Barker feebly. What time is itf'
You are in my room. 1t is o o'clock.
I'm The bells are beginning TO ring said
Father o'Keefe had on his little church
chime of bells. Three times a day they
rang the Angelus. as now. Glory be to the
Father" they rang. GLORY be to the Soni
Glory be to the Holy Ghost!" It was an IN
nocent, hopeful sound
Tears slowly welled up to the red rims
framing Bankers blood-shot eyes.
Lie down again, and III make you some
coffee, said Vaughan practically.
Barker obeyed.
He took the cup with trembling hands.
but they grew steadier as he drank. The
light was rising and running down the hill.
bright ray shot through the study win
dows and lay upon the floor The tiny cot-
fee pot bubbled and spluttered over the
fire. The fresh morning breeze entered
gayly at the windows II was like coming
into port after a night of storm.
Barker slipped his coffee.
To-day has arrived" he said pensively,
Before we begin on IL we'd better dispose
of yesterday. on with the old love and on
with the newt"
Vaughan sighed, in utter discourasement
What did the man mean? Was he still
balanced? Then what. in Gods name,
would settle him? Must they give up the
fight, after all7
Barker handed him the cup. Vaughan
walked away with II.
Come back here" demanded Barker. He
fumbled in his hip pocket and brought out
a flask half-fllled with whisky; this. with
profound obeisance. he extended.
The surrendering officer yields up his
sword" he said gravely.
Wait Now, l going to take the
oath" He steadied himself by the bedpost,
which the light came
'Henceforth. from this day, the tenth Of
September. 1892 he began huskily. Il DO
assume the responsibilities of Citizen"
his voice cleared-"a friend-and-and ia
Their, and bind myself to follow sober.
temperate, conscientious life, so help me,
Cod"
"Amen!' said Vaughan ferventIy. holding
out his hand. Barker grasped IL, but sud-
denly let go and fell back on the bed, hid
forehead believed with moisture from tht
effort he had been making.
Are you going to be equal to tr' in
quired Vaughan anxiously.
"Oh. yes" said Barker. "A pail OF colo
water and a towel Will complete the cure.
I'd like to get word to Louise 10 come over
here with my clothes. Ia rather not meet
Mrs. Barker. at present.
"Iu arrange that" said Vaughan. He
hesitated at the door. Was II quite safe to
leave Barker alone7 He slipped the flask
into his pocket and surreptitiously locked
the door behind him, putting the key Into
his pocket In a short time he returned
with Louise and the bag. Then he hunted
up Jack. ,..
"All right" Vaughan returned.
You didn't find out who BIZ lsham
was7"
NO"
well, you won't nor Will anyone else.
Neither will they find out why Barker
married Mrs. Barker Number Two; nor
why he sticks 70 her, now that he's got
II hope he'll stick TO his oath. as WELL"
unused Vaughan
''He will, when he's once taken IT," said
Jack.
But Vaughan was thinking Of the oath
Barker had already taken. standing In the
little bed room, with his face toward the
light.