Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-27
THE SAGE BRUSH PARSON
BY A. B. WARD.
Copyright by Browne Company
BY A. B. w ARD
Copyright. 1905. by Little, Brown & Company,

sort of Teller. He'd give his last cent
10 pun you out of hole You'll warm up
tomorrer when you see 'em all out in their
aprons and bibs and frills"
1t was certainly a most extra ordinary
slght Every organization appeared in full
regaiia. from the hose company, the
bockers-to the knights of Pythias, with
their plumes. The little church was filled
with ghttering. clanking. strutting hui
mainly Among the Masons appeared
Weaver and Lou Pugh had driven over
from Lewis. There were men from every
mine in camp Doctor Addison was there
with brother physician from Battle noun
tain. Shed Wellman was there-the wealthy
cattle owner who lived on Richmond Hill
near the Chisholms and Sinclairs, but not
of them Dashing cowboys. rough miners,
Saudy women came in droves.
Conspicuous among the crowd appeared
the committee. Bill and Jim. They had
their eyes on the parson from the time they
entered the church and their gaze never
! faIteTed As he uttered the opening SEN
tence. Il am the resurrection and the life,
satth the Lord, their attitude became
verely critical.
The best was never too good for any one
who listened to him. but II must be con-
fessed that Vaughan made what he gave
seem more a some times than at others.
Today, stirred by the contrast between the
pcmp and circumstance surrounding the
fower-decked caslxet and the life that
ended there, he gave to the impressive
words majesty and meaning which
could not fail to penetrate the most callous
heart. He made the psalm sound like an
anthem as he read it. and the wonderful
Corinthian chapter became a score of ser
mons rolled into one. Only the committee
looked the dissatisfaction which they felt.
'Ain't he goin to say nothin'?" asked Jim
in u whisper. nudgiug Bill.
Keep STILL. whispered Bill. nudging back.
Give him time. He ain't got through.
He's probably watin' till he gets US up on
The procession formed. in vehicles of
every description. hacks bugg!es. buck
boards. The various orders and societies
were afoGt. Gradually it wound it's way
around Jackson's Corner, down Main street,
up on Cemetery Hill.
From his place in the undertaker's
rage, before the hearse. Vaughan watched
1t move its slow length along
Great, amt it?' muttered the under
taker. Amt been such buryin, here
since L went inter business. Gee, it's hotr'
He mopped his face. perspiring freely by
reason of recent effort and present agita-
ton.
On they came: Masons. knights, Odd Eel
lows. Hooks and Kncks. miners and their
families. COWBOYS. women of the under
world. gamblers. sharps.
Three four hundred. betcher doliar.' es-
timated the undertaken.
They reached the cemetery. Around them
lay the open sage brush country. Near at
hand clustered the monuments to the dead
Before the grave the undertaken paused
and alighted. Vaughan followed The mot
ley company grouped themselves In reverent
silence. rank upon rank. on the other side
of the narrow opening.
Beyond them and below could be seen the
cash OF the canyon the ends and tops of
houses, here the h0isting works, there the
stacks of furnaces their red fires cleaning
even In the intense Nevada sunlight further
on trail of fame. showing where the waste
went over the dump. and in the background
sage brush and alkaii. rocks and powders
till one came to the verge of the great,
oVerarchtng azure sky
Man that is born of woman" began the
preacber-heimetS and plumed hats and
4 som breros were DOTTED. heads were bowed
hath but short time TO live
heard q voice. and so on through the
| Lords PRAYER and through the Benediction
Still no one moved. There was an emba r.
RAISING pause then the committee extri-
| Gated themselves from the throng and
| hastily made their way to the spot where
| the parson stood.
! why don't YOU shoot off yer mouth?,, de-
manded Bill In low whisper aThe boys
+, expect you to give EN- hell. They won't go
| home without it,.
| Give EN- hell that's it, echoed Jim
| Give 'em heliT' replied Vaughan. bewil-
| dered. what do you mean?"
| Mean? Why. give em some chin music.
| hot on both sides and sulphur between. Give
| EN- he'll. And be did quick about 1t. The
/ crowds getting neryousi'' The committee
! edged back to their places.
So that was what they wanted-judgment
not eulogy. not temporizing. not evasion
something direct, peremptory. something
that scarffied and made clean. They wanted
| fire. They wanted he'll Very we'll they
should have It.
He let his eyes wander over the crowd
to the man on the farthest edge. who
proved to be Martin Young. watching him
with cynical smile. Then he stretched