Rocky Ford enterprise., 1907-09-06

to the wasted lips that sipped II VAIN
evident relish.
Days OF work and days OF e&-
haustion, days OF hope and then days
OF depression and despair came and
went with the three people housed IN
tho tent on the dry and burning hill
side. Though the sick man perse-
vered with a desperate foTtitude, the
hours that he was able to apply him
self to the clay carving grew shorter
and shorter. The improvement that
had been sought at the saerihee oil
house and home comforts did not
come from the outdoor Al, OF camp
life. Soon the embryo sculptor gave
up the old easy chair and passed most
OF his day in bed.
Ii was Sunday evening. and :he
mother sat beside the camp table
reading aloud for the sick boys en-
,er,ainment. Billy had gone outside
TO get the full breath OF the evening
breeze. lie seated himself on the
box used as n general utility piece OF
camp furniture. The day had been
blue one. Work had not diverted
him from the conscious depression OF
his brothers illness As on other days
OF the week. lie was in his moth
er's confidence. and they both knew
that Harry was not getting well.
Across the intervening space be
tween the tent on the hillside and the
town below there ilolted to the lads
ears the thunderous raniing OF tent
reyivalist, followed by singing This
suggested TO the boy diversion from
his sadness and with vague impress
/ sion in his mind that he might go
\ aud Join the crowd under the canvas
he dTiiied down the hill. along the
street and was soon in the meeting.
| The rampant eNhoTtcT and the tumult-
| uous ''amens" OF his hearers meant
At first nothing more than entertain
ment TO the lad, whose instincts and
/ training had been so far removed
/ from that OF the company he found
himself in. The crude illustrations
and the glowing pictures Of hell and
divine vengeance seemed mean, for
someone else than Billy. He had no
conception OF any personal part III
the deep and universal depravity that
the raueous speaker iantas,ieally pic
tured. II first amused then shocked
and frightened the lad. lie under.
stood nothing OF the growing hysteria
OF crowd around him. though il had
begun to fascinaic him. a coarse
laugh from n group outside the can.
vas diverted him for moment and
broke the spell. He made move
men, rs II to leave. But a woman
near n, hand. whom Billy was con-
seious had been cycling him closely
for some time. evidently suspected his
intention and moving over put herself
in the way OF his retreat. Then edg-
ing still closer she stunned Billy with
the blunt question: Have you given
your heart to God?"
The question seemed to pin Billy
to his scat rs cffcctually as II she
| had driven nail through his coat
tail. or had graspcd him by the col
lar.
Billy venturcd the remark that he
didn't think he had.
| "Thcn you arc going to hell"
| Billy was not conscious OF having
done anything deserving of such a
fate as tho preacher had been dcscrib-
ing and found courage enough to say
that he didn't think he was.
| 1--WE arc all conceived in sin and
shapcn in iniquity," quoted the wom-
an.
Billy did no. know just what tina.
might mean. II was too much for
him and offered no answer. He ser
iously mcditatcd getting out OF the
tent; but the rather wild-cycd woman
had by this time taken hold OF his
hand and the chances OF escape sccm-
Cd doubtful.
"Gct down on your knees and lc,
me pray with you," said the woman.
And to Billy there seemed nothing
for it but to obey. In the general
hub-bub of voices he had little COM
prchcnsion of what the woman said.
He rose when she did: for she still
kept tight grasp upon his hand.
"Don't you feel better now?" she
asked Billy after something OF an in
tcrludc.
Billy thought he did. At all events
he decided to agree with the woman
until the meeting closed or he saw an
earlier chance OF escape. 1t came,
for what might be taken as an un..
usual manifestation OF the spirit.
had developed on the other side OF
the big tent. The woman herself
was diverted for the moment. and
she Ioosened her hystcrical clutch on
Billy's hand. He drew it quickly
away.
Billy, who had once for a short
period been employed as messenger
how in a telegraph office, realized
that the circuit was broken-his wire
was grounded, and it was good
time to get away. The woman turn
cd on him, but he kept his hands out
of her reach and rose to go.
whats your name"
"William Clayton"
"Whcrc do you liver?
This was a sensitive point with
Billy's family. They did not want
visitors at their tent home, and he
answered vaguely and evasively: Up
on the hill"
I'm coming to call on you. Keep
pravin' and you'll get clean