Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-01

This, however was the whole expression
of his life. Do what they would. ne re-
NAMED an exile who could not break INTO
the warmth of their revealing speech with
any confidence of his own. They knew
that he was unmarried; that he was a
"reformed'' man when he entered the
ministry, and, of course, Martha inferred
q love affair had ended unhappily. Pappy
alone suspected the deep despohoehcy
which lay beneath his reticence.
"When err reformed man falls from
grace his case is hopeless beca'se he
thinks it air Now tn boy feels tn night
comm, an he knows he hain't goln' ter
hold out. So he dassent give er way TOO
much ter us, KNOWN how he air predes-
tined ter disapp'int us when In test
comes" was Pappy's shrewd explanation.
y X
One day, a week later. he brought
load of corn into the barnyard. backed the
wagon against the door of the crib and
hurried into the kitchen, where Martina
was ironing Cleghorn's one linen shirt.
Hes fixin' ter git drunk ez sho' ez 20
air borned." he announced.
How kin he git drunk on spring
water"' she demanded. contemptuously.
"Oh, he found Jim Cooper's still on tn
ridge tother day. an ne hev been shyln
up thar ever since smellin' tibet d--n corn
juice an sufferin' temptation. Hits draw
In him hard. tell yo'." ,,
= ''Well, why amt yo reportm tn still
afore he gifts ruint?" demanded Martha.
'''Yo CANT break a colt from kickln
by takin' him outen tn shafts, an yo'
CANT stop a man from drinkin' by hidin'
tn bottle. He'll scent one out somewhat
else. TIL only thing ter do is ter give him
seventy times seventy chances ter grow
stronger than tn appetite. I never men
toned tibet still ter Cleghorn beca'se l
l. n, lriY1 lin
lead him to hit anyhow. An now tibet he
he hev found hit, I hain't goin' ter Spite
his chances of manhood by pertecting' him
ez eff he want man.
y *
That night. balancing himself with bac-
chanalian grace upon an overturned malt
vat in Jim Cooper's still, John Cleghorn
delivered the most eloquent sermon ever
heard in Brasstown valley. Half a dozen
rude mountaineers squatted about upon
the floor in front of him and listened.
There were signs Of conviction" among
them, and the preacher was about to call
up 'mourners" when he espied Pappy
Corn seated upon the door sill. He stag
gered from his perch. steadied himself
and laughed. 1t was not pleasant sound.
The men upon the floor stumbled to their
feet and retreated involuntarily. Then,
with the soberness Of concentrated fury,
Cleghorn exclaimed:
you old man of heaven, get out of my
sight. For months you have kept a devil
under your hand as cat holds mouse,
tormenting me with your kindness. You'd
as we'll try to tame Satan in paradise. Go
before kill yOu!' He advanced threaten
ingly. But Pappy. who had been regard
ing him gravely, took his time. He stood
up. nonchalantly knocked the ashes from
his pipe and remarked:
Tibet were a RICH good sermon. SON
done well. cons derin' your condition. Bet
hits time ter go home now. This hain't
er proper roostin' place fer sech err
preacher" Cleghorn held back, sobbed,
then staggered into the arms OF his res
cuer. Watched from above by a group of
shaggy outlaws. the two went down the
ridge together. one in maudin tears, the
other tolerantly silent.
The following morning they were in the