Evening star., 1909-01-24

ment. Then the rapt. faraway expression
returned to his face and he said:
I've made a mist AXE. Mr. Clarke. All
of us welcome the Governor of Is entuCky
to Elverson.''
He spoke in tone of deep conviction
and sincerity. and it seemed that the
mistake" had passed forever out of his
mind Yet he had known me, he alone;
the changes of years and position had
been nothing to him; at the first glance
he had seen Charlie Johnson under them
all and had come straight to me. l knew
that Harrison had observed, and l knew,
too, that, already guessing something, he
would now infer much But the very i'm
minence and greatness of the danger
steadied me for the moment I acted as
if nothing unusual had occurred. and,
with the officers around me, engaged Elias
in talk about the feud. Here he was
thoroughly at, home and he spoke rapidly,
earnestly and clearly. He had seen the
leaders of both sides and he had sought
to put them in the fear of God. He had
brought them to his meetings and he had
preached to them with all the ferVor OF
which his fervent mind was capable.
This may sound strange to those who
live in cities, and who take faith hghtly,
but 1t was not so to those VINO d"ell
in the deeps of the mountains. We have
our feuds and the world has made much
Of them often far more than the truth,
to our deep disgrace, but 1t is a solesan
fact that nearly all these mountaineers,
willing as many of them are to take life,
are intensely religious. Elias knew how
to tread the right road to their fears and
hopes alike, and they stood in more awe
of Elias Peabody with the thunders of the
church behind him, than of the Governor
of kentucky with rapid fire rifles at his
back.
AS I talked TO Elias / saw the way. l
resolved upon u mixture of force and
moral suasion. That afternoon L sent out
soldiers and arrested every suspected
man who could be reached In so snort
space, while other details were to go
further into the mountains and seize the
more distant feudists. Often While giving
orders for these movements l came in
contact with Harrison, and / felt always
that he was watching me, more than once
noticed the same cynical little look IN
his ewes but he said nothing, and 1
forced myself to appear Indifferent.
l had been asked to stay while l was
in Elverson as guest at the home of
Mr.. Samuel Hay, who kept the general
store and who had the best house In the
Mace an offer that | accepted. AT twi-
light, feeling that the work of the day
was over, | went there. and sat down with
the family to a hoSp1table mountain sup
per Then after spending a Whine in talk
before the open fire to answer the de
mands of courtesy, [ went to my room,
weary with the long daS loIi anu dhA-
iety.
1t was a good apartment, large, and
with all the comforts of the mountain
itcne Of the best class. | sank with an
unuttered sigh of relief into a deep wicker
chair, and looked through the window
before me toward the dark crests and
ridges beyond, now family touched with
silver in the growing moonlight But
though my eyes were turned III that d.
rection | scarcely saw them; the events
of the day were passing swiftly before
me- and ] was conscious that the busl-
ness on which l had come to the noun
tains had fallen SUDDENLY into second place.
1t was myself now with whom / had TO
deal. and who | was and what ] might
appear TO the world made the vital ques-
ton
A tap at the door, and my hosts small
son said that the Rev. Elias Peabody
wished to see me. ] might have known
that Elias would come, and, glad Of it.
promptly told the boy to bring him up
In a moment his firm step was heard in
the passage. and then he entered, closing
the door behind him with care L had,
risen and / held out both hands
..Old friend,' | said.
a look of relief, almost boyiS1i in its
delight. came over his face. and stepping
forward he seized my hands in his.
Charlie" he said, forgive me.
never dreamed Of It; how was l to know
the cell. was the Governor of Kentucky?
Had they told me SO | should have said
that it was false. but l had 10 believe
my own eyes. and there was no warning"
You were not to blame" | said, hut
did not think that you would know
me No one else has.
mo one else has known you as j have,
Charlie he said. and there was a deep
note of affection in his voice. for which |
was grateful. Nor did | seek to keep him
from calling me Charlie" name that
seemed to come spontaneously to his lips.
"Sit down." I said. I'VE meet again
strangely when we think how we first
met"
you've become a great man. he said.
mo, YOU are the great man. L only
have great place. while you are great
without the place.
He sat down before the fire. which was
burning brightly. and gazed at me much
as a father looks at his son after long
absence But his face never for an in
stant lost its look OF rapt. spiritual ex-
altation involuntarily thought of Alicia,
and at that moment l saw singular
likeness between the two the likeness of
the spirit. Alicia as | last saw her. and
Elias as l now saw him, looked over and
beyond earthly and temporal things. Each
had put An armor that no weapon of !,
~ could pierce. ! confess that as / sat-
there and as he 2aZed at me a certain
awe Of this man who was Sc much bet