Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1909-09-09
A MATTER OF
CONSCIENCE,
BY m. QUAD.
Copyright. 1919. toy Associated Literary
Press.

l'OOlSN llle was Ill eS uPicOn as Il mat
ter OF fact. but the title still clung to
him. 1t was the same with f"'ron
Abraham Noble. For ten year re
was neiEhborly and br"tlltri! ieel-
ing between these two men. Then
came rupture. They traded horses
and each felt that the other had taken
advantage Of him. There was 10
scandal over it. but the two men were
cool To each other and had moth
ing to explain. even to their wives.
The minister Of their church sought to
smooth over matters. but found them
nOncOmmittal.
At the end Of the year'Deac0n Hart
rose up in prayer meeting one night
and said that. while he had tried his
best to he Il good ln:n he had made a
Flip or two IN his life One OF those
slips rested hard on his conscience ana
he would ask forgiveness. He was about
to make a statement when big piece
Of plaster fell from the ceiling and
struck him on the head. and his In
iuries were such that he was in bed
for fortnight
He had been out Of bed and walking
around for month when he and
Deacon Noble met on the bridge. They
were about to pass with Il nod when
the latter deacon stopped and said:
"Uriah. dorft feel right In my mind.
1t isn't about that horse trade. but
something else. i think Of ii and cant
sleep nights. I'm going to own up
and ask you
But he didn't own up. Just then
farmers runaway team came along.
and they had to jump into the creek
to get out Of the way. They both
crawled out Sopping wet and went
home. and after they had got dried
out conscience didn't seem to prick
quite so hard Then Deacon Hart
wounded himself In the leg with
pltchfork. and after a day or two
symptoms Of blood poisoning set In.
He feared that his days were num-
bered. and he sent for Deacon Noble
and said:
abraham. / may die Of this. and |
want to leave my house in order. My
conscience is pricking me about GER
tain thing IN connection with you, and
] want to get 1t off my mind"
That's right. Urah." urged the 9th
err. mo one ought to 60 to the grave
with anything on his mind. I'm ready
to hear your confession"
But no confession was made. The
doctor came in just then to examine
and dress the wound, and he said he
was glad to inform Deacon Hope that
the bad symptoms had disappeared
and that the leg would now do nicely.
These words had Il wonderful effect
on conscience, and the deacon shut his
lips and waited for some other time.
That time didn't come for year or
more. Then Deacon Mobiles wife was
taken III with typhoid fever. When
the crisis approached and the doctor
said the chances were all against her
the husband broke down. He was out
under an apple tree. and when Deacon
Hart came along and beg to express
his sympathy Deacon Noble decided to
relieve his conscience.
But he didn't relieve 1t. The doctor
came to the door and beckOned to him
and whispered that he believed the crisis
was passed 1t was such good news that
Deacon Noble wouldn't have confessed
anything for hundred dollars. His
wife convalesced, and time ran along
until the biannual camp meeting
opened. Both deacons were particu-
larly strong on camp meetings. They
were there and enthusiastic. On the
third day of the camping the spirits OF
all were aroused by the words OF a
visiting minister. and at length Deacon
Hart got up and said that he could
stand 1t no longer. He was admon-
ished to make full confession. but
before he could start out Deacon No
BILE. who was laboring under nervous
excitement. arose and said that he
had burden on his conscience that
he was determined to get rid Of
Something might have come OF the
two confessions then and there but for
some loafers who had planned to
break up the meeting. They let lot
of bees loose on the people and created
a diversion lasting an hour. and when
1t was over 1t was found that both
deacons had been stung so many times
that any matters of conscience had
been adjourned to a more propiti0uS
occasion. That occasion came just a
year later There was food In the
river. and both deacons turned out to
help the sawmill man save his prop
erty. They were engaged In this
neighborly task when both fouDd
themselves seated on the same log and
being whirled downstream 1t was
then that Deacon Hart said:
abraham. we are In danger"
I'VE are. Uriah."
I'VE may never see home again"
I'm afraid we won't"
"Then I'll make that confession to
you. and you make yours to me-"
"Yes: the time has surely come"
abraham. we traded horses.
thought you cheated me-"
"Just whit thought Of you. Uriah."
II didn't say anything about it. but
to get even with you l sneaked into
your barn one night and cut off your
cows tall Can you. will you. forgive
a repentant man?'
"With all my heart. Uriah. thought
you had br't me In that horse trade.
and one night sneaked over into your
nasture and knocked the horns o.
your bull. Shake! Neither one Of VI
has n burned thing on his conscienc
and this Yaw log is driving right
ashore. and we shall be saved as sure
as shootiny!"