Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1909-03-11

BY CECILE v. SAVER

driving the clouds across the heavens
in hostile fury and whirling the de-
scending snowflakes hither and thith-
er across the space of darkness be-
twixt the earth and sky.
A night when the evil spirit, stalk
ing abroad, seemed to Turk in every
shadow and to voice it's presence in
every gust OF the tempest-whisper
ing dark counsels into the ears of
those who were minded to listen.
A man, ragged wastrel, staggering
along a lonely country road. in the
/ binding snow and the darkness.
hearkened to the voice In the storm.
and grappled with the subtle foe in
a conflict 'twixt conscience and re
solve. Resolve finally gaining the vic
tory, while conscience went down be-
fore 1t, at one fell blow; and the Evil
Spirit was triumphant
The man, realizing the fact, laughed
aloud to himself. and stolidly plodded
on his way.
The road seemed endless. But the
solitary wayfarer-set of purpose
paid little heed to that or to the war
fare Of the elements. His mind was
4
Here and there he passed a cottage,
standing dark and silent by the road
side-every light out; for It was past
IL o'clock, and their simple inmates
had long since gone to bed.
In the dim distance, however-in
the big house on the top OF the hill
a light was seen to be still burning
In one Of the windows on the ground
floor. And the wanderer knew. by
intuition, who WAS in that room-un-
less habit had changed with the pass
ing years-and the knowledge i'm
PEELED him to quicken his steps.
Curse him!" he muttered, savage
/ ly; why should fortune smile upon
him, while 1 am little more than a
beggar?"
''Why-why?" shrieked the voice
In the storm. And the mans hand
crept upwards to the inner breast
pocket of his ragged coat-where a
revolver lay hidden.
A little more plodding and he stood
outside the house on the hill
Pushing open the big iron gate.
which CHANGED to be unlocked. he
crept stealthily along the broad. cir
cuitous drive that led to the house;
the crunching of his footsteps in the
snow being deadened by the noise of
the wind.
The light was still burning in the
room on the ground floor. but the cur
tains were drawn across the easement
windows, and the interior Of the
apartment could not be seen from
without
Within the room, a mana man
with thoughtful, intellectual face
sat at a table. Uttered with papers.
busily writing. Absorbed in his work.
the fight Of time passed unheeded by
him, and he was almost unconscious
! of the roughness of the night
Tap, tap, tap.
The man at the table started and
pausing for an instant in his work,
turned his head toward the window
half doubtful as to whether or not
he had heard anything.
Tap, tap, tap. Louder still. There
was no mistaking the sound that
time; and the occupant of the luxur-
iously comfortable room laid down his
pen and, rising from his chair, stepped
across to the easement.
Sweeping aside the heavy curtains
he started back violently, as he caught
sight of the evil white face pressed
close against the glass.
Good heavensi" he muttered. in
amazement; its George"
Unlatching the windows. he opened
them wide, and the ragged wanderer
of the night stepped into the room
shaking the snow from his tattered
garments, In insolent unconcern, up
on the costly velvet pile carpet
We're a striking contrast, you and
/, brother Wesley, aren't WEI" he
sneered. Folks would scarcely credit
the relationship between us, would
they?"
Wesley Affords fine countenance
flushed little. and he eyed the other
sternly, as he said:
You have no one but yourself tc
blame for your downfall, George; yot
know that well enough. We both hat
an equal start along life's pathway
only nothing would prevent your tax
Ing the wrong turning. And perhap!
you have lost count Of the many
times I've tried to help you back into
the right road. However, there's NJ
need, I think, to go over that GROUND
again. You long since alienated my
sympathy and the sympathies of al
decent minded people. There's no ex
cuse for you, George, and you know
it. You are what you have made your
self"
Curse you, hold your can't" snarled
the other, fiercely. 81 haven't trampe6
it-nigh on 60 miles-here, and after
four years, to listen to your preach
ing. / want money, my dear brother
and money I mean to have, by fail
or foul means, or"
you will gain nothing by such
threats" broke in Wesley Afford
calmly. Besides, what good does
money ever do you? 1t always goes
the same way-in excess of drink and
riotous living. II 1 could only think