The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1910-07-22
CHAPTER XHI.-(Contlnuod,J

passing LnN Deer Trace gates louhe-
jolnted figure loomed black against the
pallngs, and the voice OF Japheth Pet
tigrass said:
why, howdy Brother silasl
Thought ye'd gone back 70 South Tre-
| degar. When are ye comm out TO Lit
tle Zoar agin 10 give us another o
them old-flshloned, spiritual times o.
refreshin' from the presence Of the
Lord2-
why do you ask that. Japheth Pet
ugrass2 The Lord win deal with you,
one day"
Yes, / reckon so; that's what makes
me say what / does There's heap o
sinners left round here, yit Brother
8llaa. There's the Major for one, and
J knaw you're always countln' me In
for another. / dunno but you might
snatch me as n brand from the burn
In, II you could make out to try It one
more lap around the cou'se. / been
thinkin' right p'lntedly about"
But the preacher had cut in with a
curt Goodnight" and was gone, with
his broad -shouldered nephew at his
heels; and the horse trader went on,
with the stars for his audience.
4 'NNAbA ass WAS kAbhANh AHA NAAN heNhN
latch when a hand fell on his shoulder
and a clutch that was more than half
blow twirled him about to face the
roadway. He was doubling his fists
for defense when he saw who his as
sailant was
why, Tom-Jefl what's ailin' YEP
he began; but Tom broke in with gasp
ings OF rage
"Japhe Pettlgrass, what did you
think you saw last Wednesday fore
noon up yonder at Big Rock Spring on
the mountain? Tell II straight this
time, or I'll dig the truth out Of you
with my bare hands!"
"Sho, now, Tom-Jef; don't you git
so servlgrous over nothin'. ! didn't
see nothin' but a couple o. young fly
aways playln' possum in a hole in the
big rock And III leave II 10 you II l
didn't call Caesar off and go my ways,
jes' like I'd like TO be done by"
Yes; and then you came straight
down here and told my uncle!" The
hand he had been holding behind him
came to the front. clutching a stone
snatched up from the metallng OF the
pike as he ran. II l should break your
face in with this, Japhe Pettgrass, it
wouldn't be any more than you've
earned!"
Il tell Brother Silas on you, Tom
JEFF? You show me the man at says
I done any such low-down thing as
that, and I'll frazzle a fifty dollar
hawsswhip out on his ornery hide-I
will. 80. Say, boy; you don't certainly
believe that o. me, do ye?"
Il don't want to believe It Of you,
Japhe," quavered Tom, as near to tears
as the pride Of his eighteen years
would sanction. But somebody saw
and told, and made it a heap worse
than it was"
who do you reckon It was told on
you? Was there anybody else in the
big woods that mornin'?"
Yes; there we're three men testing !
the pipeline. We both saw them, and |
Nan was scared stlff at sight Of one Of
them; that's why 1 put her up in that |
hole"
when you md out who that feller |
Is that Mans skeered OF. you can lay |
your hand on the man that told Broth |
er Silas on you. But l wouldn't trou-
BILE about 1t none, If l was you"
The dinner at Woodlawn that night |
was stiff and comfortless meal, as it |
had come to be with the taking on
of four tined forks and the other con-
yentions for which an oak paneled din
ng-room in an ornate brick mansion
sets the pace Caleb Gordon was faith
pms deep In the mechanical problems
If the days work, as was his won't
5ilas Crafts was distracted and silent
Toms food chaked him, as it had need
lnder the sharp stress OF things; and
he convalescant huusemother remain
ID at table only long enough to pour
he coffee.
Tom excused himself a few minutes
ater and followed his mother to her
'oom, climbing the stair to her door
eaden footed and with his heart ready
o burst.
"Is that you, Thomas?" said the gem
lie voice within, answering his tap on
he ponel Come in, son; come in and
it by my fire. It's right chilly to-
hight"
Thomas Jefferson entered and placed
Ifs chair so that she could not see him
Without turning, and for many minutes
he silence was unbroken. Then ne
,egan as begin he must. some time
nd in some way
NANNY" no said feeling uncon-
ciously for the childish phrase, man
ny, has Uncle Silas been telling you
nything about me-?
Something, Thomas, but not great
eal. You have had some trouble with
DOCTOR Tolllvar"
Yes
Il have known that for some little
Ime. Your uncle might have told me
lore, but | wouldn't let him There
as never been anything between US 20
reak confidence, Tom. knew YOU
'ould tell me yourself, when the time
anne"
Il have come to tell you tonight,
iammy. You must hear it all, from
eginning to end. 1t goes back a long
'ay--back to the time when you used
} let me kneel with my head in your
Lp to say my prayers; when you used
, think I was good. >"
The fire had died down to a few
lowing masses Of coke on the CRATE
ars when he had finished the story of
Is wanderings In the valley of dry
ones. Through it all, Martha Gordon
ad sat silent and rigid, her thin hands
ing oiasped in her lap, and her low
flow rocking chair barely moving at
10 touch Of her foot on the fender.
But when 1t was over; when Tom, |
ls voice breaking in spite OF his ef-
'rts 70 control It. told her that ne {
'uld walk in the way she had chosen t
II him only at the price a conscious
must pay, she reached up s
1ickly and took him in her arms and t
ept over him as those who sorrow t
tthout hope, crying again ana again. G
my son Absalom, my son, my son t
hnalnnnl M.nIIlA Ca hnH dind Anr d