Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1910-11-11
CHAPTER XIII.

CHAPTER XIII.
The twilight wal glooming to dusk
when Silas Crafts came out Of the
church and locked the door behind
him. II he were surprised to find Tom
waiting for him, he made no sign. Nell
Their was there any word of greeting
passed between them when he gather
ed his coat tails and sat down -on the
higher step, self restraint being a her
itage which had come down undimin-
ished from the Covenanter ancestors OF
both.
THE way of the transgressor is hard,
grievously hard, Thomas. I think you
are already finding II so, are you not?"
"That doesn't mean what II used to,
to me, Uncle Silas; nothing means tho
same any more. It's just as If some-
body had hit that part of me with a
club; it's all numb and dead. I'm sure
of only one thing now: that Is. that
I'm not going to be a hypocrite after
this, If I can help It,"
Have you been that all along,
Thomas?"
II reckon so"-monotonously. "At
first 1t was partly scare, and partly be-
aus I knew what mother wanted. But
ever since I've been big enough to
think, I've been asking why, and. as
you would say, doubling
You have come to the years Of dis
erection, Thomas, and you have chosen
death rather than life. If you go on
as you have begun. you will bring the
gray hairs Of your father and mother
~ Ar-Ar IN tH1 r~o ,-a m .ip~ O,,r
own souls salvation out of the ques-
ton, can you go on and drag an up
right, honorable name in the dust and
mire of degradation?"
mo-" said Tom. defantly. And
what's more, l don't near to. I don't
know what Doctor Tollivar wrote you
about me, n it doesn't make any diff
ference now. That's over and done
with. You haven't been seeing me ev-
cry day for these three weeks without
knowing that I'm ashamed of it."
Ashamed of the consequences, you
mean, Thomas. You are not repent
ant"
YES, I am, Uncle Silas; though may
be not in our way. / don't allow to
make a fool of myself again"
Tom, my boy, if any one had told
me a yea g that a short twelve
month would make you, not only an
apostate to the faith, but a shameless
liar as we'll"
Hold on, Uncle Silas. That's mighty
near a fighting word. even between
blood kin When have you sver caught
me in a lie?"
"Now!" Numbered the accusing
voice; this moment! You nave beer
giving me to understand that your sin
full rebellion at B~eersheba was the
worst that could be charged against
you. Here, at your own home, when
your mother had just been spared to
you by the mercies of the God whose
commandments you set at naught, you
have been wallowing in SHIN crorhe!"
IF 1 can sit here n take that from
you, it's because it isn't So"
"Wretched boy! Out of your own
mouth you shall be convicted. Where
were you on Wednesday morning."
II was at home most of the time;
between 10 o'clock and moor l was on
the mountain"
There were three of you: a hard
ened, degraded boy, a woman no less
wicked and abandoned, and the devil
who tempted you"
Its a lie! l just happened to meet
Nan Bryerson at the spring under the
big rock. l don't have to defend my
self! II you can believe I'm that low
down, you're welcome tot" Then, alb
ruptly: 81 reckon we'd better be going
on home; they'll be waiting dinner for
us at the house."
Not yet, Thomas Gordon; there Is
a duty laid on me. I had hoped and
prayed that l might find you repent
ant; you are not re%pentant. Your faith
err has a letter from Doctor Tollivar;
the doors of Beersheba are open to you
again. I had hoped" The pause was
not for effect. 1t was merely that the
man and the kinsman in Silas Crafts
had throttled the righteous Judge. 1T
breaks my heart, Thomas, but l must
say it. You nave put it out Of your
power to say with the Psalmist, I will
wash mine hands in innocency: so will
I compass thine altar, Q Lord You
must give up all thoughts Of going
back to Beersheba."
Don't trouble yourself" said Tom.
with more bravado. II wouldn't go
back there If it was the only place on
earth" Then suddenly: who was 1t
that told on me, Uncle Silas."
Never mind about that. 1t was ono
who could have no object In misstat-
ing the fact-which you have not de.
! uisd. Let us go home"
STo he continual