Elk City mining news. (Elk City, Idaho) 1903-1913, 1911-02-16
CHAPTER XIII.

|
The twilight was glooming to dusl
when Silas Crafts came out of tn,
church and locked the door behinc
him. If he were surprised to find Ton
waiting for him. he made no sign. Mel
| Their was there any word of greetint
| 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 oil
both.
The way of the transgressor is hard
grievously hard, Thomas. 1 think you
are already finding it So are you moi? p
That doesn't mean what it used to-
to me, Uncle Silas; nothing means the
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 1 can help it,"
Have you been that all along,
Thomas?"
Il reckon so"-monotonously "At
first 1t was partly scare, and partly be-
cause knew what mother wanted. But
ever since I've been big enough 20
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
In sorrow to the grave. Leaving your
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?"
NO." said Tom, defiantly. And
what's more, 1 don't mean to. I don't
know what Doctor Tollivar wrote you
about me, and 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, am, Uncle Silas; though may
be not in your way. 1 don't allow to
make a fool of myself again."
Tom, my boy, if any one had told
me year ago 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 fighting word, even between
blood kin. When have you ever caught
me in a lie?"
"Now!" Numbered the accusing
voice; this momenti You have been
giving me to understand that your sin
full rebellion at Beersheba 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 crorAe."
If l can sit here and take that from
you, it's because it isn't So"
''Wretched boyl Out of your own
mouth you shall be convicted Where
were you on Wednesday morning?"
Il was at home most of the time:
between 10 o'clock and noon 1 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.'
It's lie! 1 just happened to meet
Nan Bryerson at the spring under the
big rock. 1 don't have to defend my
self! If you can believe I'm that low
down, you're welcome tol" Then. alb
ruptly: Il reckon we'd better be going
on home; they'll be waiting dinner for
us at the house."
mot yet, Thomas Gordon; there is
duty laid on me. l had hoped and
prayed that 1 might find you repent
ant; you are not repentant. Your faith
er has letter from Doctor Tollivar:
the doors of Beersheba are open to you
again 1 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 I must
say it, You have put it. out of your
power to say with the Psalmist, will
wash mine hands in innocency: so will
compass thine altar, Lord You
must give up all thoughts of going
back to Beersheba."
Don't trouble yourself" said Tom.
with more bravado. Il 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-
MED. Let us go home"
Ito be contlnued.)