The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1912-05-09
Tom Everleigh,
Artist
upright. 1911. by Associated Literary Pre.s)

Copyright. 1911. by Associated Literary Press)
The stranger. for so he was some
times still called. although every one
In the little mountain town had known
long ago that he was Thomas Ever
leigh. and that he had come from one
OF the eastern cities. entered the
church and took a seat near the door.
He came for no other reason than be.
cause he had been bored He sat
near the door so he would be In a
good position to beat another hasty re,
treat should he deem II desirable. But
he found the little church cool and
comfortable, and. as the service had
already begun, he would probably
have the whole pew to himself. In
some ways, Tom Eyerleigh was very
exclusive Besides, 1t struck him as
rather humorous that he should be In
church again. He listened, not at
all to the service, but when the old
rector arose. and gave out the text
something In the words caught his at
tention.
The General Epistle of Jude.
twelfth and thirteenth verses"
The stranger heard nothing OF the
sermon, but the words In the text:
Clouds without water, carried along
by winds; autumn trees without fruit,
twice dead plucked up by the root:
wandering stars" The words kept re-
peating themselves In his brain. How
well they applied to him, Thomas
Everleighi
The sermon was over, and the col
lection about to be taken, when Ever
leigh's attention was attracted to q
tall, fair girl who came from the front
pew over to the little organ. The
strains OF hymn filled the church and
the sweet natural voice began to sing
1t was all so simply done. and 80 soon
over, yet 1t made the man who had
listened perhaps the most intently OF
all. think of many things that had not
crossed his mind for years. Tom Ever.
leigh was an artist at odds with Fate
which, after a severe attack of pneu-
monia. had driven him to the west,
and, as he chose to believe, blasted his
career
When Everleigh reached the house
where he occupied two fine sunny
rooms. he asked his landlady Mrs.
Brown, IL she could tell him the nanN
of the young girl who sang In church.
Mrs. Brown Frightened up at once
do you mean the pretty young lady
with golden hair and eyes of heavens
own blue?" and went on to tell him
the singer was Miss Edith Vincent,
the rector's gran ddaughter, home for
her summer vacation. She had been
teaching for two winters In a large
school in st. Paul.
That afternoon, Tom Everleigh took
advantage of an invitation, and called
at the rectory. He had the pleasure
of meeting the rector's granddaughter
whom he thought the most attractive
girl he had ever seen.
Later In the week he called again;
and then he Acquired the habit OF
dropping In at the Rev. Mr.. Vincepts
house frequently. But 1t was seldom
that he saw Miss Vincent. She was
the busiest person he had ever known.
But one afternoon he found her Olsen.
gagged for few hours, and. at his sug.
gestion, they went for walk. He
told her much of his past life, and In
the recital she was quick to detect the
hardness and the rebellion at Fate
also a certain fiippant and insincere
note. He had inherited enough money
on which to live comfortably; he
might In time hope to return to his
work In the city. She knew 30 many
who we're infinitely worse of and she
could not sympathize very heartily
with the man before her.
I'm afraid, Miss Vincent. you have
rather poor opinion of me-" The
words were humble enough. but the
tone courted contradiction.
Not exactly that" she replied. but
think you have a wrong idea OF
many things
You are trying to let me down
easily, but | am convinced you think
me q selfish sort OF fellow"
Without answering. she stopped to-
pluck few wild flowers which
fringed the road.
We'll, | Am selfish" he continued
But then | have always considered
1t somewhat OF a duty to be that"
"A duty?"
Yes, In order to make other peo
pie unselfish!" He laughed.
And when 1t comes to truthful
ness" the girl added, to punish him
for his flippancy, 81 fancy you con.
slider II quite too sacred thing to
be used save on rare occasions?"
This time 1t was Everleigh VINO
stopped to gather a flower. Then he
said, What you really mean is that
somehow have gotten the threads OF
life all beautifully twisted?"
THAT Is it," she answered.
You have agreed most unfiatter.
ingly to my assertion that | am self
ish. You have. yourself, accused me
of being untruthful. wonder what
next?"
A mischievous light came into Edith
VincentN eyes. Il should think at
times you would be capable of being
most abominably cross!"
This was rather more than Ever.
leigh had bargained for.
Come" he demonstrated, don't
Won think you are rather rough on