The Washington herald., 1913-03-02

eyes were still full of the light from
gasoline burners, his ears still rang
with the confusion of tent noise into
which entered the prolonged monotones
of inarticulate groanings. and the ex-
plosive suddcnness of seemingly ir-
relevant Amens. Above all, he tingled
from the electric atmosphere Of intense
religious excitement; he was charged
with currents at pressure so high
that his nerves were unresponsive 10
dull details of ordinary life.
Nothing just then mattered except
the saving of souls. Having faithfully
attended the camp meeting for three
weeks he found other interests blotted
out The village as whole had given
itself over to religious ecstasy. Those
who had professed their faith left no
stone unturned in leading others to
the altar. as if life could not resume
its routine until the unconverted were
brought 10 kneel at the evangclists
feet.
As Abbott Ashton reflected that, be-
cause of the young girl with the mock
ing laugh. he was losing the climac.
teric expression of the three weeks
campaign. his displeasure grew. Within
him was an underlined thought vibra-
ton akin to surprise. caused by the
serenity of the hushed sky. Was it
not incongruous that the heavens
should be so peaceful with their quiet
star beacons. while man was exerting
himself to the utmost OF gesture and
noise to glorify the Maker OF that
calm canopy? From the weather.
stained canvas rolled the warning, not
unmusically:
We reap what we sow.
We reap what We SOW.
Above the tide of melody, the voice
OF the evangelist rose in scream, ap-
palling in its agony-"Oh, men and
women. why will you die, why will you
die"
But the stars. looking down at the
silent earth, spoke not of death. spoke
only as stars. SEEMING to say, Here are
April days. dear old earth, balmy
springtime and summer harvest before
us!-What merry nights we shall pass
together" The earth answered with a
sudden white smile, for the moon had
Just risen above the distant woods.
At the stilc where the foot path from
the tent ended. Abbott paused. Why
should he go farther, This scoffer. the
one false note in the meetings har-
mony, had been silcnccd. There" he
said, showing the road. His tone was
final 1t meant, Depart.
Fran spoke in choking voice. I'm
afraid" 1t was not until then. that he
knew she had been CRYING. for not
once had he looked back That she
should cry. changed everything. And
no wonder she was afraid To tho
fences on either side of the country
road. horses and mules were tethered.
Torchlights cast weird shadows. Here
and thcro loungcd dimly some fellow
preferred the society OF side kicking.
shrilly neighing horses to the suing
melody of soul-scekerS
But must go back TO the tent
said the usher softly, not surprised
that little girl should be afraid to
Il am so little" Fran said plain
lively. and the world is so large"
Abbott stood resoluts To take Fran
back to the tent would destroy the in
fuence. but it seemed inhuman to send
her away He temporizcd rather
weakly. But you came here alone"
But I'm not going away alone,
said Fran Her voice was still damp,
but she had kept her resolution dry.
In the gloom, he vainly sought to
discern her features. Whose little
girl are you:' he asked. not without
an accent OF gentle commiScration.
Fran. one foot on the first step Of
the stilc. looked up at him: the sud-
den flare of torch revealed the sor-
row in her eyes. Il am nobody's little
girl she answered plaintively.
Her eyes were so large, and so soft
and dark, that Abbott was glad she
was only a child of fourteen-or fif-
teen, perhaps. Her face was so
strangely eloquent in its yearning for
something beyond his comprehension,
that he decided then and there to be
her friend. The unsteady light pre-
vented definite perception of her face.
He noted that her legs were thin, her
arms long, her body slight, though
there was a faint suggestion of curv-
ing outline of hips and bosom that
lent an effect of charm.
There was. in truth. an element of
charm in all he could discern Even
the thin limbs appealed to him oddly.
Possibly the big hat helped to conceal
or accentuats-at any rate, the effect
was somewhat elfsh As for those
great and luminously soft black eyes.
he could not for the life of him ha-e
said what he saw in them to set his
blood tingling with feeling of protect
ing tenderness. Possibly it was her
trust in him, for as he gazed into the
earnest eyes of Fran. it was like look
ing into a clear pool to see oneself.
"Nobody's little girl:' he repeated,
touched that it should be
so. What a treasure somebody was