Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1917-05-03
Hepsey Burke
Es-
A Sister to David Hdra1,
Bv F. N. Westcott
By F. N. Westcott


q while back, and left town one night
szddenly. I'd been drinking some and
when l left my accounts were two
hundred dollars short The whole
thing was kept quiet. Only two men
knew about 1t. Mr.. Maxwell was one.
He got the other man to keep his
mouth shut, handed over the amount,
come back with him and stay at his
hoase for q while. Then he gave me
some work and helped me to make a
new start. He didn't say q word Of
reproach, nor he didn't talk religion
to me. He Just acted a. II he cared
. whole lot for me. and wanted to put
me- on my feet again.
ri didn't know for long time where
Nr. Maxwell got the money for me
bat after q while I discovered that
he'd given . ohattel mortgage on his
hooks and personal belongings. DO
you suppose that there's anybody else
IN the world would have done that for
me? 1t wasn't only his giving me the
money; It vas finding that somebody
trusted me and cared for me, who
had no business to trust me, and
couldn't afford to trust me. That's
what saved me and kept me straight.
II haven't touched drop since, ano
never will. I've been paying my debt
70 him as quick as can, and as far
a. money can pay it: but all the gold
e., tba xyoryd -ovIdp,t AVIAN -, ,,v> ,-,tth
him. I don't know Just why I've told
all about It, but guess it's because
felt you ought to know the kind of
. man the rector is; and Pm glad he
isn't here, or he'd never have let me
give him away like this"
Amos sat down, while the astonisb.
Cd gathering stared at him, the de.
faulter, who in moment of gratitude
had betrayed himself The woman:
next to him edged little farther away
from him and watched him furtively,
but he did not seem to care.
Under the stimulus Of this confes-
sion, the feelings of the people quick
ly responded to the occasion, and a
line soon formed, without further need
Of wit or eloquence on Hepsey's part,
&c have their subscriptions recorded
Ii half an hour, Mrs. Burke, who's,
face was glowing with pleasure-al-
belt she glanced anXiously from time
to time towards old Mr.. Bascom, IN
an endeavor to size up his mood and
force his intentions-had written down
hn nf ha act
turned towards her audience:
"As don't want to keep you wait
I'M here all night while l add up the
subscriptions, I'll ask the Chairman.
to- do 1t for me and let you know the
result. He's quicker at figurin' than
] am, guess,' with which compliment
she smilingly handed the book to the
Senior Warden. While the old man
bent to his task, the room buzzed wit,
low. excited conversation. Enough
was already known of Bascom's hos
tility to the rector. to make the meet
ing decidedly curious as to his atti.
tude towards Hepsey's remarks anent
the mortgage; and they knew him
well enough to be aware that he
would not allow that item in her
speech to go unanswered, in some way
or other
All eyes rested upon the saunt fig
dre of the chairman, as he rose to his
feet to announce the total of the sub
scription list. He cleared his throat
and looked down at Hepsey Burke
and Jonathan as he squinted anxious
1y at Hepsey by his side, noticed that
she sat with her eyes tight closed
oblivious of the chairman's glance
Jonathan looked hastily up at Bascom
and noticed him shift his position a
little nervously, as he cleared his
throat again.
s"The amount subscribed ON this
list, is two hundred and thirty.seyer
dollars and thirty five cents" he salt
The loud applause was instantaneous
and Jonathan turned quickly to Hep
rey. as he stamped his feet and clap
ped his hands. .-~~'4 -
HThirty-seven thirty-five more thai
we owe him; Hepsey, you've don'
fine" he chortled.
But Hepsey's look was now rivetec
on. the chairman, and except for
kalf absent smile of pleasure, tn,
keenest anxiety showed in her ex
preston.
Bascom cleared his, voice, again, ar,
then proceeded: - -
mrs. Burke informed you that tn
rector's salary was in arrears to- tn
extent OF about two hundred dollars
n is now for this meeting to- pass
formal resolution for the application
OF the amount subscribed to the oh
Ject in view.y Y =.
Hepsey's bps narrowed; not IA cen
was down on the list to the name O
the. Senior Warden; the deh,. was be
ing paid without assistance from, him
Il presume Iinay put 1t to the NEE;
ing that the amoupt, when collected
be paid over to the rector BY som
mittee formed for that purpose?" pro
'ceaded the chairman. eA
This resolution being duly second
ed land carried RasrOm cnuttnuadts