Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-03-20

nailed 10 the cross--and I'm afraid it's
for keeps" mourned the patriarch.
"The members of the committee of
education have been filled up with
stories that our poor folk are going
about with knives in their teeth and
torches in their hands; that all tho
people OF Attegat are direct descen.
dants OF Robespierre and Marat. Old
Clifford's Canucks don't stand very
well in these times, since the liars
have got in their fine work down
here. They are spending money
against US, my boy. God sent us
! Evangeline in that pinch: but in
spite of Gods omnipotence I'm a
little doubtful about His being able
to handle a State Legislature. 1t isn't
the right sort of material for Divine
Providence to work on"
So Aldrich went sadly back to Atte-
gat, where snow and troubles buried
land and people.
lie pondered upon the patrarch's
doleful sentiments regarding the pos
sible agency of Providence in their
affairs. lie saw little promise of aid
from any human agency.
As before. Rumor waited for him
at the border and went north with
him. He came to little tavern in a
settlement beside the great river. and
sat before the fire in the dim room
where loafers Whitfield and gossiped
the long evening through.
A man had been waiting for the
return of Aldrich from the south.
This man followed him to the little
tavern, for Rumor had left her usual
broad trail.
lie stamped in from the night out
side. kicking snow from his shoes. he
walked to Aldrich and tapped his
shoulder and asked the young man in
low tones to step aside with him.
I'm mighty sorry. to be called to
do this" he whispered, hoarsely. But
you're all officer yourself. You know
what officers have to do. The papers
have been sent to me from across the
line. I'm a sheriff. A secret indict-
ment has been returned against you"
You mean to say that YOU"
gasped Aldrich.
They seem to think they've got
something on you in that Beaulieu
case" broke in the sheriff, trying to
soften the matter in all apologetic
way. "Of course, | don't know any
thing about it. I'm simply ordered to
arrest and bring you to the line. Wen
stay here tonight and get away to-
morrow. You see, I'm all for making
it as easy as 7 can for you. Just give
me your word as one officer to
another"
'T will be ready for you in the
morning, Mr.. Sheriff." he. returned
twitching his shoulders back. for he
felt suddenly as though he were about
to faint. One may look forward to
horror and expect to meet it bravely:
but one may not always meet it un-
front before the eyes.
Till then, after al that growing
runor had been Wordless, a menacing
grumble that had followed the report
Of the coroner's inquest, which had
charged the murder of Netal Beauieu
to q person or persons unknown. But
now, with the sanction of the law,
rumor would shout his name in clarion
tones. E;vangeline in the north must
hear that cry.
He turned from the sheriff and
groped his way out Of the tavern
office. dreading the aspect of the faces
of humankind.
In his room he put his face on his
pillow and wept-wept such tears as
are forced from strong men who
realize that what they are suffering is
a part of the suffering that has come
to others who are innocent and whom
they cannot aid.
The roof of the little tavern was
just above his head.
In the silence of the night lie heard
other weeping.
1t was soft at first queer, dull
throbbing on the thick pack of snow
on the tavern roof.
The heavens were weeping, too.
Those tears lashed the windows and
thudded on the snow of the roof.
After time, with rumble, shake and
shiver. the snow slid from the roof and
the deluge of rain came roaring on
the shingles.- 1t was a bursting of the
reservoirs of the skies. Nor did 1t
cease. The wind whined in the loose
casing of the window like some animal
made uneasy by what it foresaw and
feared.
Aldrich did not sleep. That resist
less, booming, never paUsing roar
shook the roof above him. hour after
hour.
He, He heard aIToiee Oawl in the night
"If this thing doesn't slack UP
pretty quick" said the voice. there's
going to be hell break loose in the
valley of the st. JOHN
CONTINUED TOMORROW