| Show IN THE HOUSE OF THE PROPHET ET by THOMAS bar I 1 copyright 1902 by dal y story pub co in the background among the hd aws behind the desk a man of um size with white luxuriant s 11 beard and mane thin of fiame somewhat wiry with white anaemic sl in a marvellously head showing groat great antell and dominant will avei strangely auneen bunei en lightblue light blue ebes es which shot row pow and aga n the light ning flash of the eagle and the uncertainty of the I 1 batic a most compelling per oi aliby in foreground a woman bearing at the marl s of heanen a ent those un able of quality folk fell wi wh ch never come except to those possessed of birth and breeding not a strong face however the weak re treating chin and fernous m mouth nth kill 1111 ing the effect of the high forehead which latter truth be told was vas a trifle too bulging she was well dressed and her entire aspect be spoke a person well to do near the door a burly man with burning fagat ical eyes stout jaw and heavy beard standing with arms folded across his brawny chest grin and nd menacing this was the inner fact im of dow t f rth the self announced prophet and reincarnation of the deity according to his own claims and those of his followers I 1 will willingly g ave ve all that is fairly mine to ther the cause the woman was nas saying in pleading tones but is it right to give up lp that which be longs to the boya I 1 have the begil power I 1 I 1 now but bia is it right oh tho thoi i of little faith replied the prophet in deep solemn tones at which the woman shuddered and bowed her head contritely how long dust must tl ou go on stumbling in the 7 9 how long before thou ac quinest faith and walk in the light 1 then raising his voice into a men acing key hey would the chosen of god give false oh 04 no no she replied passion abely I 1 do believe I 1 do I 1 do but there are no buts to the true believer the prophet interrupted im Ferat ively I 1 see that thou art not fit tor for communion with the elect deacon see that the sister leaves elysium at once her presence here can only contaminate the elect verily I 1 hear replied the heavy man near the door grimly moving a step learer the woman oh ro no not that screamed the woman paling I 1 will sign the papers I 1 will do what you say you know what is for the best who am I 1 to set my judgment against yours very well replied the prophet permitting no sign of triumph to come into his voice and extending a pen toward the woman at the same time but I 1 fear a long course of training will be necessary before you learn to submit your strong and obstinate worldly will lo 10 come into subjection to the holy commands weeping silently the woman signed her name to the paper relinquishing all her right and title in the property left her by a proN president ident and trusting husband tor for the maintenance of herse t f and the curly headed little boy who bore the father fathers s name silently the burly figure near the door signed his name as witness and the woman was dismissed 1001 ing with silent and pathetic appeal but in vain tor lor a sign of approval from the Pro Prop pret Ket his face was set and stern when the door closed on her retreating figure the deacon relaxed just a trifle to say blessed Is the name of the lord responded the deacon piously I 1 would mould speak with hith ebu bu about the woman mcclellan who has abode with us tor for the past two to months I 1 would 11 A Z oh no no no she cried passionate ly I 1 do believe I 1 do take her to wife most holy one she Is comely and I 1 am passing lonesome since Jean jeannet netkA passed to the other shore the prophet started and frowned slightly it would stir up trouble jonathan she Is married according to the law of the land and the out side world do not yet understand our divine law but she Is married to an un bel ever and renounced all ties when she became one of us the infidel 1 glusband hall never I 1 no v verily out I 1 cow naught of what happens in elysium then raising his N wice olce until there was a suggestion of menace in it he contin ed I 1 I 1 a ave e been a faithful disciple and if the rewards are not for tl ti e elect who are to have them 1 I do rot question the stewardship of the funds and the properties it is due that I 1 should have some of the joys jobs of the world the two tao men looked into each olbers s eyes a moment then the prophet said 4 doubled him up like a jackknife it shall be as aou ou wish I 1 will speak peak to her this evening the door opened and there enter ed a thin lanky man with a lanky jaw and a scrawny of beard his eye was furtive and he seemed to glide rather than walk well benjamin said the prophet interrogatively it is about the girl rose replied the newcomer deprecatingly it pleased your holiness to give her to me to wife and she will have none of me nor does her mother urge her as she might she has a goodly inherit ance it should be kept in the fold summon the girl and her mother commanded the prophet to jonathan presently they came a thin faced shifty eyed woman and a girl of rare beauty just budding into young womanhood I 1 hear that the girl is obstinate and refuses to obey the will of the prophet remarked Dow furth sternly addressing the elder woman listen unless you make her see the error of her way all your sacrifices shall be as nothing and you will be cast out of the fold the woman trembled and replied chave I 1 have told her she must what more can I 1 do doa 9 she is your daughter you must make her obey to tonight night at nine 0 clock elder lanson will come to dour our room for his bride he will have with mith him enough of the elders to as sure her obedience it if you show the proper authority see that she Is arrayed for the bridegroom the girl wrung rung her hands in des pair during the months she had resided in elysium she had seen enough to know how helpless she was as oh mamma mamma not rot to that crawling thing let us leave this terrible place or you stay and let me go I 1 can make my own way nay I 1 know I 1 can let them have my in hen tance but let me go just at this moment the door open ed and an illy dressed foolish looking boy shuffled in with a pall of wate in one hand and some cloths in the other who Is that and what does he in herec exclaimed the prophet frown ing it is a new boy boi to do the menial work I 1 took him in because he said he was a believer in the faith what do you in here boy I 1 N was as sent in to wash the win dows you bane made a mistake not at this hour bet out jonathan strode toward him to eject him and the prophet turned toward the woman it shall be as you say she replied the girl will be ready the girl threw herself on her knees in n a paroxysm of grief oh harry harry she shrieked save me save me now or it will be too late and then a new kind of miracle happened in elysium jonathan iad had juet just reached the boy and reach ed out his hand to eject him when tits tae lad lost hi his shuffling gate and foeth looks straightened up into an armet at Met young man and gave the aider elder a punch in the pit of his ach that doubled him up like a and followed it with a blow under the chin that sent him rolling to the floor in contortions quick as a flash he let rider lanson have one in the chest that caused him to 4 ri A a expectorate blood tor for many daye days then seizing his pal ot of soapy he dast d it into the face ot of prophet who had risen to give alarm then throwing open the win dow which opened onto the broad veranda he exclaimed rose rose now or never come with a startled cry of harry she sprang toward him and they leaped from the veranda and in a moment aare ere tearing out of the grounds sur rounding elysium in the prophet prophets s own orn carriage which had been stand ing awaiting for him when the carriage and horses were returned late that afternoon the burly colored man who drove them carried also a note to the prophet it read as follow s lest you should want to take any action regarding the escapade of this afternoon I 1 will give you my correct i lame ame and address should you do so however or make any sort of trouble regarding the estate of my wife nee rose walker I 1 will be pleased domeet you in a legal battle that will go a great deal further than you on suspect harry L pearson attorney at law room no fifth st SL there was no sign from the prophet and his followers |
