"I remember you now powerful well--powerful well. I seldom forget a
face, and if a man shows that he is listening close, as you did that
day, it helps me along. Do you know, I put you down as about the best
listener I ever had. I saw it in your face and eyes. You got up and
left before I was through, or I'd have spoken to you. It seemed to me
that you was bothered powerful over something. Being in prison as long
as I was gave me what you might call second-sight. You may not believe
it, but I can actually feel a stream of thought coming from folks now
and then. I can detect trouble of any spiritual sort in the face or in
the touch of a hand. It isn't any of my affair, but right now I have a
feeling that you are bothered. I reckon you business men have a lot to
trouble you in one way and another."
"Yes, it is constant worry," Mostyn answered, evasively.
"This ain't no time to preach," Leach went on, with his characteristic
laugh; "but I feel like scolding every town man I meet. This place is
no better suited to real happiness than a foundry is for roses to bloom
in. If you want to breathe God's breath, smell the sweet perfume of His
presence, and walk in the wonderful light of His glory, throw this
dusty grind off and go out into nature. Get down on your all-fours and
hug it. Stop making money. When you've got a pile of it as high as that
sky-scraper there you haven't got as much actual wealth as a honey-bee
carries in one single flight through the sunlight. I never saw Heaven's
blaze in the eye of a money-maker, but I _have_ seen it in the black
face of a shouting nigger at a knock-down-and-drag-out revival. I
intimated that I was happy when you heard me five years ago, I reckon.
Well, since then I have become so much more so that that time seems
like stumbling-ground, full of ruts and snags. Oh, I could tell you
wonders, wonders, wonders! There never was an emperor I'd swap places
with. If you ever get in trouble, come talk to me. Hundreds of men and
women have opened their hearts to me and cried their troubles out like
little children. I couldn't tell you how to get the best of a man in a
speculation here in this hell-hole of iniquity, but I can show you how
you can tie a thousand of God's spirit-cords to you and be drawn so
high above all this that you won't know it is in existence. Going to
the country this summer? I am. I'm headed for the mountains now. I just
dropped in here to collect the little money that comes to me every
quarter. I see you are in a hurry; well, so long. God be with you,
friend. I'm going to pray for you. I don't know why, but I am. I'm
going to pray for this whole rotten town, but I'll mention you special.
Good-by."
"He may be right," Mostyn mused, as he strode on toward the bank. "He
_is_ right--he _is_!"
CHAPTER XII
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account