The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1884-10-25
ooh you wouldn't, and then Gilman


y "Well, tina. does not prove he took
it." ksssssf tei go
"Then he oughs-so prove that he did
not take it. - .s..sl a. 1880.
"a person may be innocent and yet
not able to prove it. think you ought
to take Gilman's word and something
may turn up to show. his innocence.
A good deal Of harm is sometimes done
by suspectipg people and treating them,
as guilty while there is really no spfi-
cient proof for. it, ss.ss ga 3.s
:. 81 know" asserted Billy, shaking
his bulldog head. IN ssy
- Thatawinter, the weather was bitterly
cold. The winds vwere like saws and
how they cut into folks! And didn't
they cut into the poor Bentleys' Oh
that frail home was so penetrated by
the sharp winds putting their teeth
deep into Gilman and his mother!
Il guess said Gilman, after heavy
storm, mir, Ventress could give me a
lob shovcling. and i can buy you .
warmer hat / can pay Miss Stubs,
the shop keeper. a little money down,
and know she will trust me for the
rest"
s. .'Oh, don't you think of me!''
81 must. will go to Mr.. Ventress
Fifteen minutes later Mr.. Ventress
was accosted by Gilman: "Couldn't
you give me a job at shoveling?"
"Well. yes. I guess So"
Billy Ventress heard this, and COM
ing up to his father whispered;
"Why notP Speak Quit"
81 think Gilman took my knife
81 didn't" said Gilman. y tfsiAk- y
.Then," said Mr.. Ventress, Il guess
L will look into this, and Gilman if l
conclude to do anything. / will let you
know" ~
Gilman went off sorrowfully. and had
no occasion afterwards to be in hap
pier mood through Mr.. Yentress' kind
ness. NJ
A few days after this, DIR. Clough
met Mr.. Ventress. zEe s5it
MANY sick people, doctorp'
"Yes Mr.. Ventress; and 4 have just
come from the Bentleys'."
"Who is sick there?''
Mrs Bentley. She took cold lately.
and has fever The fact is. Mr.. Ven
tress, she has not had clothing enough.
r. believe her boy, Gilman. tried to earn
her warmer hat, somebody said, but
couldn't do it. somehow"
r. "Ahemp'
l. When he went home he said to his
wife, Il guess YOU had better go to
Mrs. Bentley's to see her. j believe she
is sick"
Too late, Mr.. Ventress, too late!
Your wife's kind words and wife's kind
deeds could not turn back the burning,
ravaging fever. any more than . few
pailsful of water will stop a fire when
fully under way. The fever wasted the
body to skeleton, and long time il
took the forces of lie to make Mrs.
Bentleya stout, we'll woman again.
Spring came, spring with buds and
leaves, spring with birds and sunny
skies. spring that suggested to Mr.
Peck: sPlato had better take the hay
stack down. We need the hay"
Gilman Bentley CHANGED to come int<
the yard. -
! "Ah, Gilman, y said Plato. II wa
going to take the haystack down tina
we put up, ouu Wv you hno" w P"SNS>
| it so solid really think ] must take ,
saw to its top and saw it open' I
l,would seem as if something was inside
that did not want to get out and wal
Just bothering me-" 5. ~
" Gilman laughed. ''And saw out I
'dragony he asked. ue ts
r "1'll try it."
Plato had mounted the haystack whel
i Billy ventress entered the yard.
..Oh, Billy" shouted Plato. I'VE ar
saving out the dragon Shall COM
to his teeth SOON" ssts.,s.s<
X 'Let me know when," replied Billy
b Halo! / have struck somethin,
fhard-those teeth, z guess What's
/ what's this?"
r. Plato now held up, not the teeth Of
dragon. but something that could Gu
as effectually four-b laded knife!
Is "Billy's knife!" cried Gilman
Look
l. And Billy looked.
Il But what look! -
| Billy had some very interestin
thoughts that morning, and you ca
imagine them. Reu. Edscdrd A. Rama