The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1893-10-25
RECONCILIATION.
Why the Old Line Fence Was
Torn Down.

VIII scarce a DreALn OF ar Surfing, Wnlle
the sun poured his scorching rays from a
cloudless sky. All about the old Burton
farmhouse a deathlike stiffness reigned.
There were no sounds voices from with
in, 10 creaking footsteps on the uncar-
peted floors; while, without, even the
songs of the birds were hushed The
dingy, nlooking house, with its
| low unpainted, weather-stai exterior,
its low doors and its small windows, was
even more desolate and forsaken in sp-
pearance than was its wont, and at iirst
glance the would have thought it COM
pletely deserted. But a closer observa-
ton proved that such was not the case.
Isaac Burton, old and gray, aad bent
under the cares and burdens of } ears Of
trials and toll, sat on the doorstep of the
| house with Iis face buried in his hands,
now and then casting furtive glance
! through the open door in the direction of
a bed in a corner of the room. While he
sat there the sun erawlsd down the west
ern sky, casting its shadow obliqIely
through the open door, yet he seemed
unmindfui of the fact that time was pass
ing Rising from the steps, finally, he
stood an instant listening to the slow,
regular breathing that came from the
bed, then walked out serosss the neglect
ed yard, muttering, half audibly;
She sleeps well, but / don't like the
'pearanee Of her face"
Reaching the crooked rail fence that
separated the yard from the public high
way, old Isaac stopped and for little
while stood looking down the hard,
white road that ran through the long,
straight lane to the east. The road was
deserted, not a living object being visible
on all the two miles of it that lay within
his view.
"She ort to have the DOCTOR" he NUT
tered, "yit don't like to leave her to go
and fetch him. She looks monty quare
bout the face an eyes, an Pm afeered
she's bad tuck" Then, after short 81
lence: "If only somebody was passin'
this way, SOS l could send word to the
mill an git the Doctor
Then Isaac cast look in the direction
OF the ridge, fourth of a mile to the
west, where small log house, similar TO
his own, stood, and something like
sigh escaped him. Shaking his head
sadly, he turned away.
"Neighbors d be powerful helpin' an
comfortin' just now" he unused "an' I'd
give heap If We had some. never got
lonesome when Indy was up an about,
but now she's down l feel like half the
world is gone, an it pears like l hope fer
somebody TO keep me company. Them
people," no1ding toward the house on
the opposite ridge, "ain't no neighbors,
an no matter what comes can't 90 TO
them for nothin'.
For some time old Isaac walked to and
fro in the little path leading from the
gate to the door, then again he went and
leaned over the fence to look down the
road Instantly his face frightened and
a glad light came iato his eyes, for away
down the lane he saw man approach
ing. Nearly a quarter of an hour passed
before the latter came up, but Isaac wait
ed for him and accosted him at once:
"Sam, never was 50 glad to see any
body as am to see you. Are you g0in'
over to the mil? ?'
YES Sam replied, after eyeing old
Isaac inquiringly for slmosta minute.
"What mas happened, Ike ?"
"Lindy is bad sick. SAM" Ike said, in
a low tone, "an' AL night an all day I've
been stsyin' with her alone. | knowed,
too, that she ort to nave the doctor, but
was afeerd TO leave her, an there want
nobody to send. You kin tell him TO
come when you git to the MILL"
"Yes, III tell him, Ike, an ifthere's
anything else kin do fer you I'll do it,
an be glad to-"
~No; that's all. Tell him to come as
quick as he kin, Sam"
%Yes, l will. But you ort to have
somebody to stay with you, Ike. Some
body to help bout nuzsin' an tendin' on
Mis- Burton"
81 know that" Isaac replied, with q
sigh and slow shaking Of his head. "I'd
give heap to have somebody here, but
can't git nobody now"
For moment Sam was silent, casting
glance first at Isasc, then at the house
on the ridge to the west. Isaac saw the
action and understood.
''No, SAM" he said, half sadly half
vindictiyely, "I'il never go there for q
favor, neverl"
an case like this things ought to be
different" Sam suggested. people
ought to forgive and forget, Ike"
~Mebby SO, Sam, mebby so; but they
wouldn't feel that way. All that's been
said an done in thirty years can't be for
got in day"
Itwas little while before Sam spoke