The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1893-10-13
RECONCILIATION.
Why tho Old Line Fence Was
Torn Down.

1t was a close, sultry summer after
noon, with scarce a breath of air stir
ring, while the sun poured his scorchinp
rays from a cloudless sky. All .bou,
the old Burton farmhouse a dcathlike
stiffness reigned. There were no sounds
Of voices from within. no creaking foot
steps on the uncarpeted floors; while,
without. even the songs Of the birds
were hushed. The dingy, forlorn-look-
ing house, with its low implanted.
weather-stained exterior, its low doors
and its small windows, was even more
desolate and forsakep in appearance
than was its wont. and at first glance
one would have thought il completely
deserted. Eut "A closer observation
proved that Il was not the case.
Isaac Burton. old and gray, and bent
under h cares and burdens OF years
OF trial n toll. sat on the doorstep of
the house with bis face buried in his
hands, now and then casting a ~furtivc
glance through the open door in the di-
rection of a bed in a corner OF the room.
While he sat there the sun crawlsd
down the western sky. casting its
shadow obliquely through the open
door. yet he seemed unmindful of the
fact that time was passing. Rising
from the steps finally. he stood an in
slant listening TO the Glow. regular
breathing that came from the bed, then
walked out across the neglected yard.
mnttering, half audibly:
She sleeps we'll, but l don't like the
'pearance of her face"
Reaching the crooked rail fence that
separated the yard from the public
highway. old Isaac stopped and for a
little while stood looking down the
hard, white o that yan through the
long. straight lane to the east. The
road was deserted. not a living obiec,
being visible on all the two miles Of il
that lay within his view.
she ort to have the DOCTOR he NUT |
tered. "yit don't like I o leave her To
go and fetch him. She looks monty
quare bout the face an eyes. an I'm
afeerd she's bad tuck" Then. after a
short silence: IF only somebody was
rassin' this way. SOS | could send word
70 the mill an git the doctor"
Then Isaac cast "A look in the di-cc-
tion OF the ridge, a fourth of a mile TO
'he west, where a small log house,
similar to his own, stood. and some
,hlng like a sigh escaped him. Shak-
ing his head sadly. he turned away.
Neighbors d be powerful helpin'
an comfortin' just now he unused,
an ia give a heap IL we had some.
never got lonesome when Indy was
up an about. but now she's down |
ieel like half the world is gone. an it
pears IKE hope fer somebody TO keep
me company. Them people" nodding
toward tho house on the opposite
r'uge' amt no neighbors, ar no
matter what comes | can't 20 10 them
Tor n~othin'.-
Ior some time old Isaac walked to
ana FRO in the little path leading from
'ne gate to the door. then again he
went and leaned over the fence to look
ao"n the road. Instantly his face
frightened and a glad light came into
ms eyes, for away down the lane he
Jaw . nan approaching. Nearly a
s"areer OF an hour passed before the
latter came up, but Isaac waited for :
nun and accosted him at once: 1
SAM, never was so glad to see any
oody as ! am to see you. Are You goin' I
over TO the mill?' ,
Yes Sam replied. after eying old !
isaac in~quiringly for almost a minute. +,
what has happened. KEEP
Lhndy is bad sick, SAM" Ike said. in |
: low tone, ian all night an all day G
, 'e oeen stayin' with her alone. a
s"oWed, too, that she ort to have the |
VICTOR, but ! was afcerd to leave her. I
|, ,here want nobody to send. You
the mill.- :" :,
es' III tell him, Ike. an IL there's
else | kin do fer you I'll do IL. I
an DC glad TO-" !,
4 2 that's all. Tell him to come rs
quiek as ne KIN, Sam" n
IS will. But you ort TO have \
TO stay with you, Ike. Some
~ help bout nussin' an''tendin' on G
Burton" I
know that Isaac replied. with a
and a slow shaking Of his head. d
give q heap to have somebody a
ouf can't git nobody now" I.
1T u moment Sam was silent. casting h
stance first at Isaac. then at the e.
on the ridge to the west Isaac
10 action and understood q