Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1894-11-08

distance apart and depth of the post
holes, figure emerged from the house,
and when she caught sight of it it was
Jogging rapidly down the road. 1t was
a thin figure, not very tall. Its clothes
hung loosely about it. Its hat was
jammed down to its ears, and its gray
hair Haunted out beneath the rim.
Across its shoulders was stout stick,
at the aft end of which dangled bun
die. She had gone too far also. SAM
uel was running away.
"Humph ~ shifted Mary Clark ~
bet that picket fence he'll be back to
dinner"
But he was not. At 3 o'clock she
ordered the work stopped, hitched her
horse to the buggy and started after
him. She found him ten miles down
the road, seated on rail at the corner
of fence.
"Sam-u-el ~
No answer. He was staring before
him with dull eyes. Perhaps he did
not hear her. His face showed white
through the streaks of dust. So lonely
and hopeless he looked, it touched her
to the heart. Little Samuel Had she
not vowed to take care of him? She
climbed out of the buggy and went to
Hill. DIG tOuCllSi LIS
"Why, Samuel, you're cold Get
right in the buggy and come home !"
~ won't ~ said Samuel, without
looking at her.
"Well, you will-if | have to carry
you y She took hold of him. He
seized the fence behind him and faced
her with blazing eyes.
"You le' 90 % me " he yelled. Then
he began to cry, and make terrible
choking noises, as the dumb do.
"Sam-u-el, Samuel what's the mat
ter with you? Have you plumb gone
mad ~ She shook him helplessly.
"He's stopped workin' on the fence. |
won't build it if you don't want it
there now ~
Samuel's sobs became less frequent ;
then they ceased.
"Now, Samuel, / want you to get
right in an come home. You'll have a
fever first thing you know out in this
hot sun-an' cold as you be, when you
ought to be b'ilin'."
"Don't care if / am. Might jest as
well, if | can't be boss on my own
farm ~
He said it slowly, distinctly, pushing
the words out. Once he would be
heard, if he never spoke again. And
Mary Clark, finding herself over
reached, gave in with a very good
grace. She, who always drove, insisted
upon his driving home. Perhaps it
shortened her life, for the next spring
she died.
A few struggling flowers from last
years scattered seeds made a sickly
showing against the brick wall. The
chickens scratched at them viciously
and then summed themselves on the
doorstep unmolested Samuel missed
her more than he would have dreamed
possible.
81 wisht | had ADULT her that fence.
'Twouldn't have cost much, y he said,
pretending to himself that he had OPP
posed her in the cause of economy.
Yet this mild regret could not lessen
the sense of Joy and citation that took
possession of him. The feeling that he
was at last really his own master grew
stronger But he was still very shy
with outsiders. He wanted to rent his
farm and be free to go where he would,
but he was afraid to do business with
any one; afraid he would commit him
self before witnesses to conditions which
he never heard-as she had many, times
told him he would.
One morning Mr.. Dever, a lawyer
from Newark, who had always attend
ed to their few legal affairs, stopped
in front of the house and beckoned to
Samuel.
"Good morning, Samuel he khout-
ed. 81 just happened to think when
saw you of little paper down at my
office. Sorry ! was away three weeks
ago They say she went easy. Eth?
Yes. Glad to see you looking s6Well,
Samuel. Well, that little paper, guess
I'll have to read it to you. It's a will
Mrs. Clark had me draw up. 1t isn't
of any Importance, but she wanted it
done. Come down. some time this
week and We'll look it over
! This was news to Samuel. A vague
misgiving possessed him. A viii :?
Why had she made will? He felt as
if hand had reached out from eternity
to rob him of his few years of freedom.
That very afternoon he called on
Lawyer Dever, and listened to the read
ing Of the will.
az do give and bequeath all my
property, both personal and real, to
wit, the northwest third Including
'dwelling-house and barns) OF the north
east quarter of section 30, range 20,
township 5, in Litchfield County, Ohio,
known as "Clark Farm; also two
thousand dollars stock in Newark Ma
tional Bank, to my beloved son, Samu-
ell Clark, providing, he does build and
maintain during his life picket ence
four feet high and painted red, o in
close the door-yard and clothes-lt ly-
! ing west of the apple orchard ; the
same to be completed one month after
my death.
Providing this is not built at the
: time specified, and maintained n a
) neat and respectable manner, do lave
| all my property, both personal and cal,
all moneys, bonds and stocks, to St.
, Mary's Orphan Asylum, of Newark
except ten dollars, which | leaye to my
} beloved son Samuel, with with to pur-
, chase a little remembrance of me-
"There, that's the will Sorry I've
: given you so little time to build the
: fence. Guess there amt no hurry, if
we don't say anything about it. What
was the matter with the old lady, any
way? Why didn't she build the fence
, herself?"
But Samuel was staring helplessly at
the wall. AT last, "Will that hold p
: he asked TREMENDOUSLY.