The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1901-09-06
Then he turned on his hce, and

rushed out of the house.
Even ready-tonguedpe people hesitated
to ask favors lightly of Judge Saun-
ders, who was counted just, but by no
means benevolent. Fear and excite
ment choked together in Sammv's
throat Many ideas shot through the
boys brain as he ran along the road
to the break in the wall where the
meadow bars were down, and across
! the meadow toward the tall figure
of the judge. But more wildly than
all else there rose before his mind the
invalid's face, and it was the only spur
he needed.
"You may begin on that oldest ap-
ple-tree, Roberts," the judge was say
ing. 81 have an appointment now
with Mr.. Willis, but / shall be back in
the course of the morning to see how
the work goes on. ="
"Judge Saunders, please stop!"
came boys voice behind him, and
the judge turned to confront Sam
my's flushed and excited face.
'What's the trouble, my young
friend?" he asked, in curt tone.
'Where and why do you wish me to
stop?"
''It's the trees, sir!" cried Sammy,
his troubled eyes fixed on the judges
keen gray ones. Mrs. Lapham is an
invalid; it's years since she could
leave her bed, sir. Her husband pulls
it up to the window every morning
| before he goes off to work, so she
| can look out. She can see Just a
strip of sky and this piece of your
meadow, and it's her picture, Judge
| Saunders; your willows and the old
| apple tree are her picture, all she has
| to look att
The judge stopped to pick up long
blade of grass as the boy stopped for
breath, but did not inturrupt him.
John Roberts and the other men stood
open-mouthed behind their employer.
''In the spring she watches for the
| very first sign of green on the old
apple tree" Sammy rushed on, new
er taking his eyes from the judges
face, land she sees it, too. And then
| when the blossoms come and are in
full bloom, why, that's her happiest
time, sir. That long, straggly branch"
the boy pointed to one arm of the
old tree as he spoke, "lies right
across her window, sir, with the will
lows behind it. You see, way across
the road the meadow space between
the apple tree and the willows doesn't
show; they look close together, all
in her picture"
Sammy paused, and the flush faded
from his face, leaving it unusually
pale. The judge stood looking off
across the meadow, drawing the blade
of grass through his fingers.
"That's all, sir,' faltered Sammy,
"but-but I thought you wouldn't
perhaps you wouldn't have the trees
cut if you knew, for Mrs. Lapham
has such very little pleasure, sir,
and she's feeling so sad about the
trees
"Um! I'm sorry for that" said the
Judge, turning his keen eyes toward
the boy at last. 81 suppose you're
overrun with pleasure yourself, arn't
you-like most of the rest of USE"
"Sir!" stammered the boy.
"Do those old willows over there
come into your friends picture?"
asked the man, abruptly, pointing to
clump far along the little meadow
| brook.
ooh, no, SIR" said Sammy, quickly.
"She can't see those at ALL"
''Take the men over there, Roberts,
and begin work at once. These trees
may stand as long as they're needed
to make picture for Mrs. Lapham
said the judge. Then, as the men
moved away, he turned again to the
boy.
Its pity you'd rather help run
milk route than learn to be an ac-
countant," he said, in his former curt
tone. 'I'm rather disappointed in
what hear of vow now. I thought
you had ambition
Sammy's face grew scarlet again
and his lips trembled, but he kept his
eyes fixed bravely on the judges.
81 think-I am anxious to do some
thing better, SIR" he said, slowly.
''But I'd thought you had forgotten
all about me, and 1 didn't like to say
anything, and-I have my uncle to
support, Judge Saunders"
81 never forget face" said the
judge, briskly, ''and you can earn
more money in an Office I know of
| than you ever can here. I'll call to
see your uncle this afternoon, and
have talk with him. Now you'd bet
ter go back to Mrs. Lapham and ease
her mind. I'm not sure that you
wouldn't make good advocate" he
added, with q grim smile.
AS the boy turned to go he looked
up at the Lapham window, and his
grave young face broke into smile
Show glad she'll be, sir!" he. said.
81 don't see how I can thank you-for
her and for myself"
'Look here!" said the judge, laying
his hand on the boys shoulder.
''Listen to me. Take seven, multiply
by four, divide by two, subtract five,
add three, multiply by eleven, divide
by four, add two, divide by seven,
multiply by six, divide by ten-and
what do you have?"
The judge had spoken as rapidly as
| his tongue could move, but none too