Anadarko daily democrat. [volume] (Anadarko, Oklahoma) 1901-190?, 1902-02-08
Copyright 1909. Daily story Publishing Company.

"A most unnatural child-sullen.
sluggish, sneaking." the rector AFFIRM
ed. p%unctuating the Indictment with
pauses in his effort &c be exact. A
shadow OF protest fitted over his wlfe's
face. First, Billy was motherless.
Secondly. under cover OF a garden
hedge one day she had watched Billy
take ain at a crow, and his eyes. eager.
sweet and blue as larkspur. had APP
pealed to her unforgettably. Decided
ly. Billy's eyes when they could be
seen, counted.
IL was said OF the rector that he
knew every man, woman n child in
The county: and they, by reason Of his
sweet cordially OF name knew and
loved him. The rector owed his popu-
larity nor to ? single grace than to
the whole big sun OF his virtues-a
grace OF sympathy s. rare, so discrim-
mating. so replete with charity as to
make him quite unoficialiy. of course.
but in a very real sense, the confessor
of his people.
But with Billy the rector could
make no Roadway. Billy was his
thorn In the flesh. an ever-present APP
peal to his sympathy. but lodging ev-
cry expression OF 1t with the elusive
ness OF a phantom. His kindliest
0ycrtures glanced the armor Of the
child's reserve. One day the rector
took him perforce for a drive, hoping
to thaw this stolid unresponsiveness.
He told his most thrilling stories; Billy
remained utterly aloof. The rector
was approaching a state OF actual dis
comfiture when Billy himself snapped
the tension By dropping adroitly from
tho phaeton. He disappeared In the
brush like a scared rabbit. The rector
decided to bide his time.
II was in harvest time that Billy's
mother breathed her last, swiftly,
TRANQUILITY, meekly grateful for her re-
lease. Billy's father had bullied her
into a stingless grave. Bllly's father,
a burly. irascible farmer. had long
since tired OF his sickly wife; he was
doubtless glad Of his release. But he
felt a fresh displeasure against her;
she had died in his busiest season
without consulting his convenience.
Billy's conception of death was very
nobulous. He observed the funeral
preparations with a sort OF wonder,
though the unwonted stiffness and
darkness made his heart nutter. II
was not until the rector led him to
the bier and tenderly told him to kiss
his mother goodbye, and the tall man
with black gloves screwed on the lid,
that Billy began to apprehend. The
chill OF desolation came upon hin and
he sobbed softly. u~nobtrusively lest his
father should hear. He had smarted
TOO often for the offense to take risks
At last the casiiet was lowered and
the rector's voice became more solemn.
Billy sobbed audibly. He drew as
near the rector rs he dared and in
creased the distance from his father
Presently Billy heard a thud. Ashes
to ashes, dust to dust" and the rector
had thrown a clump of dirt at hii
mother! He moaned aloud In his an,
guish. To Billy, who knew nothing Of
symbolism, the act savored only OF un.
friendliness. He interpreted 1t In tn,
light OF his own experience, and IL
roadside warfare with his kind. Bill,
had learned the value OF pebbls sant
as ammunition.
Hence the rector's difficulty with hi
young parishloner.
The farmer lost nc time In bringing
home a buxom widow whose quarrel
some progeny soon crowded Billy out
A nostalgia for the woods seized him
he became nomadic in his effort at self
placement, and mis- father, who hated