Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1902-06-30
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= By RALPH Common y.
By RALPH Common
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CHAPTER VIII.

EwNFNH great painter. a railway
z@geJ director interfered with that
design of nature, as he has with many
another of hers, and by the transmits
sion of an order for mountain pieces
by the dozen, together with check
Do large that 1 feared there was some
mistake, he determined me to be an
illustrator and designer for railway
hnd like publications. l do not like
these people ordering "by the Dozen"
Why should they not consider an art
lists finer feelings? Perhaps they can
not understand them, but they under
stand my pictures, and 1 understand
their checks, and there we are quits.
But so it came that l remained in
Black Rock long enough to witness the
breaking Of the league.
Looking back upon the events of that
night from the midst of gentle and de-
cent surroundings, they now seem
strangely unreal, but to me then they
appeared only natural.
1t was the Good Friday ball that
wrecked the league, for the fact that
the promoters of the ball determined
that it should be a ball rather than a
lance was taken by the league men as
concession to the new public opinion
IN favor of responsibility created by
the league. And when the managers
patronage had been secured-they fail.
ed to get Mrs. Mavor's-and it was
further announced that, though held in
the Black Rock hotel ballroom-indeed
there was no other place-refreshments
suited to the peculiar tastes of league
men would be provided, it was felt to
be almost n necessity that the league
should approve, should indeed well
come, this concession to the public
opinion in favor of responsibility Great
Jed by the league.
There were extreme men on both
sides, of course. Idaho Jack" profes
sional gambler, for instance, frankly
considered that the whole town was
going to uncomfortable depths of pro-
priety. The organization of the league
was regarded by him and by many 9th.
ers as q sad retrograde toward the
bondage of the ancient and dying east,
and that he could not get drunk when
and where he pleased Idaho" as he
was called, regarded as a personal
grievance.
But Idaho was never enamored OF
the social ways of Black Rock. He
was shocked and Disguised when he
discovered that a gun" was decreeC
by British law to be an unnecessary
bdornment of card table. The man
her of his discovery must have beer
Il resting to behold.
1t is said that Idaho was industrious
y pursuing his avocation in Slavin's
with his gun lying upon the card table
convenient to his hand, when in walk
ed Policeman Jackson, her majesty
sole representative in the Black Rocl
district Jaekson-"Stonewal Jackson,
DR. "Stonewall," as he was called TO
obvious reasons-after watching tn
game for few moments gently Tape,
he pistol and asked what he used thi
for.
"Ill show you in two holy minutes
you don't light out" said Idaho, har6
Y looking up, but very angrily, for tn
uck was against him. But Jackso
tapped upon the table and said sweet
":
you're q stranger here. You ougf
TO get q gudebook and post yourself
Now, the boys know l don't interior
with an innocent little game, but ther
is a regulation against playing it wit
guns; So" he added, even more swee
", but fastening Idaho with a loo
from his steel gray eyes, 'I'll just taxi
charge Of this" picking up the revol'
er. 'It might go off"
Idaho's rage, great as it was, ws
uuite swallowed up in his amazed di
gust at the state of society that woul
permit such an outrage upon persons
liberty. He was quite unable to pla
my more that evening, and it took Sc
eral drinks all round to restore him
hrticulate speech. The rest of the nigl
was spent in retailing for his instru
ion stories of the ways of Stonewa
Jackson.
Idaho bought a new gun. but he wo
{ Gin his clothes and used it chiefly
he pastime of shooting out the ligh
pr i'm picking off the heels from Il
BOYS boots while q stag dance was
progress i'm Slavin's. But in Ston
wallis presence Idaho was most &C
rect citizen. Stonewall he could undt
stand and appreciate. He was feet
bnd had an eye of unpleasant penetr
ton But this new feeling in the col
nunity for responsibility he could n
her understand nor endure. The leag
became the object of his indigna
aversion and the league men of
contempt. He had many sympathize
Ind frequent were the assaults up
he newly born sobriety of Billy Bre
md others of the league, but Geordi
Tatchful care and Mrs. MAYORS stea
influence, together with the loyal
operation of the league men, kept Ri
Bafe so far. Nixon, too. was mark
man. 1t may be that he carried hi
self with unnecessary jauntiness
ward Slavin and Idaho, saluting