Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-10-22

| y<HSHtSSy NNtIt. IL was Htll III tlt
lSy courthouse in the center OF
the few struggling houses which made
up the hamlet The entire Bishop fam
lily, including the servants. attended.
Pole Baker brought his wife and all
the children in new spring wagon.
barley society was represented, as
the Springtown Gazette afterward put
it, by the faircst of the fair, Miss Dolly
Barclay. accompanied by her mother
and father.
The courthouse yard was alive with
groups Of men, eagerly talking over the
situation. Every individual whose
land was to be touched by the proposed
road was on hand to protect his rights.
Pole Baker was ubiquitous trying to
ascertain the drift of matters He
was, however, rather unsuccessful. He
discovered that many of the groups
ceased to talk when he entered them.
"Somcn's up" he told Alan and Mil
Ter in the big. bare looking courtroom.
Il don't know what it is. but | smell
rat. an it amt no little one nuther."
"Oppostion," said Miller gloomily
81 saw that as soon as came. If they
really were in favor of the road, they'd
be here talking it over with us
I'm afraid that's it," said Alan.
"Joe Bartell ia the most interested, and
he seems to be a sort of ringleader
don't like the way he looks. saw him
snecr at Wilson when he drove up just
now. ! wish Wilson hadn't put on SO
much style-kid gloves, plug hat and a
negro driver"
mo. that won't go down with this
crowd" agreed Miller. 1T might in the
slums of Boston. but not with these
lords of the mountains. As for Bartpll
think l know what ails him. He's 60
ing to run for the legislature and
thinks he can make votes by opposing
us convincing his constituency that
we represent moneyed oppression. Well.
he may down US, but it's tough on hui
man progress
At the hour appointed for the meet
ing to open young man who held the
Office of bailiff in the county and
seemed proud of his stentorian voice
opened one of the windows and shout
ed:
Come in to court! Come in to court.'
and the motley !oiterers below began
to clatter up the broad stairs and fall
into the seats. Joe Bartel, a short.
thicksct man in the neigh0orhood Of
fifty. with a forid face and n shock Of
reddish hair, led about twenty men up
the aisle to the jury benches at the
right of the stand. They We're the
landowners whose consent TO grant
the right of way was asked Stern OPP
position was clearly written ON the
leaders brow and more or less distinct
ly reflected ON the varying faces Of his
followers.
EFF we needed it. it Nd he n different
matter" Miller overheard him say in a
sudden lull as the big room settled
down into sudden quiet, but we kin do
without it. We've got along so fur an
we kin furder. All Of us has got good
teams"
Wilson in his crisp, brusque way
made the opening speech. He and his
capital were going to dispel darkness
where II had reigned since the dawn of
civilization. All that vas needed, he
ty owners appealed to, who. he felt
; confident would not stand in .heir own
/ light.
He had hardly taken his seat when
Joe Rartell stood up. Alan and Miller
exchanged ominOus chances. They had
at once recognized the Inappropriate
ness Of Wilson's speech and did not
like the white, twitchng sheer on Bar
tells smooth shaven face. 1t was as
if Bartel had been for long time
seeking just such an opportunity to
make himself felt in the community.
and there was no doubt that Wilson's
almost dictatoral speech had made a
fine opening for him.
"Fellow citizens an ladies an gen
tlemen,' he began. I'VE are glad to
welcome amongst us a sort of a second
savior In our Sodom an Gomorry OF
crackordom. What the gentleman with
the plug hat an spike toe shoes amt
ugon' to Is fer us the Lord couldn't.
He looks nice an talks nice, an, TO use
his words. don't believe he decoiyes
appearances. I'll bet one thing, an
g that is at he won't deceive us Accord
/, in to him we need i'm every hour as
the Sunday school song puts it. Yes
he's a-gon' to hep us powerful an
right Off. An, fellow citizens, I'm heer
to propose a vote O thanks. He's from
; away up in Boston. whar, they tell me-
a niger sets an eats at the same table
with the whites. When his sort come
this away durin' the war, with all the'r
up to date implements Of slaughter
they laid waste to everything they
struck. shot us like rabbits in holes an
then went back an said they'd had Il
good hunt But they've been Twin high
up thar sence the war, an Their tim
Der is a-playin' out. an they want some
more now, an they want it bad. So
they send Their representatives out to
find it an lay hold of it. How does he
happen to come heer? AS well as | kin
make out, old All Bishop, a good man
an a southern soldier-a man that l
hain't got nothin' agin, except maybe
he holds his head too hish-made up his
mind awhile back that lumber would
be in demand some day. an he set to
work buyin all the timber land he
could lay his hands on. Then, when he
had mora'n he could tote an was about
to go under, he give this gentleman a
option on il. Well 30 fur so good; but
gentlemen, what have we got TO do