Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-09-10

WI II, All So 1 ItdNll'h pht. NsAN NC IL
was forbidden fruit hclt ont by snake
in the DEVILS service. | don't know
thou knowest. Anyways, | stccred my
course out O the calm waters o con
tent an peace O soul into the whirl-
pool rapids o avarcc an greed
lowed | was in Il safe haven an didn't
dream o. the stormclouds hangin' over
me till they bust in fury on my head.
Now, Lord. my Father, give them
hearts of patience an forgiveness fer
the bunders of thy servant. What
done | done in the bullheaded way
that I've always done things. but l
meant good and not harm. These things
we ask in the name O Jesus Christ,
our blessed Lord and Master. Amen"
During the latter part of the prayer
Mrs. Bishop had been staring at her
husband through her parted fingers,
her face pale and agitated, and as she
rose her eyes were glued to his face.
Now. Alfrcd,' she said, what are
you goin' to tell Us about the railroad;
Is it as bad as brother Alb thought it
would be-"
Bishop hcsitatcd 1t seemed as If
he Ia 4 even then to tear himself from
the clutch OF his natural stubbornnCss
He looked into all the anxious. waiting
faces before he spoke, and then he
gave in.
"Ab made q good guess. Eff I'd "a
had his sense or Alan's. I'd "a made a
better trader is like Alb said it was,
only sight wuss, a powerful sight
wusS"'
"Wuss:" Gaspei his wife in fresh
alarm. How could it be wuss? Why,
Brother Alb said"
Il never have told you the extent O.
my draln's." went on Bishop in the
current of confession. Il never even
/ told Perkins yesterday Fust an last
! I've managed 10 rake in fully twenty
/ Thousand acres o mountain land.
was goin' on what lowed was a dead
! shore thing. secured all | could lay
my hands on an | did it in secret
! was afeerd even to tell you about what
Perkins said. thinbin' it mought leak
out an spill, my chances"
But, father" said Alan. "you didn't
have enough money to buy all that
land"
Il got II up"-Rishop's face was dog
gedly pale, almost defiant of his over
whelming disaster II mortSagcd this
farm to get money to buy Maybry anC
Morton's four thousand acres"
The farm you was going to deed tC
Alaa?" gaspod his wife. You didnt
include thatF"
Not in that deal" groaned Bishop
81 snapped that to Phil Parsons fel
his poplar an cypress belt"
The words seemed to cut raspinoly
into the silence Of tie big room. Abnel
Daniel was til only one who seemed
unmoyed by TIE confession. He fillcC
his pipe firm the bowl on the mantel
piece and pressed the tobacco doWr
with his foYeincer; then he kicked til,
ashes In the chimney till he uncovered
small live coal. He eyed it for
moment then dipped it UP in the shov
ell. rolled it into his pipe and began t,
smoke.
$50 | amt a-goin' to git no yecrl!
pass over the new road" he said hi
object being to draw his brothpr-in
law back to Perkins action in the mat
ter
perkins was allyn to me-" an
swered Bishop. HE hain't admitte,
it yet, but he was a-lyin'. His objec
was to hep the Tompkins sell out fe
n decent price, hut he can't be han
died He's got me on the hip"
mo" said Abner. I'd ruther kec
on swappu' gold dollars fer mountai
land an lettin' it 90 fer taxes an t
try to beat "A lawyer at his own game
A courthouse is like the devils abode
easy to git inro. no outlet an nothiI
but scorch while you are thar"
Hush, fer the name o goodness,
, cried Mrs. Bishop, looking at her hu,
band. Don't you see he's dyin' frol
it? Are you all a-goin' to kill i'm
What does a few acres o land u
debts amount to beside KILN a ma
'at's been tryin' to help US all? ALFRED