Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1903-11-10

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- to go out upon the road.
t9sGsg you and l need a little
general conversation" he said. I'VE
think too much about our own affairs.
We're getting sentimental Let's smoke
strong tobacco this evening and discuss
the business of the world. Trask and
Scovel will help u.s."
Personally l would have preferred to
go down to the lake, but l recognized
the force of Derringer's remark. We
found Trask on the road, but his COM
panion was Mr.. Witherspoon, whom
west wind had waited to the eastern
border of the estate.
"Scovel has been gone all day." said
the artist. Pedestrian tour, l guess.
He took a fieldglass with him, as If he
intended to find some views"
"Hope he didn't go over to the hill"
remarked Mr.. Witherspoon. Its a
terrible place for snakes"
And he proceeded in his soft and
apologize voice to tell us narrowing
tales of copperheads and black snakes,
rattlers and 'hooples." He was in the
midst of such narration when per-
ceived Scovel coming along the road.
Twilight still fingered and there was
enough to reveal that the lawyer had
tramped hard and was very weary.
1--WE were just speaking Of you, Mr..
Scovel," said WitherspoOn. 1--WE were
hoping that you hadn't been over on
the HILL
He put his left hand upon the small
of his back the palm being outward,
and seemed to straighten his spine by
a slow pressure in that region, and then
he coughed gently, not because he had
any ailment requiring him to do 50,
but as a general expression of dissatis-
faction with his physical condition.
Scovel waited for this characteristic
performance to be finished before he
spoke.
NO" said he, 81 haven't been near
the hill"
well, you just came by the edge Of
it," ventured Mr. Witherspoon. 'How-
ever, the snakes never come out into
the road. Most curious thing-can't be
duplicated in the state, I'll wager The
hills full of them, but you might as
well look for snakes on an iceberg
floating in the middle of the ocean as
on this farm I've lived here more'n
half a century, boy and man, and
never saw one of 'em anywhere but
on the hill"
Scovel leaned against the fence, and
saw a shudder run through him.
Then he shook himself together,
Strengthened up and started for the
house.
"I've walked long way" he said.
Pm hungry as wolf"
/ noticed as he walked away that he
looked uneasily behind him upon the
ground, to the right and to the left.
No one else seemed to observe the pc
culiarity of his manner, and we did
not discuss him after he had gone.
: Instead we encouraged Mr. Wither-
/ spoon to tell more snake stories, and
blood run cold to this day whenever |
think of them.
BY and by my attention began to
wander. There was a suggestion of
music in the air; no more than that-l
could not say heard it. But became
uneasy and glanced down toward the
lake shore TO see If could detect the
glow of a fire. The moon had now be-
come bright, and II the fire burned
upon the rocks 1t threw no visible
CLEAN upward. So l fingered awhile
upon the road until the thought that |
might be wasting my best delight OF
those days impelled me to make sure.
AS passed the house, / caught Il
glimpse of Lucy AIMS gray gown and
bonnet in the main porch. The CIR
was leaning against a post Of the trel
lis, as If watching the moon which
shone above the hill. Her face looked
so haggard, old and weary that
halted suddenly when first l saw 4
among the leaves. She had not no
ticed me till then, and she sprang back
startled. Perhaps she thought l coult
not see that she put up both hands t.
her face. but | could well perceive ths
gesture despite the screen of foliage
Upon the instant / spoke her name
but she pretended not to hear and hur
ried into the house.
1t cut my heart to know that tbs
poor child suffered THIS. and fell
ashamed to have intlVded uDon hei