The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1904-02-12

cret in his life. an opinion not too well
confirmed by the old mans appearance.
His fine eyes had a habit Of wandering
10 the horizon. and his expression was
mild. vague and sad. lost n dreams.
At the first glance one guessed that
his dreams would never be practicable
I'm their application. and some such i'm
preston Of him was probably what
caused the editor OF the Herald to nick
name him. in his own mind. "the White
Knight"
Mr.. Fisbee. coming to Plattville from
nobody knew where. had taught in the
high school for ten years. but he proved
quite unable 10 refrain from lecturing
to the dumfounded pupils on archa-
ology, neglecting more and more the
ordinary courses of instruction. grow
ing year by year more forgetful and
absent. lost in his few books and his
own reflections. until at last he had
been discharged for incompetency. The
dazed old man had no money and no
way TO make any. One day he dropped
in at the hotel bar. where Wilkerson.
the professional drunkard. favored him
with his society. The old man under
stood. He knew il was the beginning
of the end. He sold his books in order
to continue his credit at the Palace
bar. and once or twice, unable To pro
ceed to his own dwelling. spent the
night in a lumber yard, piloted thither
by the harder veteran wilkerson.
The morning after the editor took
him home Fisbee appeared at the Her
aid office in n new hat and a decent
suit Of black. He had received his sal
AIRY in advance. his books had been re
purchased and lie had become the re-
portorial staff OF the Carlow County
Herald: also he was TO write various
treatises for the paper. For the first
few evenings when he started home
from the Office his chief walked with
him. chatting cheerfully. until they
had passed the Palace bar. But Fis-
bees redemption was complete.
The editor of the Herald kept stead
lily at his work. and as time went ON
the bitterness his predecessors swindle
had left in him passed away. But his
loneliness and a sense of defeat grew
and decpeued. When the vistas of the
had not thought 10 spend his life in
such u place as Plattville. but he found
himself doing il. and il was no great
happiness TO him that the Hon. Kedge
Holloway OF Amo. whom the Herald s
opposition TO McCune had sent TO
Washington. came 10 depend on his in
fiuence for denomination. nor did the
realization that the editor OF the Car.
low County Herald had come to be
McCune's successor as political dicta-
tor produce perceptibly enlivening ef-
feet upon the young man. The years
drifted very slowly. and TO him ii seem
ed that they went 10y while he stood far
aside and could not even see them
move. He did not consider the life he
led an exciting one. but the other citi-
zens of Carlow did when he undertoo6
a war against the White Caps. deni-
zens of Six Crossroads. seven miles
west of Plattville. The natives were
much more afraid of the White Caps
than he was. They knew more about
them and understood them better than
he did
There was no thought of the people
of the Crossroads in his mind as he sal
on the snake fence staring at the littl,
smoky shadow dance on the white road
in the June sunshine. On the contrary
he was occupied with the realization
that there had been a man in his elias:
at college whose ambition needed nc
restraint, his promise was so great-iT
the strong belief OF the university. u be
faf ha l..lY.
that seven years TO IA day from his com
mencement this man was sitting on {
fence rail In Indiana.
Down hepike buggy came creak
ing toward him. gray with dust. olt
and frayed like the fat. shaggy gray
marc that drew il. her unchecked. de
spondent head lowering before her
while her incongruous tail waved in
cessantly, like the banner of stormin.
party. The editor did not hear tn,
flop of the mares hoofs nor the sounS
Of the wheels, so deep was his rev
erie till the vehicle was nearly oppo
site him. The red faced and perspir
ing driver drew rein. and the journal
, ist looked up and waved long whit
hand 10 him in greeting.
"Howdy' do. Mr.. Harkless:" calle,
. the man in the buggy. ''Soakin' in tn
weather. lie spoke in shouts. though
neither was hard of hearing
Yes, just soaking" answered Hark
less. Its such gypsy day. How {
Mr.. Bowldery''
I'm givin' good satisfaction. thanl
you. and all at home. She's In town"
"Give Mrs. Bowlder my regards.
, said the journalist. comprehcnding til
| symbolism. How is HartleyT'
1 The farmers honest face shaded owe
r for a second. He's ben steady eve
I sence the night you brought him home
= six weeks straight. I'm kind of both
r cred about tomorrow-he wants TO com
|. in for show day. and seems IL | hadn'
5 any call 10 say no. | reckon he'll hav
I TO take his chance-and US too. Seem
4 more like we'd have TO let him. long a
= we got him not to come in last nigh
: for Kedge Halloway's lecture at IN
: courthouse. Say. how'd that lectur
strike you: You give Hedge might
Y fine send-off TO the audience In your II
Q PRODUCTION. bat l noticed you spoke o
@ him rs "a thinker. without sayin' visa
u kind. didn't know you was as car
i iiOus "a man as that, or course kno'
IA Kedge Is honest
n Harkless sighed. '-Oh. he's the he,
: we've got. Bowlder."
e Yes. presume 50. but Mr.. Pow
Il der broke of suddenly as his eye
4 opened in surprise. aud he exclaimed
: "I.aw. ia never of expected to see 20
e scttin' here today, Why amt you OF
d at Judge Rriscoe'sE' This speech seen
IS ed "a hc intended with some humor. E,
Powder accompanied IL with the lou
II Innrhfnr of srlvnn fiinihifv rIsl-inp