Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-08-22
CHAPTER XXXII.

IL n L LII
IN the afternoon of the next day
Hillyer returned. Leaving his
III III horse at the door, he went up
" to Georges room. His trousers
were despatched with mud and COW
cred with the white hairs of his she'd
ding horse.
"I've had trip Of 1T, George he
said his face glowing. but l was well
repaid. You couldn't guess whar I've
been
How could II" said Buckley. with a
smile.
Eve got heap to tell you" the old
man ran on. with enthusiasm. he sat
down on the edge Of the wounded
mans bed. "Trabue's death worried
the life mighty nigh out O. me tell
tuck a notion all at once that the bite
O. the dog couldn't be any wuss'n the
bark, nm that I'd better go see that
old woman myself an tell 'er the plain
truth. reckon l prayed prayer Ter
every mile O. the way. my boy. dldn I
know whar she lived an had to so bJ
directions to find 'er. l got to the foot
o. Bald mountain jest about dark last
night. an a Teller that lived on the SIDE
o. the road give me directions how to
reach her house. l thought they was
plain enough, but purity soon 1t got as
dark as pitch, an | was as bad as
blind man on blind boss. One thing
the man said, though. was that as soon
as I got mile or two up the road Ia
see the light from her kitchen fire. He
said it could be seed fer miss-that
she never was knowed to shet 'er door
this time o. year.
"Well sir. got then to prayin' fer a
sight O. the light. I begged the Al
mighty to let it shine out as a sign
was forgiven fer my crime, but it was
slow a-comin', an when 1t did come
said to myself that a man was foo
to ask the Lord to make sign out o
some'n' that wasn't any more'n natu-
raj, so I wasn't much comforted eser
that. Howsomever. l did feel little
mite better. 1t seemed SO steady an
bright an peaceful away up thar among
the stars, above them rough rocks an
deep gullies. I started right fer 1t
The road got so bad had to git down
an lead my boss. Sometimes we'd have
to step over trees that lay across tbs
way, an then thar nd be branch Oh
a creek to ford an fences to let doWr
an br.ers an rocks an steep places
But 1 kept up my heart. Sometimes the
light nd be out O. sight completely, an
then ag'in it nd blaze up steady an
strong like promise writ in fire.
II got to prayin' more hopeful. Ever
time the light nd flare up out O. the
gloom MY sperits I'd rise. till after
awhile felt as light as feather.
sung an shouted an prayed an huggee
nv boss. 1t seemed like was climbin
up to God. The light on the mountain
was his presence Once l fell down
steep bank in the dark, but WASH
hurt. an then ag'in slipped on some
rocks while was crossin' branch an
cot wet to the waist, but when scram
bled out the light was .a-shinln' bright
err than ever. Finally crossed a OLE
field an seed the open door OF me-
house. A dog run out barkin', but
wasn't no more afeard OF i'm than tn
anostles was O. snakes. | walket
straight at i'm, called to i'm in trim
friendly voice, an patted i'm on TIT
head, an he licked my hand an prancet
about in front O me like was or
acquaintance he was glad to see. Mrs
Hambright was at the fireplace cookln
some'n' t. eat when got thar, an sn
invited me in. ! went In an snoo'
hands an set down In the chalr sn
give me, an she put more WOOD on IN
fire. fer she seed was wet.
".You don't know me, Mrs. Ham
bright says l.
".No,' says she, Y don't know you
sir: but that don't make no difference
7 take in a lots o. folks that git DC
nighted up here. Nobody would D
mean enough to rob ur harm woman
as old as am
".Thats So says I. Her head wa
as white as cotton, an she was all pen
over but she had the sweetest, mos
patient face | ever seed. 1t made M
feel easier about tellin' 'er who wa
an what I'd come fer, but l acknoW
edge was afeard. Then she propose
to set the table, fer she said she know
| ed was famished, but I wouldn't ie
'er.
".No; wait says I, wait TILL Nv
told you who I am, Mrs. Hambright
saws l, an l couldn't look at 'er ther
/ .Pm Hiram Hillyer, the man who tue
yore pore boys life.
81 seed 'er sorter jump little, al
then she got as still as Il grave roci
l was afeared to look at 'er. All m
new found hope seemed to be ieakii
ont O. me. l bowed my head an wal
ed fer 'er verdict. God knows ! wa
/ miserable but was prayin'-prayll
/ fer pardon-prayin both to her an Got
She was still long time. | recko
| she was studyin' up what to say
me. Then she spoke. Did you com
away out here jest to see me, Mr.. Hill
yer?' she axed in q trembly voice, al
I nodded, still afeard to meet her ey
4 come to make confession an III
plore you to pardon me- said.