Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1908-10-15

:"
seemed TO grow longer and wearier Of
progress-and had carried back In a
long split basket, white as snow,
understanding, creaseless. except for
the dainty crimping Of the RULES that
only old-fashioned dark.es cling TO and
new-fas hioned onCs turn mp their
noses AZ as waste OF time.
And new It was ended-this labor Of
love for The memory Of the child she
had loved with a proud. worshipful
love. 80 rccd for tie smoke to curl
steadily heavenward from the stick
and-diIt chimney whea snow covered
the ground. CT TO doat slowly out over
the thick-loaved swamp when summer
time came again. Her work was fin
lshed-her hour Of triumph was at
hand. Before sun-up tomorrow she
would be Oh her way TO the town,
whore already, in the rear CT email
shop, crowded with blocks Of marble
and finished and unfinished grave
stones. there tcwored above the rest,
cleaning. white and beautiful. one
bearing he name Freeman twas he
net born out Of slayery0 Morton"
Wien dey rides b., gwine OF down
dc big road en- secs dat-dcn deyli
know how NY FIeem was dubbed b.
bis ole nanny"
she closed he: eyes and leaned her
lturbaned head back against the
smooth. srlc'ched bark Of tho beech
tree. She was living over asa;n, as
she had done many times. the deep
JOY CT satisfaction ;hat follows the ac-
comrlishment Of something that would
have dismayed and discouraged soul
less brave.
/ A ved-and-whie spotted cow came
up the road from tho bottom and
stood patiently outside the gate, rat
4 tling her bell now and then as she
4 threw her head backward to lick .
4 thorn wound on her flank. But the
old woman gazed unseeiagly Out,
across and beycnd the clearing. where
the lone grave was-pride and tri'
umph possessing the lineaments OF
her face. She moved her hands in
! quick, decisive gestures, and her lips
moved, now and then, convulsively.
/ So intent was she that she did not
| see, or seeing, did not heed, the man
scarce more than a boy-who vault.
| ed the rail fence and. rapidly crossing
/ the clearing, ran towards the cabin,
| excitement in every movement. He
came around the corner of the cabin
/ before her gestures ceased Then she
! ho MD art n
/ bench. "Hell's to pay" he said
roughly, a weak, drunken smile fixing
! itself on his white, dissipated face.
Cap" Morton, scapegoat-w.,n all
/ that the name implies-drunkard
| gambler and worse-the grandson OF
old Judge Morton, the last of an old
and wealthy family, boy who had, to
use vernacular, "th'owed hissef away
was the only human being who de
manded friendship Of Aunt Lilly. Her
! bitterness had not inspired him with
1 fear when she had nursed him through
I his babyhood He chung TO her re-
/ CARELESS, and all along the way he had
/ coniided his childish, boyish troubles
I and the devilment of his later years
/ 10 her irresponsible ear; never know
/ ing. caring, or perhaps noticing
whether she condemned or sympa
! thized. Time and time again he had
/ fed to her cabin when parental doors
were closed, and she had nursed him
! stolidly - undoubtedly unwillingly-
! through certain sprees that had
grown TO be periodical.
For Gods sake, Nam Lilly" he
commanded, get up. Help me to hide
they'll be after me any minute!-
I Ive-Ive," he raised his arm to the
side of the cabin door as he went in
side. and bowed his head against it
Coed God! I've shot a woman-and
killed herr
The old negress got up and followed
him into the cabin. He put his hand
on the foQA of "A bed-seeking a hidine
I place-and then, wheeling suddenly
he went to The fireplace and. holding
to the rude mantelpiece. set his foot
I firmly in niche, where a brick was
missing and pulled himself UP until he
could slip his fingers over loose
board in the ceiling, pushing it aside
and then, quickly moving several
others, he climbed into the loft.
Give me quilt and "a pillow
they'll never think about looking III
here! Remember the time Freem' set
ne up here, when me and Pomp were
playing hiding? Pompey never die
find me-
An expression of pain shot ever the
old woman's face at the careless men
ton of her son. She handed him the
quilt and pillow-but when she
stepped down out of the chair and
mechanically pushed il back against
the wall there was look of hatred or
her face, SO terrible. SO intense, that
her features were livid. She went &c
the door and stood for long time
looking out toward the grave in the
clearing. Finally the man recalled
her.
Nam hurry up and fix me some
thing to eat-and cup of good strong
coffee Had nothing since last
night
AS the sun went down and the cy
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