Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1908-02-15


was!--when they had schemed and
plotted SO pathetically to keep her
with them, the second one to break
away from the slow. safe. and calm
traditions OF her kin in the place
where generation after generation of
her people had lived and died and
now lay waiting the great judgment
In the peaceful country burying-
ground
She had listened to them dutifullv
hair believing. swallowed hard and
followed her uncle. her fathers
youngest brother, 10 the Land OF the
Dakotahs."
Now. that same dear uncle was 2
man Of power and position in the new
land. Only last November he had
been reelected to his third term ON
the bench Of his circuit with a big
heart-stirring majority. In the dav
OK his prosperity no had not forgot
ten the little. tangle- haired girl who
lad cried so inconsolably when he
went away. and the unaccountab.e hor.
ror In whose eyes he had tried 10
laugh away on that observation-disclosures
ten day when he had wrenched his
heartstrings from their safe abiding
place and gone forth in quest OF the
pot Of gold at the rainbow's end
the first OF many generations. Tradi.
ton knew no other since his ances-
tors had felled forests and built homes
OF hewn logs. Now he had sent for
Louise. BIS court reporter had re.
Gently left him for other fields OF
labor
There was commotion among her
people on receipt OF the astounding
proposition. She lived over again
the dark days of the FIRST fitting. II
might well be her uncle had exag-
gerated the dangers Of life in the new
land. II was great fun to shock his
credulous relatives. He had surely
written them some enormous tales
during those 10 years and more. He
used to chuckle heartily to himself
at reading some Of the svmpatbizing
replies. But these tales were hele in
evidence against him now that he
dared 70 want Louise Every letter
was brought out by Loulse's dear old
grandmother and read to her over
again. Louise did not half believe
them, but they were gospel truth to
her grandmother and almost SO to
her father and mother as we'll. She re-
membered the old spirit OF fun ram
pant in her favorlte uncle. and while
his vivid pictures took ali the color
from her sensitive face. deep down in
her heart she recognized them for
were strange medley OF grasshoppers.
billiards. and Indians. But ten-dol.
lar per diem was a great temptation
over hvedollar per diem. and times
were pretty hard on the old farm.
More than all. the inexplicable some F
thing that had led her uncle to throw
tradition 90 tho four winds OF heaven
was calling her persistently and would
not be denied.
The dear hero OF her childhood
was much changed 20 be sure: his /
big joints had taken on more flesh
and he had gained in dignity Of de-
pertinent what be had lost In ease OF /
movement His once merry eye had |
grown keen with the years OF lust /
judging. The lips that had laughed 4
so much In the old days were set In /
lines or stornness. Judge Hammond /
Dale was man who would live up 10 1
the tenets OF his high calling without I
fear or favor. through good and evil \
report Yet through all his gravity 4
Of demeanor and the pride OF his in
tegrity, Louise iustinctively felt his
kindness and loved him for Il. The /
loneliness fell away from her and 4
OF content had come in It's /
place, until the letter had come from \
the states attorney W in Kemah
county:
MY Dear Miss Dale: The eighteenth OF
august is the date set Tor the prellmin- i
afy nearing az Jesse Black. VIII YOU Il
come and take the testimony / am very i
ANXIOUS mat the testimony be taken by i
\ competent reporter and shall be crate
iul 10 YOU ~ YOU decide 90 come
The judge viii ten you about our poor /
Let me recommend TO /
your consideration some good friends OF