Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1910-12-31
CHAPTER "

In Hargis' store. would rein in his horse
at the Gordon gate and ask for drink
OF water from the Gordon well. Al
such times Thomas Jefferson remarked
that his mother always FASTENED to
serve the Major with her own hands;
this Notwithstanding her own and I'm
Gle Silas' oft-repeated asseveration
touching the Majors unenviable pre-
eminence as Man OF Sin. Also, he re-
marked that the Majors manner at
such moments was a thing to dazzle
the eye, like the reflection OF tho sum-
mer sun on the surface of Furnished
metal But beneath the polished ex-
terror the cropping perceptions OF the
boy would touch a thing repellant;
thing to stir a slow current of resent
ment in his blood.
1t was Thomas Jefferson's first col
lision with the law of caste; law
Draconian in the Old South Before
the war when Deer Trace Manor had
been seigniory with its six score
black thralls, there had been no visit
ing between the great house on the
inner knoll and the overgrown log
homestead at the iron furnace Quar-
rel there was none, nor any shadow OF
enmity; but the Dabneys were lords of
the soil. and the Gordons were crafts
men.
Even IN war lHe OlSllnCllon WAS
maintained. The Dabneys, father and
son, were officers, having their COM
missions at the enrolment; while Ca
Ieb Gordon, whose name headed the list
of the Paradise volunteers, began and
ended a private in the ranks.
In the years of observation-disclosures
which followed, a breach was opened,
narrow at first, and never very deep.
but wide enough to serve. Caleb Cor
don had accepted defeat openly and
honestly, and for this the unrecon-
structed Major had never fully forgiv-
en- him. 1t was added proof that
there was no redeeming drop in the
Gordon veins-and Major Caspar was
as scrupulously polite to Caleb Cor
don't wife as he would have been, and
was, to the helpmate OF like Bryerson.
mountaineer and distiler of Illicit
whisky.
Thomas Jefferson was vaguely indig-
nant when Pettigrass came to ask his
father to go forthwith to the manor
house. In the mouth of the foreman
he invitation took on something of the
flavor of a command. None the less, he
was eager for news when his father
came back. and though he got 1t only
from overhearing the answer to his
mothers question. 1T was satisfyingly
thrilling.
IT'S mighty near as we talked, Mar
tina. The Major Jumps the railroad In
with all the other improvements calls
'em Yankees, and hists his battle flag.
The engineer, that smart young fellow
with the peaked whiskers and the eye
glasses, went to see him this evenin'
about the right of way down the val
ley, and got himself slung off the porch
OF the great house into posy bed"
There is going to be trouble. Caleb;
now you mark my words. You mustn't
mix up in it,
II don't allow to. II I can hep IT,
The railroads goin' to be mighty
good thing for us II l can get Mr.
Downing to put in side-track for the
furnace"
Following this there were other con-
ferences, the Major unbending suffi-
GENTLY to come and sit on the Gordon
porch in the cool of the evening. The
iron master. as one still in touch with
the moving world gave good advice
Failing to buy the railroad company
might possibly seek to bully a right OF
way through the valley. But in thai
case, there would certainly be redress
In the courts for the property owners
In the meantime. nothing would bs
gained by making the contest per-
sonal fight on individuals.
So counseled Caleb Gordon. sure, al
ways. of his own standings ground IN
any conflict But from the last OF the
conferences the Major had ridden hom,
through the fields; and Thomas Jeffer-
son, with an alert eye for windstraws
of conduct, had seen him dismouni
now and then to pull up and fling away
the locating stakes driven by tho rail-
road engineers.
Giving the Major a second and 8
third chance to refuse to grant ar
easement, the railroad company push
ed its grading and trsck-laying around
the mountain and up to the stone wal
marking the Dabney boundary, quietly
accumulated the necessary material
and on a summer Sunday morning
Sunday by preference because no re
straining writ could be served for a
least twenty-four hours-a construc
ton train. black with laborers. whiskeS
around the nose of the mountain an,
dropped gently down the grade to tn,
temporary end of track.
1t was Thomas Jefferson who CAV,
the alarm. Little Zoar. unable to sup
port settled pastor. was closed 70
the summer. but Martha Gordon KEEP
the FIRE spiritual alight by teaching he
son at home. One OF the boys Sunda,
privileges, earned by a fauitless reel
tation of a prescribed number OF Ribl
verses, was forest freedom for the re
nainde- OF the forenoon. He hear,
the low rumble OF the coming train
and Il was only by resolutely ignoring
the sense OF hearing that he was ena
bled to get through. letter perfect.
Blessed are We, when men shall re
vile you and persecute you,'" he chant
ed monotonously. with rowing eyes ben
on finding his cap with the loss OF IN
fewest possible seconds" and shal
say ell manner OF evil against 20
falsely. for my sake'-and that's all.
And he was off like a shot
MIND. now. Thomas Jefferson; 20
are not to 90 near that rsilroadl- hi
mother called TO him as he raced dow