The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1912-08-13
DARKEST JUST
BEFORE DAWN
How Luck Came to a Man on
the Verge of Despair.

In the far west the sun was rising
On a road spick and span wagon
with a white canvas cover pulled By
four sleek slorses rras jogging along
the outfit glistening in the morning
rays, presenting prosperous appear
ance unusual to that region. Henry
Hawkins, pioneer, drove, and within
the wagon his wife and their two little
children were sleeping soundly. Haw.
kins, who had rowing disposition,
having become dissatisfied with bis
humdrum business in the east, had
sold out, put the money into ''schoon-
\ err" horses, harness and general out
fit and was going to rush for new
home In region that was about to be
opened to squatters.
/ Reaching the bouadary, be found a
crowd of people waiting to take advan-
tage Of the same opportunity, which
was to occur the next day. Hawkins
made the effort with the rest but he
was unfamiliar with the process, and
/ they all got ahead Of him.
| The sun stood at noon over another
scene. 1t was region unrecognized
| by the government and was conse-
| quently called No Mans Land. Haw-
kins' wagon, paint worn and rickety,
was pulled along by three lean horses
over a dusty road. and. as before.
Hawkins drove. He had tiIed Of try
Ing to wrest living from his unpro-
ductive farm, had pulled up stakes and
was going TO find a new home In No
Mans Land.
He did not find home to suit him.
Since the government did not recog-
nize the existence of No Mans Land,
there was no law there, and the set
tiers concluded TO govern themselves.
Hawkins, being the only man unoccu-
pied, was appointed sheriff. One day
In trying to arrest a refractory citizen
Hawkins killed him. 1t was an unfor-
tunate event for the sheriff. The man
who was killed had friends, and Haw-
kins was made to feel their enmity.
For years the Hawkins family how
cred on the borders of those regions
that were about TO be opened up. ready
to make a run for home But Haw-
kins either never succeeded In finding
one or IL he did did not keep II. They
lived In the wagon and camped by the
roadside. The wagon was now old II
had never been reprinted, but 1t had
been patched. The horses were used
up; the canvas cover was rotten. The
xr-haais Yx.ara bntd fo,athar h.- ala ,,saoaa
Of telegraph wire, the harness by bits
Of rope Hawkins with his broken
down team was known everywhere,
and he had acquired the name Of "the
mover"
The sun was setting over the noun
tains. Two prospectors passing down
a dirt road saw a schooner, one wheel |
Of which had given way and let down |
corner of the wagon. This had eff
fected a complete wreck. A man stood |
looking at 1t mournfully. A woman
and two children were crying beside
a smoldering fire by the roadside.
do you know who that Isl said one |
of the prospectors to the other. That's
Hawkins, the mover Reckon he's
stranded at last Hello, Harkins!
What are you doing here?"
Going to lay out graveyard and
Settle" was the mournful reply.
As he spoke the sun went down be-
hind the mountains.
Five years passed. One morning a
horseman was riding on road wind
ing upward. A mechanic, with bag
of tools slung over his shoulder, was
coming down. Just above a cloud of
smoke hung over pocket in the noun
tain.
TO the presidents house?' asked
the horseman, pointing ahead.
Yes; up there where you see the
smoke"
HAS the new pump arrived"
Yes; this morning"
The horseman rode on, but before
coming to the smoke turned aside to a
roomy and comfortable looking dwell
Ing set In the center of well adorned
grounds. Dismounting at the gateway,
he went up to the house. OF the serv-
ant who came to the door he asked:
Us the president at home or over
there?" pointing.
He's Just going over, sir. He'll be
Town in minute"
The president came down, and the
stranger said to him:
I'm Ingleside: sent out to put In the :
lew pump"