Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-01-28

Hannah Paynes Mulberry Tree-By Clarissa Mackie.
Copyrighted. Literary

was rough and SCARED. A horse had
nibbled the trunk when the tree had
been a mere sapling.
Then. to the music of the circus band
playing down on the green, Abigail
Hodson smote the mulberry tree blow
after blow on the rough Scared place.
The Ratchet was sharp. and her thin.
wiry arms were strong. and the blade
bit deep into the tree. A brisk north
west wind was blowing. and Abigail
had barely reached the heart OF the
tree when a hard gust came. There
was a splitting. cracking sound. and
she had scarcely reached a place OF
safety before the mulberry tree crash
ed down, breaking the fence in its fall.
AS IL suddenly impressed by the grav-
ity of the deed she had committed. Abb
gail Hodson stood for several moments
as II stunned Then with a frightened
glance around her she picked up her
skirts and scudded home again. No
guilty murderer could have cleaned the
telltaIe instrument more carefully than
did Abigail her Ratchet after the fall
Of the tree.
1ueH sue udSllly CndHSSU bCI uhCoSt
locked her house and ran down Green
lane. Five minutes afterward she en-
tered the circus tent. Yes. for the first
time in her life Abigail Hodson went
to circus.
Hannah Payne saw her and nearly
tumbIed of her narrow seat. She
crushed the bag of peanuts she had
been consuming into her pocket and
craned her neck to see where her erst-
while. friend would sit. Abigail took
seat directly opposite Hannah Payne.
All the people stared very hard when
Abigail came into the tent, because
they knew that her father and her
grandfather had disapproved of cir
cuses, and when the Hodsons disap-
proved of anything their stubbornness
was quite as remarkable as that OF the
Paynes.
Abigail Hodson broke all precedents
by entering the tent, and there was lit
tie doubt that her fellow church MEM
bers would require an explanation. In
the meantime she must enjoy 1t II she
could. for never again would she have
the inspiration, provocation, despera-
tion-caIl it what you will-suficient to
sustain her during such trying ordeal
Such was her excitement concerning
the mulberry tree that she did not en-
Joy the circus at all. The clowns APP
peared silly, the horses old and decrepit
compared to the graceful animals de-
picted on the billboards; the lonely ele-
plant looked muddy and ancient be-
yond all belief; the performing dogs
were foolishly self conceited. This was
Abigail's estimate Of her first circus.
When It was over she crowded for.
ward to make her escape from friends
and acQuaintances who might have
seen her there and asked embarrassing
questions. She was almost the first
one to leave the tent, and she sped
away down the street with feet that
barely touched the ground. She made
up her mind that Hannah would guess
who had committed the deed. ana she.
, Abigail, would not deny It She would
stoutly maintain that the tree was
nuisance-a public nuisance-and If
Hannah Payne wanted to begin suit
against her she could have the papers
served at any instant.
BY this time Abigail had reached
Green lane and was toiling up its
steep incline Ahead of her in the
darkness she could see the darker bulk
Of the fallen tree. and as she reached Ii
she hesitated Behind her there came
hurried footsteps-those of Hannah
but Abigail was rooted to the spot. She
could not move an inch, no matter what
happened.
Hannah Payne's voice came in ad-
vance Of her spare figure THAT you,
Abigail HodsonY' she queried sharply,
Yes" she said DULY.
whats the matter? I know some
thing awful has happened; IL there
hadn't you wouldn't have been at tha
circus! What's the matterY' painted
Hannah, approaching
you can get the sheriff!' moaned
Abigail.
whats the matter? What's that?"
almost screamed Hannah Payne, point
ing to the fallen tree
II cut down your mulberry tree. You
better go get the sheriff." persisted
Abigail family.
Good Lord. Abby, never was SO
! thankful for anything in all my born
| days" CALCULATED Hannah Payne. II
would have done 1t myself only the
Payne streak in me wouldn't give in!
| Good radiance. say, even II the fence
is broke. / was thinking I'd take IL
down, anyway. and the one between
our houses. 1t would make one nice
big yard and seem more friendly -
Hannah was talking fast to hide her
embarrassment and delight.
! II shall like that" half sobbed abb
! gail. and then she gently tainted away
! on Hannah Payne's strong shoulder.
l As Hannah Payne half led, half car
rted the unconscious form OF her friend
into the house she felt return OF the
old masterful feeling that had mark
ed all their association in the past 81
don't know what would become Of
/ you. Abigail Hodson, IL wasn't here
I to look out for you" she muttered
happily, and then her lips brushed the
cheek Of her restored friend.