The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1913-05-15
A GRATED
TREE
BY ELIZABETH WEED

Farmer Perks was very proud of al
apple tree that grew beside the from
door of his house. The apples 1t Dor,
were greetings, and there was usual
, ly bountiful crop. Perks son. Abel
was engaged TO Amanda Squeers. who
was very thrifty and very shrewd
girl. The old man was widower
with no other children except Abel. and
when the father died the son would
inherit all his property. But Perks
wouldn't either die or give Abel enough
on which to be married.
4 One day the farmer brought home a
bough of an apple tree and grated II
IN to limb of his favorite apple tree
that pointed directly toward his house
Not long after this a man named
Schmitt came to settle an account with
| the farmer that had been of long
| standing. The man had put in a cul-
vert for Perks which had been washed
| away. and Perks, who had been obliged
to have the work done over by another
mason, refused to pay the bill present
ed by the first The creditor came aft
err supper In the evening and remain
ed arguing with and threatening Perks
with a lawsuit till 10 o'clock. Perks
was not well, and the controversy oc-
Cured in his bedroom on the second
story. Abel was I'm the house, but at
10 o'clock he went to bed in another
part of the house and was soon sound
asleep.
When in the morning he went into
his fathers room the old man was
dead. There was evidence that he had
been struck on the head with some
hard instrument like poker Abel
called In the neighbors and told them
the facts. Schmitt was arrested. But
he had evidently prepared himself for
the ordeal awaiting him. for he denied
having been at Perks house at ALL
Indeed, he said he had spent the even
ing with a man ten miles from Perks
talking about some work both were to
Schmitt's statement. why he did so
was never known. But it was sup
posed that Schmtt made confidant
Of him and either worked on his feel
ings or paid him to save him.
Suspicion then fell on Abel. who in
herited bis fathers estate. He was
arrested. but since there was not
scrap of evidence against him. except
that he and his father were the only
two persons known to be in the house
on the night of the murder. the jury
hung for long while. then finally |
brought In verdict Of acquittal. But |
his neighbors believed him guilty and |
refused thereafter to have anything to !
do with him.
Amanda Squeers alone believed In I
her lovers innocence and that Schmitt |
had committed the murder. She had /
only Abels word for Schmitt's having |
been at the house to collect his bill I
and that Abel had left him with his IA
Their when he went to bed. But she
knew, apart from her lovers state
ment. by woman's intuition. that
Schmitt had done the murder. She
married Abel and accepted the stigma
that rested upon him.
Three years passed. One summer !,
Amanda noticed that the bough Perks
had grated to his apple tree would
grow II the sash were left up into a
window of the old mans former bed
room. The weather being warm. she
propped up the sash. and the bough.
covered with blossoms. extended a
yard or more into the room. One day
In midsummer she passed Schmitts
house and said TO him:
"Mr. Schmitt. II has been revealed
10 me who killed my husbands father.
That has always been a mystery. and /
confess have always believed you
aid the deed Now know who did IL.
Come TO the house tomorrow afternoon
and win convince you"
Schmitt kept steady face. but with
In he trembled. He did not wish 70 90 ,
10 her house. and he dare not stay ]
away. Above all. be felt that he must
know IL Mrs Perks had any clew. lie
I'D not say to her whether or no be
would accept her invitation. but the
1ext afternoon. bracing himself with
, strong potation. he started for the
house
Amanda welcomed him at the door.
Ind so cordially that be was persuad-
q 20 believe that she had got on 10 4
wrong track and bad become con
-inced Of his innocence He saw no {
me In the house. and that gave him !