Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-07-05
The Light in
the Clearing
By IRVING BACHELLER
Copyright 1917. The Bobbs- Merrin Co.

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him walking slowly, with ben, head
as had seen him before, foilowed
by old Kate. She carried her star
In her hand while the forefnger m
her right was pointing him out 81
lent az q ghost and as UNDECIDED
one would say-she followed his
steps.
| remember when / went on the
stand my eyes filed with tears
Amos gave me an appealing look
that went TO my heart. Il was hard
for me to tell the truth that day
never has IL been so hard. II I had
had the riches Of Grimshaw ! would
have given them 10 be relieved.
Was there nothing that ! could do
for Amos?
/ observed that old Kate sat on a
front seat with her hand 70 her ear
and Grimshaw beside his lawyer al
big table and that when she look
ed at him her lips moved In a
strange unuttered whisper OF her
spirit. Her face filled with Joy as
one damning detail after another
came out in the evidence.
Aunt Deel and Uncle Peabody
came to the village that day and
sat In the court room. They had
dinner with us at the schoOlmas-
ter's, but l had little chance TO talk
with them. Aunt Deel went up 70
my room with me and slyly gave
me some fresh cookies wrapped in
a piece Of newspaper which she
carried in little basket bought
from the Indians.
Here's somethin' else" she said.
Il was keepin' 'em for Chris mas
ayes!-but It's so cold I guess ye
better have 'em now-ayes!
Then she gave me a pair OF nit
tens with a red fringe around the
wristbands, and two pairs OF socks.
l remember that my uncle laughed
at the jests Of Mr.. Hacket but said
little and was not. l thought, IN
good spirits. They went home be-
fore the examination ended.
The facts hereinbefore alleged.
and others, were proven, for the
tracks fitted the shoes OF Amos.
The young man was held and pres
emily indicted. The time Of his
trial was not determined.
received much attention from
young and old in the village after
that. for l found soon that I had
acquired a reputation for bravery,
of the slender foundation for which
the reader is well aware. l was in
vited to many parties, but had not
much heart for them and went only
to one at the home of Nettie Bar
rows. Sally was there. She came
to me as if nothing had interrupted
our friendship and asked II l would
play Hunt the Squirrel with them.
OF course l was glad to make this
treaty of peace, which was sealed
with many kisses as we played to-
gether in those lively games OF the
old time. | remember that l could
think of nothing in this world with
which to compare her beauty. I
asked If I could walk home with
her and she said that she was en-
gagged, and while she was as ami
able as ever l came to know that
night that a kind of wall had risen
between us.
1 wrote a good hand those days
and the leading merchant OF the
village engaged me to post his
books every Saturday at 10 cents
an hour. Thenceforward until
Christmas I gave my free days TO
that task. l estimated the sum
that l should earn and planned to
divide 1t in equal parts and proud
ly present It to my aunt and uncle
on Christmas day.
One Saturday while I was at
work on the big ledger OF the mer-
chant ! ran upon this item;
Oct. 3. S. Wright-To one suit
of clothes for Michael Hen
ry from measures furnished
by s. Robinson .Sl490
Shirt to match ........... 10
l knew then the history Of the
suit of clothes which l had worn
since that rainy October night, for
remembered that Sam Robinson,
the tailor. had measured ma at our
house and made up the cloth Of
Aunt Deel's weaving.
l observed, also, that numerous
articles--a load OF wood. two sacks
OF -four, three pairs Of boots, one
coat, ten pounds Of salt pork and
four bushels OF potatoes-all for
Michael Henry" had been charged
to Silas Wright.
(Continued tOuorroyy