The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1918-01-17
The Shadow
Lifted
By RUTH EVELYN LEE


son why.
His son-in-law Of a month, bluff,
hearty. supremacy contented. gripped
the shoulder of the old man In a play
full, affectionate way
I'm glad now :" he cried effusiveiy,
"the gladdest man in the world. II l
was much gladder I'd sing and dance,
instead Of wrestling with this stub
born. hard-hearted patch Of land. Fa-
Their Morse, this is home. and it's
dream Of glory to be with Lettie all the
time. but will say that you can't make
the garden part Of it blossom Ike the
rose -
"Never mind # gives Us enough 10
eat, and with what you earn well man
age quite comfortably. I'll toddle
along"
What the venerable philosopher con-
sidered "glad" for Mark Wilton was
that the latter had married the sole
companion Of his later years, gentle
notherless Lettie. II had been a real
love romance. but whenever the old
man realized that the infatuated young
man had given up quite social and
business position in the city 10 settle
down into a new humble. humdrum
sphere he was won't 70 enunciate that
mysterious propaganda Of gladness.
Mark paid no attention to this pro-
nunciamento Of his aged father-in-
law.
One morning Marx arose TO attend 70
the COWS and chickens before he went
TO work in the town. As he passed
the room in which Mr.. Moore usually
slept. he noticed that the bed was IN
tenanted, but the clothing Of its usual
occupant was lying across a chair.
Mark went downstairs 10 find the rear
door open
Arrayed In his night-dress. lying on
the ground near his favorite chair IN
der the big elm tree was Mr.. Moore.
He clasped q Ratchet in one hand
Mark hurried to his side. The old man
was dead.
II was lonely and strange about the
old house after that. but time and new
anxieties subdued the sorrow Of Lettie
and her husband. A little child was
born TO them and hard winter began.
for the local factory where Mark was
a bookkeeper burned down and did
not resume business. They began 10
feel the pinch Of poverty.
II fear 1 shall have 10 try and find
work in some other town" suggested
Mark anxiously. THE potatoes are al
gone and the last of the bacon. I might
go somewhere else and send you what
1 earn TO get along on. until we make
q final move in the spring.
NO. no. don't leave US alone. baby
and II" pleaded Lettie. Let US stick |
together till the winter ends. We will |
manage to pull through some way"
Then a piece Of rare fortune came !
their way. Just at the edge Of their
little patch of ground the railroad ran.
One morning a freight train buckled /
in going down g curving grade. Two
cars went off the rails into the ditch.
One of them was loaded with potatoes,
split in two. and the precious tubers
were scattered broadcast.
The wrecking crew cleaned up the
twisted iron and splintered wood and
abandoned the scattered potatoes.
Mark spread the glad intelligence
among his neighbors and all hands
were provided with half years sup
ply of the coveted vegetable.
Then came a long cold snap. The
two coal dealers found il difficult 10
supply their customers.
"rve got 10 do il. Lettie. dear" he
sorrowfully one morning,
coming into the kitchen with the wood
axe. 'aThe old tree has got 10 60"
Lettie ehoked sob.
"You see. the tree is half dead. any
xay." pursued Mark. 1T seems Ike
sacrilege. when Father Moore thought
90 much of it. but we can't freeze. The
Did tree is our last resource"
So the dying elm was felled and they
lad blazing fire for the first time in
weeks.
'Lettie." said Mark. hurrying into
he kitchen few days after that q,
here is something that interests you"
As he spoke Mark extended a small
package done up in oilskin. His voice
vas husky, his eyes lit up with the
nimation of uncomfortable excite =
nent.
at fell out from the hollow tree log =
was splitting" explained Mark. Il I
pened it
what is IL. dears" inquired Lettie. =
Papers your father must have hid L
en- in a plugged up cavity in the old
I'M enlightened Mark. "Lettie, our d
ortune has Gomez he pronounced. (
nd sank into chair overcome. Faith :
r Moore told me I would be glad. Oh. Z
am. indeed. glad. brave little woman
Or your sake and the baby's, When n
our father wandered out that morn b;
" with the Ratchet. he must have c.
ltended TO pry out the plug in the Il
zee and get this packet. probably feel
II that his time had nearly come and L
ltended 10 reveal 10 you his secret" d
His secretf" repeated Lettie vague
;.
yes. q letter in the packet tells OF
1w. three years ago. his brother left ~
IN his splendid farm in another state. =
was true. and long before spring the II