Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-06-27
The Light in
the Clearing
Bv IRVING BACHELLER
Copyright 1917, The Boz bs-Mefrm Co

of Michael Hacket Those good
people we're Catholics and I a Prot
cstant and yet this Michael Henry
always insisted upon the most del
jcate consideration for my faith and
{ feelings.
Il promised to spend the morn
( ing in the field with Mr.. Wright, II
l may have your consent, sir
said
Then we shall console ourselves,
knowing that YOU are in better com
! pany," said Mr.. Hacket
Mr.. Dunkelberg called at tts
house in Ashery Lane to see me
after breakfast.
Bart, if you will come with ne
I should like 10 order some store
clothes and boots for you he said
IN his squeaky voice.
For a moment ! knew not how
to answer him. Ncttled as I adj
been by Sally's treatment Of me,
The offer was like rubbing ashes On
the soreness Of my spirit
/ blushed and surveyed By gar
ments and said:
Il guess I look pretty badly.
don't y"
You look all right, but / thought
maybe, you would feel better is
softer Taiment, especially il you
care to go around much with the
young people | am an old friend
Of the family and l guess it would
be proper for me TO buy the clothes
for you. When you are older you
can buy a suit for me, sometime, II
you care to-"
It should be understood that we'll
to-do people in the towns were
more particular about their dress
those days than now.
I'll ask my aunt and uncle about
il" 1 proposed.
That's all right" he answered.
I'm going TO drive up to yOdr
house this afternoon and your uu-
Gle wishes you to go with me. We
are all TO have a talk with Mr..
Grimshaw.
He left me and went over to Mr..
Wright's.
They told me that he was cutting
corn in the back lot, where I found
him
How do I look in these clothes:
I bravely asked.
Like the son of a farmer up in
the hills and that's just as you
ought to look" he answered.
In a moment he added as he
reaned a hill of corn with his sickle
4 suppose they are making fun
of YOU. partner"
Some" I answered, blushing.
Don't mind that" he advised anG
then quoted the stanza:
Were l as tall to reach the pole
Or grasp the ocean in a span,
I'd still be measured by my soul;
The minds the standard Of the
man"
''AIr. Dunkelbetg came this morn
ing and wanted TO buy me some
new clothes and boots" I said.
The senator stopped work and
stood looking at me with his hands
upon his hips.
II wouldn't let him do it if we~o
you" he said thoughtfully.
Just then I saw a young man
come running toward us in the dis
tant field
Mr.. Wright took out his COM
pass.
Look here he said. you see
the needle points due north
He took a lodestone out of his
pocket and holding it near the COM
pass moved it back and forth. The
needle followed 1t.
The young man came up 10 us
breathing deeply. Precipitation was
rolling off his face. He was much
excited and spoke with some diff
Guilty.
Senator Wright" he gasped.
Mrs. Wright sent me down to tell
YOU that President Van Buren, IS a.
the house"
i remember wildly the look 81
mild amusement in the senator's
face and the serene calGlness with
which he looked at the young man
and said to him:
Tell Mrs. Wright to make HIN
comfortable in our easiest chair
and to say to the president that
shall be up directly"
To my utter surprise he resumed
his talk with me as the young man
went away.
Continued tomorrow