Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-07-06
The Light IN
the C]eQrjnQ
Bv IRVING BACHELLER
Copyright 1917. The BObbs-Merrin Co.

"'"ANH - No1 mat man as Tar "a
you could throw a bull by the taf8
It was a cold clear night and
when we reached home the Non
stove was swapping with the hoo,
n its fire-box and the pudding ruf-
timing in the pot and old Sben
dreaming in the chimney corner
Aunt Deel gave me a hug al Tho
door. Shep barked and Ieaped an
my shoulders.
why, Bart! you're CROWN like
a weed-ain't ye?-ayes We be- NV
aunt said as she stood and Looked
at me. 'Sit right down here An,
warm ye-ayesi-I've done all the
chores ayes"
How warm and comfortable va,
the dear old room with those he
loved faces in 1t. I wonder IL mar
adise itself can seem more pleas-
ant to me. have had the hest
food this world can provide in nv
time, but never anything that I ate
with a keener relish than the pud-
ding and milk and bread and but-
ter and cheese and pumpkin pis
which Aunt Deel gave US that
night.
Supper over, I wiped the dishes
for my aunt while Uncle Peabody
went out to feed and water the
horses. Then we sat down In the
genial warmth while I told the
story of my life in the busy town"
as they called it. What pride and
attention they gave me theni
Three days before they had heard
of my adventure with the fail. az
to which Mr.. Hacket, the district
attorney and myself had MAIN
tanned the strictest reticence. It
seemed that the deacon had
blabbed, as they used to say, re-
garding his own brave part in the
subsequent proceedings.
My fine clothes and the story Of
how I had come by them taxed nv
ingenuity somewhat, although not
improperly. l had to be careful
not to let them know that l had
been ashamed of the homemade
suit. They, somehow, felt the truth
about it and a little silence fol-
lowed the story. Then Aunt DeeI
drew her chair near me and
touched by hair very gently and
looked into my face without speak
ing.
ayes. I know" she said pres
emily, in a kind Of caressing tone,
with touch Of sadness in it, They
amt used to coarse homespun stuff
down there in the village. They
made fun o. ye-didn't they. Bart?"
AZ don't care about that" I as
sured them 1.-THE minds the
measure of the man, I quoted, re-
Numbering the lines the senator
had repeated to me.
That's sound" Uncle Peabody
exclaimed with enthusiasm.
Aunt Deel took my hand in hers
and surveyed it thoughtfully for a
moment without speaking.
You amt goin' to have to suf-
fer that way no more" she said in
a low tone.
rose and went to the parlor
door.
I'VE mustn't go in there" she
warned me.
Delightful suspicion came out Of
the warning and their smiles.
Were goin' to be more COM
f'table-ayes," said Aunt Deel as I
resumed my chair. Yer uncle
thought We better go west, but
couldn't bear to go off so fur an
leave mother an father an sister
Susan an all the folks we loved
layin' here in the ground alone-I
want to lay down with EN- by an
by an wait for the sound O. the
trumpet -mebbe it'll be for
thousands o yeaTs-ayesi
you don't suppose their souls e
are a-sleepin' there-do YEP my
uncle asked.
That's what the Bible says
Aunt DeeI answered.
oval the Bible" Uncle Pea
body stopped. What was in his
mind we may only imagine.
To our establishment the clock
struck twelve.
"Hurrah, It's merry Christmasl'
said Uncle Peabody as he jumped
10 his feet and began to sing Of the
little Lord Jesus.
We joined them while he stood
beating time with his right hand
after the fashion OF a singing mas
ter
Continued Mouday)