Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-07-31
CHAPTER XVIII.
(Continued.)

How is Deacon >Binks?" l asked
presently.
Soul buried in fat! The spark
Ter on his bosom suggests a tomb
stone stickin' out of a solid snow
bank"
A little more talk and we were
off to bed with our candles.
Next morning | went down into
the main street of tbe village before
leaving for home. Il wanted TO see
how it looked and, to be quite frank,
I wanted some of the people OF
Canton to see how l looked, for my
clothes were of the best cloth and
cut in the latest fashion. Many
stopped me and shook my hand
men and women who had never
roticed me before, but there was
a quality in their smiles that /
didn't quite enjoy. l know now
that they thought me little too
grand on the outside. What a
stern-souIed lot those Yankees
were, "AIl amt gold that glitters."
How often l had heard that version
of the old motto,
why, you look like the senator
when he is just gittin' home from
the capital" said Mr.. Jenison.
They were not yet willing to take
me at the par of my appearance.
l met Betsy Price-one of my
schoolmates-on the street. She
was very cordial and told me that
the Dunkelbergs had gone to Sara
toga.
az got a letter from Sally this
morning." Betsy went on. she said
that young Mr.. Latour was at the
same hotel and that he and her
father were good friends"
wondered if she really enjoyed
sticking this thorn into my fiesh-a
thorn. which made it difficult for
me to follow the advice of the
schoolmaster and robbed me of the
little peace I might have enjoyed
My faith in Sally wavered up and
down until it settled at its wonted
level and treasured me.
1t was perfect summer morning
and l enjoyed my walk over the
familiar road and up into the hill
country. The birds seemed to sing
welcome to me. Men and boys
had known waved their hats in the
hay fields and looked at me- There
are few pleasures in this world like
that of a boy getting home after a
long absence. My heart beat fast
when l saw the house and my uncle
and Purvis coming in from the 20
acre lot with a load of nay. Aunt
Deel stood on the front steps look
ing down the road. Now and then
her waving handkerchief went to
her eyes Uncle~Peabody came down
the standard off the load and walk
ed toward me.
Say, stranger, have you seen
anything of Teller by the name o.
Bart Baynes?" he demanded.
Have you?" | asked.
mo, sir, l amt Gosh Almighty
say. what have We done with that
boy of our'n?"
What have you done to our
house," l asked again.
Built on an addition"
That's what I've done to your
boy" I answered
Thunder an lightnin', How
you've raised the roof" he eX-
claimed as he grabbed my satchel
Dressed like a statesman an big
germ a bullmoose. I can't 'rastlc
with you no more. But. say, I'll
run We a race. l can beat we an
carry the satchel. too"
We ran pell-mell up the lane to
the steps like a pair of children.
And Deel did not speak She just
put her arms around me and laid
her dear old head upon my breast
Uncle Peabody turned away. Then
what a silence! Off in the edge of
the woodland | heard the fairy flute
OF wood-thrush.
"Purvis. you drive that load on
the floor an put up the hosses,"
Uncle Peabody shouted in a mo-
ment. ''If you don't like it you can
hire mother man. l won't do no
more till after dinner. This slave
business is played out"
"All right" Purvis answered.
you bet it's all right. I'm fer
abolition an I've stood your dOmi-
neerin', nigger-driver ways long