Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-07-03
CHAPTER XI.

We sang and spoke pieces until 9
o'clock and then we older members
OF the party fell to with Mrs. Hack
ct and washed and dried the dishes
and put them away.
Next morning my clothes, which
had been hung by the kitchen stove,
were damp and wrinkled. Mr.
Jacket came to my room before l
had risen.
Michael Henry would rather see
his clothes hanging on a good boy
than on a nail in the closet" said
he. Sure they give no comfort to
the nail at all"
Il guess mine are dry now," 1
answered.
They're wet and heavy, boy. No
son o. Baidur could keep a light
heart in them. Sure ye'd be as
much out o. place as sunbeam in
a cave o. bats If We care not for
your own comfort think o. the poor
lad in the green chair. He's that
proud and pleased to see them or
We il would be a shame to reject
his offer. Sure, If they were dry
yer own garments would be good
enough, God knows, but Michael
Henry loves the look o we in these
toys and then the president is in
town"
That evening he discovered a big
stain, black as ink, on my coat ane
trousers. Mr.. HacketseXpressed the
opinion that it might have come
from the umbrella but I am quite
sure that he had spotted them to
save me from the last homemade
suit I ever wore, save in rough
work, and keep Michael Henry's on
my back. In any event / wore
them no more save at chore time.
l began to make progress in my
studies that week and to observe
the affection with which Mr.
Hacket was regarded in the school
and village. | remember that his
eyes gave out and had to be band
aged but the boys and girls in his
room behaved even better than be
fore. 1t was curious to observe
how the older ones controlled the
younger in that emergency.
Sally came and went, with the
Wills boys, and gave not heed to
me. In her eyes I had no moro
substance than a ghost, 1t seemed
TO me, although | caught her, often,
looking at me. / judged that her
father had given her a bad report
of us and had some regrets, in spite
of my knowledge that we were
right, although they related mostly
to Amos.
Next afternoon I saw Mr.. Wright
and the president, walking back
and forth on the bridge as they
talked together. A number of men
stood IN front OF the blacksmith
shop, by the river shore, watching
them, as l passed, ON my way to
the mill on an errand. The two
statesmen were in broadcloth AMI
white linen and beaver hats. They
stopped as I approached them.
We'll, partner, we shall be Ieav-
ing in an hour or So" said Mr.
Wright as he gave me his hand.
you may look for me here soon
after the close of the session. Take
care of yourself and go often to
see Mrs. Wright and obey your cap
tain and remember me to your
aunt and uncle"
See that you keep coming, my
boy" said the president, as he gave
me his hand. with playful refer
ence, no doubt, to Mr.. Wright's re-
mark that l was a coming man.
Bart, I've some wheat to be
threshed in the barn on the back
lot" said the senator. as I was
leaving them. you can do it Sat
urday's, II you care to, at a shilling
an hour. Stack the straw out-of-
doors until you've finished then put
it back in the bay. Winnow the
wheat carefully and sack ii and
bring it down to the granary and
I'll settle with you when l return"
1 remember that a number of
men who worked in GFimshaw's
saw-mill were passing as he spoke
Yes, sir" 1 answered, much
elated by the prospect of earning
money.
1 left with a feeling of keen dis
appointment that | was to see so
little of my distinguished friend
and a thought of the imperious err
Iands of men which put the broad
reaches Of the earth between friend
and friend.