The Jasper news., 1919-05-01

an airth how desperit he tried to
spit out the thing that was gnawin'
his vitals. Agin an ag'in he'd try to
tell me. Lord God how he did work II
"All to once 1t come acrost me what
he wanted-quick as ye could soy scat.
He wanted to have Kate's headstun
took down an put away-thats what
he wanted. The stun was kind o. lay
in on his stummlck an painin' of him
day an night. He couldn't stan 1t.
He knew that he was goin' to die purity
soon an that Kate would come here
an see 1t an that everybody would
see her standin' here by her own grave,
an 1t worried him. 1t was kind O. like
fire in his belly.
II guess, too, he couldn't bear the
idee of layin' down fer his las sleep
beside that hell hole he'd dug fer Kate
no. sirl
"Wal, ye know, mister, jes' shook
my head an never let on that knew
what he meant an let him wiggle an
twist like worm on hot griddle, an
beller like cut bull It'll he fell back in
swoon.
"Damn himl 1t don't give him no
rest He tries to tell everybody he
sees-that's what they say. He bel
lers day an night an If you go down
there he'll beller to you an you'll know
what it's about but the others don't.
"You an me are the only ones that
knows the secret, l guess. Some day,
fore he dies, I'm goin' to take up that
headstun an hide it, but he'll never
know it's done-nO, sir-not TIL he
gifts to the judgment seat, anyway"
The old man rose and Strengthened
himself and blew out his breath and
brushed his hands upon his trousers
by way Of stepping down into this
world again out Of the close and dusty
loft of his memory. But I called him
back.
"What has become of Enoch"
asked.
"Wal, sir, Enoch started off West
bout three year ago an we amt heard
word from him since that day-nary
word, mister. suppose we will some
time. He grew Into a good man, but
there was kind Of queer streak In
the blood, as ye might say, on both
sides kind o. We've wrote letters out
to Wisconsin, where he was pintin'
for, an to places on the way, but we
can't git no news bout him, Mebbe
he was killed by the Injuns."
/ could see glimmer Of light in
the thicket Of pines down the valley. I
urhitched and mounted my horse.
"Take the first turn 20 the right"
said the old man as he picked up his
scythe.
"Im very much obliged to you,"'
said.
"No We amt, nuther," he answered.
'Leastways there amt no reason why
ye should be-"
My horse, impatient as ever to find
the end of the road, hurried me along
and in moment or two we we're down
under the pine grove that surrounded
the house of old Squire Fullerton-a
big, stone house with graveled road
around it. A great black dog came
barking and growing at me from the
front porch. rode around the house
and he followed. Beyond the windows
l could see the CLEAN of candlelight
and moving figures. A man came out
Of the back door as neared 1t.
"Who's there2" he demanded.
my name is Barton Baynes from
ST. Lawrence county. Kate Fullerton
Is my friend and wish to see her."
"Come up to the steps. sor. Don't
git off yer horse-'til I've chained the
dog. Kate'll be out in minute"
He chained the dog to the hitching
post and as he did so loud, long,
wailing cry broke the silence of the
house. 1t put me in mind of the COM
plant of the damned which / remem-
bered hearing the minister describe
years before at the little schoolhouse
In Lickitysplit How 1t narrowed me |
The man went into the house. Soon
he came out Of the door with lighted
candle In his hand, woman following.
How vlvidly remember the little MUIR
mur Of delight that came from her lips
wheL he held the candle SO that Its
light fell upon my facet jumped off
my horse and gave the reins to the
man and put my arms around the poor
woman, whom loved for her sorrows
and for my debt to her, and rained
} kisses upon her withered cheek. oh
J God what moment 1t was for both
Of u.s.
The way she held me to her breast
and patted my shoulder and said "my
boy PIN a low, faint, treble voice SC
like that of child-it is one of the
| ri hot koJ
the new life now so near, from which