The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1919-05-08

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 It'll 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 1 called him
! back
"What has become of EnochT' !
asked.
oval. 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 good man, but
there was kind of a queer streak in
| the blood. as We might say, on both
sides kind O.. We've wrote letters out
| to Wisconsin, where ne was p'intin'
for. an to places on the way, but we
| can't git no news bout him. Mebbe
he was killed by the Injuns."
We walked out of the graveyard to-
gether in silence.
1 could see a glimmer of a light In
the thicket of pines down the valley. I
| urhitched and mounted my horse
Take the first turn to the right, ("
said the old man as he picked up his
scythe.
I'm very much obliged to you," I
said.
mo 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
anO in moment or two we were down
under the pine grove that surrounded
the house of old Squire Fullerton-a
big, stone house with a graveled road
around it. A great black dog came
barking and growing at me from the
front porch. 1 rode around the house
and he followed. Beyond the windows
could see the CLEAN of candlelight
and moving figures. A man came out
Of the back door as I neared it.
who's there?" he demanded.
My name is Barton Baynes from
st. Lawrence county. Kate Fullerton
is my friend and 1 wish to see her"
Come up to the steps, sor. Don't
git off yer horse-'til I've chained the
dog. Kate'u be out In minute"
He chained the dog to the hitching
post and as he did so a loud, long,
wailing cry broke the silence of the
house. 1t put me in mind of the COM
plant of the damned which I remem-
bered hearing the minister describe
years before at the little schooIhouse
in Lickitysplit. How it narrowed me I
The man went into the house. Soon
he came out Of the door with a lighted
candle in his hand, a woman following.
How wildly 1 remember the little MUIR
muir of delight that came from her lips
Wheel ne held the candle so that it's
light fell upon my face! 1 jumped off
my horse and gave the reins to the
man and put my arms around the Door
woman, whom 1 loved for her sorrows
and for my debt to her, and rained
kisses upon her withered cheek. Oh
God what a moment it was for both
of u.s.
The way she held me to her breast
and patted my shoulder and said my
boy i'm a low, faint, treble voice so
like that of a chiId-it is one of the
hest memories that take with me into
the new life now so near, from which
there Is no returning.
She led me into the house. She
looked very neat now-in a black
gown over which was a spOtless white
apron and collar Of lace-and much
more slender than when 1 had seen
her last. She took me into a large
room in the front Of fha bouso with q
carpet and furniture, handsome once
but now worn and decrepit. Old. time
stained engravings of scenes from the
Bible. framed in wood, hung on the
walls.
1 told all that I had heard from
home and of my life in Cobleskin but