Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-01-20
2fe Light
in the
Clearing
A Tale Of the North
Country In the Time
Of Silas Wright
Dy
IRVING DACHELLEA
Autho, Of sRbsn HsiAsn.s sD'i and
I.""Darrei ofthe Bissssd Islss"
Keeping Up wiz Llssis." Etc. Etc.
(Copy.ishs, 1917. Irving BacheilssI

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(Copyrishs, 1917. Irving bacheiiss,
When the Axtells had gone away
Aunt Deef said:
"It's grand! It is sartin-but I'm
'fraid we can't afford it-ayes bel"
1--WE can't afford to freeze any
longer. I made up my mind that We
couldn't 60 through another winter
as we have" was my uncle's answer.
"How much did. 1t costT' she asked.
mot much differ'nt from thirty
four dollars in sheep and grain" he
answered.
Rodney Barnes stayed to supper
and spent . part Of the evening with
N.
Like other settlers there. Mr..
Barnes was q cheerful optimist. Every
thing looked good to him until it
turned out badly.
He told how he had heard that 1t
was growing country near the great
water highway Of the st. Lawrence.
Prosperous towns were building up
in 1t. There were going to be great
cities In Northern New York. There
were rich stores Of lead and iron
in the rocks. Mr.. Barnes had bought
two hundred acres ut ten dollars an
acre. He had to pay . fee of five
per cent. to Grimshaw's lawyer for
the survey and the papers. This left
him owing fourteen hundred dollars
on his farm-much more than 1t was
worth.
Our cousin twisted the poker In
his great hands until it squeaked as
he stood before my uncle and said:
my wife and have chopped and
burnt and pried and hauled rocks an
shoveled dung an MIXED an churned
until We are worn out. For almost
twenty years we've been workin' days
an nights an Sundays. Ny mortgage
was overdue, owed six hundred dol
lars on 1t. thought 1t all over one
day an went up to Grimshaw's an
took him BY the back of the neck
and shook him. He said he would
drive me out o the country. he
gave me six months to pay up. had
to pay or lose the land. I got the
money on the note that you signed
over in Potsdam. Nobody in Can
ton would a. dared to lend 1t to
me-" e..
''Whyr my uncle asked.
AFRAID o. Grimshaw. BE didn't
want me to be able to pay it. The
place is worth more than six hundred
dollars now-that's the reason. in
tended to cut some timber an haul
It to the village this winter 80 I could
pay . part o. the note an git more
time as I told ye. but the roads have
been 90 bad I couldn't do any haul.
In"
My uncle went and took drink at
the water pain. saw by his face
that he was unusually wrought up.
my heavens an earth!" he ex.
claimed as he sat down again.
Its the brain collie" said to
myself az l looked at him.
Mr.. Barnes seemed to have 1t also.
"foo much n0te," I whispered.
I'm awful sorry, but I've done
everything could" said Mr.. Barnes.
4, "Ain't there somebody that'll take
another mortSage?-it ought to be
safe now," my uncle suggested.
Money 10 20 tight it can't be done.
The bank has got all the money. an
Grimshaw owns the bank. I've tried
and tried, but I'll make you safe. I'll
give you mortgage until can turn
round"
So ! saw how Rodney Barnes, like
other settlers in Llckitysplit, had gone
into bondage to the landlord.
"How much do you owe on this
placer Barnes asked.
'"Seven hundred an nifty dollar"
said my uncle.
lis It duer'
"It's been due 4 year an II ! have
to pay that note I'll be short my in
terest."
"God O. Israeli I'm scairt" said
Uncle Peabody.
Down crashed the stick Of wood
into the box.
"What about1'
1T would be like him to put the
screws on you now. You've got be-
tween him an his prey. You've taken
the mouse away from the cat"
l remember the little panic that
fell. on us then. ! could zee tears
In he eyes Of Aunt Deel % she rat
with her head leaning wearily On her
hand.
III y doss ~ g ~ esn,. aid