Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1919-04-25

one evening neighD0r had brought
the Republican from the post-office.
/ opened 1t and read aloud these words
in large type at the top of the page:
"Sllas Wright Elected to the q. s
Senate"
'Well I want to known Uncle Pea
body exclaimed. "That would mako
me forgit It If I was goin' to b
hung. Go on and read what 1t says
I read the choosing of our friend
for the seat made vacant by the res
ignation OF William L. Marcy, who
had been elected governor. and the
part which most impressed us were
these words from a letter Of Mr..
Wright to Azariah Flagg Of Albany,
written when the former was asked
to accept the place:
II am too young and too poor for
such an elevation. have not had
the experience In that great theater Of.
politics to qualify me for place so
exalted and responsible. prefer
therefore the humber position which
l now occupy"
"That's his way" said Uncle Pea
body. 'They had hard work to con-
vince him that he knew enough to be
Surrogate"
"Big men have little conceit--ayes I"
said Aunt Deel with significant
glance at me.
/ The candles had burned low and
was watching the shroud Of one Of
them when there came a rap at the
door. 1t was unusual for any one to
come to our door IN the evening and
we were q bit startled. Uncle Pea
body opened 1t and old Kate entered
without speaking and nodded to my
aunt and uncle and sat down by the
fire. Vividly remembered the day
Of the fortune-telling. The same gen.
tie smile lighted her face as shs
looked ut me. She held up her hand
with four fingers spread above It.
ayes" said Aunt Deel, ''there are
four perils."
My aunt rose and went into the
but'ry while sat staring at the
ragged old woman. Her hair was
white now and partly covered by q
worn and faded bonnet. Forbiddina
as she was did not miss the sweet
ness In her smile and her blue eyes
when she looked at me. Aunt Deel
came with plate Of doughnuts and
bread and butter and head cheese
and said in a voice full of pity:
poor OIL Kate-ayesl Here's some
thin for ye-ayesl'
She turned to my uncle and said:
Peabody Baynes, what'll we do
I'd like to know-ayesl She can't
rove all night"
"I'll git some blankets an make
bed for her, good 'nough for any.
body, out In the hired mans room
over the She'd" said my uncle.
He brought the lantena-a little
tower of perforated tin and nut u
lighted candle inside of IL Then he
beckoned to the stranger. who fol-
lowed him out of the front door with
the plate of food In her hands.
swell 1 declared It's long rima
since she went up this road-ayesr
said Aunt Deel, yawning rs she re.
sumed her chair.
"Who Is OIL Katef' I asked.
"Oh, just a poor OF crazy woman 4
wanders all 'round-ayesr'
"What made her crazyT
"Oh, guess somebody misussd and
deceived her when she was young
ayes! It's an awful wicked thing to
do. Come, Bart-go right up to bed
now. It's high time-ayesi"
II want to wait It'll Uncle Peabody
comes back" said L
"Why?"
"I-Tm afraid she,l do somethin'
to him."
"Nonsensei or Kate is just as harm,
less as kitten. You take your can
die and go right up to bed-this MIN
| ute-ayes I"
I went upstairs with the candle
and undressed very slowly and
thoughtfully while 1 listened for the
footsteps of my uncle. did not got
into bed until / heard him come in
and blow out his lantern azd star!
Up the stairway. As he undreased
he told me how for many years thu
strange woman had been owing IL
the roads up hill and a. b dala
thousands an thousands 3 miles. "
and never reaching the end Of hez
! journey.
| In a moment we heard . nv wall
above the sounds Of the hretse that
shook the leaves Of the old ~popple'
| tree above our roo&
whats thatr I whispered.
II guess it's a. Kate ravinss" saAt
Uncle Peabody.
1t touched my heart and hay Ii
tening for time, but heard only thu
loud whisper Of the popple leaves.
Barton becomes awsrs. u the
existence Of . wonderful and 4