Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-03-24
THE RED LANE 4 sy s,n%.. %o."1% " y. n1n s.,..,

His full heart urged him TO hasten
to Evangeline with the story of their
deliverance, but he resolutely faced
his duty and hurried south. He knew
that one of his faithful Acadian friends
was posting north to Attegat with the
tale that would brighten a girls dark
eyes.
out Of the great troubles Of man.
Kind come the great blessings, after
ALL the patriarch cried, when Aldrich
found him in the State House. There's
change of heart here. my boy. The
lawmakers of this State are not mon
sters. They have been stirred UP by
what has happened in the north. They
simply have got to act now. They're
showing their human feelings That
Hood may have raised the devil along
the st. John, but It has also washed
some of the confounded nonsense out
Of this legislature. We have intro
duced that land bill again. with
before the people, there isn't man
who will dare to oppose it. Sympathy
VIII sit as the honorary chairman of
that committe hearing! Come along
before it. It's you who can talk to
EN-! Tell 'em the story of the food!
Show 'em your blistered hands. Wen
put this thing into their hearts. Be-
fore. at that other hearing, we were
trying to pound truth through their
hard skulls"
That was n wonderful committee
hearing! The big room was packed
Aldrich was heard with breathless at
tention. The needs OF that people
whom the rest Of the State had not
understood made sure and potent ap.
peal to all who listened
The tale Of that disaster which had
made desolate the homes of the little
settlements touched all hearts.
The hero of the flood did not tell his
own story. Others did that, and men
crowded around to shake his hands
and cry their compliments.
The lawmakers did their duty and
succored suffering people!
1t is a matter of history how a great
State gave fifty thousand acres OF
land to worthy settlers who had been
| fghting greed and prejudice.
And the story of how. it was accom-
plished has now been told.
Thus, out of great woe sprang won.
drous blessings!
Aldrich was impatient to be gone,
to be back again in the north. But he
stayed until the affairs of Acadia had
! been arranged.
| Further intelligence came from the
north. The men who had undertaken
| to run those rumors to their corner
| also unearthed the fact that Louis
Blais and David Roi had instigated the
destruction of the big school on the
hill of Attegat The honest men were
paying their debt of gratitude, and
! the law had it's hand on the shoulder
Of that frock-coat whose tails Blais
had flaunted so boldly.
The Governor of the state sent for
! Aldrich one day before the young
man left the capital city.
"Of course, there is no other man
so well fitted as you to serve as chair.
man of the commission which I shall
appoint to review claims and appor.
tion this land to the settlers along the
border Mr.. Aldrich. ! earnestly re
quest you to accept the appointment
The appropriation will afford lucrative
employment. and the position will lead
to better things, I am sure"
He had been dreading his return to
! Red Lane for many weeks. It's duties
! had become hateful: it's perils had
pursued him remorselessy. He thank
ed the Governor with full heart and
laid aside the eagle badge forever.
Eagerly Aldrich prepared for his re-
turn to Attegat as the commissioned
head of the new board on state lands
impatient to begin his important en-
ployment, knowing that he understood
the people and could deal justly. He
realized to the depths what this action
of the state meant. 1t meant Attegat
newly established. the homes of the
people assured. boys and girls given
opportunities to remain on the soil
which they loved, the ties of kindred
knitted forever in one great and con.
tented community,
That he, personally, was to have SO
great a part in the readjustment OF