Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1919-04-02
THF UI[1HT
I'M TIE PLFARINI
. A TALE OF THE NORTH COUNTRY
IN THE TIME OF SILAS WRIGHT
EI
!. IRVINE nAEHElLER

AUTHoe %
eleN HOLDEN pR AND | Darrell o. THE BLESSED ElEA
keEplNO W WITH LIZZIE. ETC, ETC

would let you know thar my rather II
dead. I have come here to rest and
have found some work to do. am bet
ter now. Have seen Sally. She is very
beautiful and kind. She does not know
that I am the old witch, have changed
SO. The others do not know-it ia
better that way. I think it was the
Lord that brought me here. He has a
way Of taking care Of some people,
my boy. Do you remember when be-
gan to call you my boy-you were very
little. 1t is long, long ago since I first
saw you In your fathers dooryard-
you said you were going to mill on a
butterfly's back. You looked just as
thought my boy would look. You gave
me kiss. What a wonderful gift 1t
was to me then! began to love you.
! have no one else to think Of now. I
hope you won't mind my thinking GO
much Of you.
"God bless you,
KATE FULLERTON"
I understood now why the strong
will and singular insight Of this won.
an had so often exercised themselves
in my behalf. I could not remember
the far day and the happy circum.
stance of which she spoke, but I wrote
her letter which must have warmed
her heart am sure. ~
Silas Wright arrived in Canton and
drove up to our home. He reached
our door at eight in the morning with
his hound and rife. He had aged rap
idly since had seen him last. His
hair was almost white. There were
many new lines in his face. he
seemed more grave and digniaed. he
did not lapse Into the dialect Of his
fathers when he spoke Of the ancient
pestimes of hunting and fishing as he
had been wont to do.
"Bart," he said when the greetings
were over, 'let's you and me 90 and
spend a day in the woods. I'll leave
my man here to help your uncle while
you're gone"
We went by driving south a few
miles and tramping in to the foot Of
the saltwater on our rivera trail
long familiar to me. The dog left us
soon after we took 1t and began to
range over thick wooded hills. We sat
down among small, spirelike spruces
at the rivers edge with long stretch
Of water in sight while the music Of
the hounds voice came family to our
ears from the distant forest. /
"Oh, I've been dreaming Of this for
q long time" said the senator as be-
leaned back against tree and filled
his lungs and looked out upon the wa
ter, green with lily pads along the
edge and flecked with the last of the
white blossoms. II believe you want
to leave this lovely country"
II am waiting for the call 10 60"
I said.
swell, I'm inclined TO think you are
the kind Of man who ought to 60" he
answered almost sadly. "You are
needed. have been waiting until we
should meet to congratulate you on
your behavior at Cobleskill. I think
you have the right spirit-that is the
all-important matter. You will en-
counter strange company in the game
of politics. Let me tell you story.
He told me many stories OF his lie
in Washington, interrupted by sound
like that of approaching footsteps. we
ceased talking and presently a flock
Of cartridges came near us, pacing
along over the mat of leaves In lei
surely fashion. We sat perfectly still.
A young cock bird with his beautiful
ruff standing out, like the hair on the
back of a frightened dog. strobe
toward us with comic threat in his
manner. 1t seemed as If he were OF
half mind to knock us into the river.
But we sat as still as stumps and he
spared us and went ON with the others.
The baylng Of the hound was nearer
now. Suddenly we saw big buck
come down to the shore of the cove
near us and on our side of the stream.
He looked to right and left. Then he
made q long leap into the water and
waded slowly until 1t covered him. He
raised his nose and laid his antlers
back over his shoulders and swan
quietly downstream, his nose just
showing above the water. His antlers
were like a bit of driftwood. II we
had not seen him take the water his
antlers might easily have passed for
bunch of dead sticks. Soon the buck
slowly lifted his head and turned his
neck and looked at both shores. Then
very deliberately he resumed his place
under water and went on. We watched
him as he took the farther shore be-
low us and made OF In the, woods
again.
II couldn't shoot at him, 1t Vas such
beautiful bit Of politics" said the
| senator.
Soon the hound reached the cove's
edge and swan the river and ranged
up and down the bank for half an
hour before he found the bucks trail
again.
1--WE seen many rascal, driven to
water by the hounds, 60 swimming
away as slyly as that buck, with their
horns in the air. looking as innocent
as q bit of driftwood. They come In
from both shores-the Wing and the
Democratic-and they are always shot
ut from one bank or the other"
l remember It surprised me little
to hear him say that, they came In