The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1919-07-04
CHAPTER xII-continued.

~sYour fellow townsman, Silas
Wright, is now the largest figure in
Washington. We were all worried by the
resolution Of Henry Clay until 1t began
to crumble under the Irresistible attack
Of Mr.. Wright. On the 18th he sub
nitted a report upon 1t which for lucid
and accurate statements presented In
the most unpretending manner won
universal admiration and will be re-
Uembered alike for its intrinsic excel
ience and for having achieved one Of
the most memorable victories ever
gained In the United States senate.
After long debate Clay himself, COM
pelled by the Irresistible force of argu-
ment in the report Of Mr.. Wright, was
obliged to retire from his position, his
resolution having been rejected by
vote of A to l."
With what pride and joy heard Of
this great thing that my friend had ac-
complished!
Going out with the crowd that eve
ming, l met Sally and Mr.. and Mrs.
Ounkelberg. The latter did not speak
to me and when I asked Sally If I
could walk home with her she an
swered curtly, "No, thank you"
I have got bit ahead Of my history.
Soon after the opening of the new
year-ten days or so later 1t may have
been-I had begun to feel myself en-
compassed by a new and subtle force.
It was a thing as intangible as heat
but as real as fire and more terrible. 1t
seemed to me- felt it first in the at
tltude Of my play fellows. They de-
oied me the confidence and intimacy
which 1 had enjoyed before. They
whispered together in my presence. In
all this had not failed to observe that
Henry Wills had taken a leading part.
The invisible, inaudible. mysterious
thing wrought great change in me. 1t
followed me through the day and lay
down with me at night l wondered
what had done. l carefully surveyed
my clothes. They looked all right to
me. My character was certainly no
worse than 1t had been. How 1t preyed
upon my peace and rest and happiness
that mysterious hidden thingl
One day Uncle Peabody came down
tc SEQ me and I walked through the
village with him. We met Mr.. Dunkel-
berg. who merely nodded and hurried
along. Mr.. Bridges, the merchant. did
DOT ycet him warmly and chat with
him az he had been wont to do. l saw
that The Thing-as / had come to
think of twas following him also.
How It darkened his faeei Even now
l can feel the aching of the deep,
bloodless wounds Of thnt day. I could
bear 1t better alone. We were trying
to hide our pain from each other when
we said good-by. How quickly my
unGe turned away and walked toward
the sheds He came rarely to the VII
Iage of Canton after that.
Nay had returned-a warm bright
May. / had entered my seventeenth
year and the work of the term was
3hished.
Having nothing to do one afternoon,
I walked out on tho road toward Og-
6ensDurg for look at the woods and
fields. Soon I thought that heard the
sound of galloping hoofs behind me.
I looked back and J saw Sally round
log the turn by the river and coming
toward me at full speed, the name of
her pony flying back to her face. She
HuIieu up DtSluC hhC Juoh 10 AAN
Imagined she would do.
Bart, 1 hate aomebody terribly"
r-id she.
"WhomT
"a man who Is coming to our house
on the stage today. Granny Barnes Is
trying to get up match between US.
Father says he Is rich and hopes he
will want to marry me. l got mad
about it. He Is four years older than
am. Isn't that awful? 1 am going to
be lust as mean and hateful to him as
can"
81 guess they're only fooling you," /
said.
mo. they mean it. have heard
them talking 1t over.
"He cannot marry you"
"WhyT
II seemed to me that the time had
come for me to speak out, and with
burning cheeks I said:
Because think that God has mar
ried you to me already. Do you re-
member when we kissed each other
BY the wheat field one day last sum-
merT
"Yes."
We had faced about and were walk
ing back toward Canton, close by the
pony's side.
MAY / kiss you againT
She stopped the pony and leaned
toward me and our lips met in a kiss
the thought of which makes me lay
down my pen and bow my head a mo
ment while 1 think with reverence OF
that pure, sweet spring of memory In
whose waters I love to wash my
spirit.
at guess God has married us again"
[ declared.
.T knew that you were walking on
this road and had to see you," said
she. People have been saying such
terrible things"
aWhat2"