Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1919-02-21
The LiQht in the Clearing
Continued from page four

an who own not single rod Of It..
Years an years ago king gave 1t to
man who never cut one tree or laid
one stone on another. The deeds say
that we must pay rent o. so many
bushels o. wheat year but the land Is
nc good for wheat, an amt been for
a hundred years. Why, We see, mis-
ter, good many things have happened
in three hundred years. The land was
willin' to give wheat then an q good
many folks was wllin' to be slaves. BY
hockey nettie they had got used to 1t.
Kings an magistrates an slavery
didn't look so bad to 'em as they do
now. Our brains have changed-that's
what's the matter-same as the soil
has changed. We want to be free like
other folks In this country. America
has growed up around us but here we
are Twin back In old Holland three
hundred years ago. 1t don't set good.
We see lots O. people that don't have
to be slaves. They own their land an
! they amt worked any harder than we
have or been any more savln'. That's
why l say we can't pay the rents no
more an We mustn't try to make us.
BY hockey nettie! You'll have trouble
If We do"
The truth had flashed upon me out
of the words of this simple man. In
til then l had heard only one side of
the case. If were to be the servant
of justice, as Mr., Wright had advised
what was to do? These tenants had
been Grimshawed and were being
Grimshawed out of the just fruits of
their toll by the feudal chief whose
remote ancestor had been kings ia
vOrite. For half moment watched
the wavering needle of my compass
and then:
"If what you say is true I think you
are right" l said.
II don't agree with you," said young
LatOur. "The PATRONS have clear
title to this land If the tenants don't
want to pay the rents they ought to
get out and make way for Others"
"Look here, young man, my name is
Josiah Curtis" said the stranger. ~
live in the first house on the right
hand side O. the road. You may tell
the judge that l won't pay rent no
more-not as long as 1 llve-and
won't git ont, either"
"Mr. Latour you and Purvis may 20
on slowly-pll overtake you soon." I
said.
They went on and left me alone with
Curtis. He was getting excited and I
wished to allay his fears.
"Don't let him try to serve no writs
or there'll be hell to pay in this val
ley" said Curtis.
''In that case I shall not try to serve
the writs. l don't want to stir I'D the
neighborhood but l want to know the
facts. | shall try to see other tenants
and report what they say. 1t may lead
to a settlement"
We went on together t. the top Of
the hill near which we had reen stand.
Ing. Far ahead saw a cloud of dust
but no signs Of Latour and Purvis.
They must have spurred their horses
into a run. The fear came to me that
LatOur would try to serve the writs In
spite Of me. They were IN his pocket.
Whist q fool had been not to call for
them. My companion saw the look Of
concern in my face.
II don't like that young feller," said
Curtis Hes in fer trouble
He ran toward his house, which was
only few rods beyond us, while
started on in pursuit of the two men
at top speed. Before my horse had
taken dozen jumps l heard a horn
blowing behind me and its echo In the
hills. Within half moment dozen
horns were sounding in the valleys
around me. What contrast to the
quiet in which we had been riding was
this pandemOnlum which had broken
loose in the countryside. A little ahead
could see men running out of the
fields. My horse had begun to lather,
fol the sun was hot. My companions
were far ahead l could not see the
dust of Sheir heels now. gave up try
ing to catch them and checked the
speed of my horse and went on at
walk. The horns were stiA sounding.
Some of them seemed to be miles
away. About twenty rods ahead saw
three riders in strange costumes come
out Of dooryard and take the road
at wild gallOp in pursuit of Latour
end Purvis. They had not discovered
me. | kept as calm as l could In the
midst of this excitement.
l passed the house from which the
three riders had just turned into the
road. A number of women and an old
man and three or four children stood
on the porch. They looked ut me In
silence as l was passing and then be-
gan to hiss and jeer. 1t gave me
feeling l have never known since that
day. logged along over the brow OF
the hill when, at white, frame house,
saw the center toward which all the
men of the countryside were coming.
Suddenly 7 heard the hoOf-beats Of