The Jasper news., 1919-02-06

est In the east and west and north
and south and In the skies above
them. How mysterious and inviting
they had becomel
One evening neighbor 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 U. s.
Senate"
"Well want to knoww Uncle Pea.
body exclaimed. "That would make
me forgIt It If / was goin' to be
hung. Go on and read what 1t says"
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 q 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. l prefer
therefore the humber position which
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 concelt-ayesp
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 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 l remembered the day
Of the fortune-telling. The same gen.
tie smile lighted her face as she
looked at me. She held up her hand
with four fingers spread above 1t.
ayes" said Aunt Deel, "there are
four perils."
My aunt rose and went into the
but'ry while l sat staring at the
ragged old woman. Her hair was
white now and partly covered by a
worn and faded bonnet. Forbidding
as she was l did not miss the sweet
ness In her smile and her blue eyes
when she looked at ME. Aunt DeeI
came with plate of doughnuts and
bread and butter and head cheese
and said In voice full of pity:
Poor OIL Kate--ayes! 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-ayes 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 lantern-n little
tower Of perforated tin---and put q
lighted candle inside of 1t. Then he
beckoned to the stranger, who fol
lowed him out Of the front door with
the plate of food In her hands.
"Well / declare! It's long time
since she went up this road-ayes y
said Aunt Deel, yawning as she re
sumed her chair.
"Who Is OIL Kate?" l asked.
"oh, just poor ol' crazy woman-
wanders all 'round-ayesw
"What made her craZy?"
"Oh, guess somebody misused ant
deceived her when she was young
ayesl It's an awful wicked thing t
do. Come, Bart-go right up to bet
now. It's high time-ayes
II want to wait It'll Uncle Peabod!
comes back" said 1.
"Why?"
'T-Tm afraid she'll do somethin
to him."
Nonsense or Kate Is just as harm
less as q kitten. You take your can
: die and go right up to bed-this min
ute-ayes
/ went upstairs with the candl
and undressed very slowly an
thoughtfully while / listened for tn
: footsteps of my uncle. I did not &c
into bed until 1 heard him come 1
: and blow out his lantern and star
up the stairway. AS he undresse
he told me how for many years tn
strange woman had been rowing 1
! the roads "up hill and down dali
thousands an thousands O. miles,
and never reaching the end OF he
. journey.