The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1919-05-15

Vitf NAvht houot WIN " bIdNtitu TOtu
around II. A great black dog came
barking and growing at me from the
front porch. rode around the house
and he followed. Beyond the windows
/ could see the CLEAN of candlelIght
and moving figures. A man came out
of the back door rs neared II.
who's thereT he demanded.
MY name Is Barton Baynes from
st. Lawrence county. Kate Fullerton
Is my friend and wish to see her"
"Come up to the steps, sor. Don't
git of yer horse-'til I've chained the
dog. Katell be out In a minute"
He chained the dog TO the hltchlng
post and as he did so a loud, long,
wailing cry broke the silence of the
house. II put me in mind of the COM
plant Of the damned which I remem-
bered hearing the minister describe
years before at the little schoolhouse
In Lckitysplit. How IL narrowed me |
The man went into the house. Soon
he came out of the door with lighted
candle In his hand, a woman following.
How wildly / remember the little muir
muir of delight that came from her lips
when he held the candle so that its
light fell upon my facet I jumped off
my horse and gave the reins to the
man and put my arms around the poor
woman, whom loved for her sorrows
and for my debt to her. and rained
kisses upon her wlthered cheek. Oh
God what a moment II was for both
of usi
The way she held me to her breast
and patted my shoulder and said my
boy l"-in a low, faint, treble voice so
like that OF a child-it is one of the
best memories that take with me into
the new life now so near, from which
there Is no returning.
She led me into the house. She
looked very neat now-in a black
gown over which was a spotless white
apron and collar Of lace-and much
more slender than when 1 had seen
her last. She took me into a large
room In the front Of the house with a
carpet and furniture. handsome once
but now worn and decrepit. Old, time
stained engravings Of scenes from the
Bible. framed In wood, hung on the
walls.
/ told all that I had heard froya
home and Of my life In Cobleskill but
observed, presently. PARKWAY look In
her eyes and judged that she was not
hearing me. She whispered:
"Sallyr
"She has been at school In Albany
for q year." said. "She is at home
now and am going to zee her"
"you love Sallyf" she whispered.
Better than love my life"
Again she whispered: "Get mar
ried 70
1--WE hope TO In 1874. I have agreed
to meet her by the big pine tree on the
nver bank at eleven o'clock the third
Of June, 1914. We are looking for
ward TO that day"
A tall, slim woman entered the room
then and said that supper was ready.
Kate rose with smile and l followed
her Into the dining room where two
tables were spread. One had certain
dishes on 1t and a white cover, frayed
and worn. She led me to the other
table which was neatly covered with
snowy linen. The tall woman served
supper on deep blue china. cooked
as only they could cook in old New
England. Meanwhile could hear the
voice Of the aged squire-a weird.
empty, inhuman voice II was, utterly
cut Off from his intelligence. II came
out Of the troubled depths Of his
Misery.
So that house-the scene of his
great sin which would presently lie
DOWN with him In the dust-was food /
ed, hundred times a day. by the I'M |
happy spirit OF Its master. In the |
dead Of the night heard its despair
echoing through the silent chambers. !
Kate said little as we ate. or as we
sat together in the shabby. great room
after supper. but she seemed to enjoy /
my talk and l went into the details of /
my personal history.
The look on her face, even while I |
vas speaking. indicated that her
thoughts wandered, restlessly, In the |
gloomy desert Of her past. i thought /
Of that gay, birdlike youth Of hers Of
which the old man with the scythe
had told me. and wondered. AS I was
Of this there came a cry from
the aged squire so loud and doleful
that 1t startled me and turned and
looked toward the open door.
Kate rose and came to my side and
leaned toward my ear whispering:
at Is my father. He is always think
Ing Of when l was girl. He wants
me-"
She babe me good night and left
The room. Doubtless II was the out
ragged. departed spirit of that golden
lime which was haunting the old
squire. A Bible lay on the table near
ne and i sat reading II for an hour or
80. A tall clock In a corner solemnly
oiled the hour of nine. In came the
tall woman and asked me in the
)rogue of the Irish:
"Would you like 10 90 to bed?"
"Yes. am tired"
She took a candle and led me up a
road oaken stairway and into a room