The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1919-08-30
idee of layin' down fer his las sleep

| no, SlrI
"Wal, We know, mister, jes' shook
my head an never let on that knew
what he meant an let him wiggle an
| twist like worm on hot griddle, an
heller like cut bull It'll he fell back in
a swoon.
"Damn him! 1t don't give him no
rest. He tries to tell everybody he
sees-that's what they say. He bel
lers day an night an If you 60 down
there he'll heller to you an you'll know
what it's about, but the others don't.
"You an me are the only ones that
knows the secret, guess. Some day,
fore he dies, I'm goin' to take up that
headstun an hide it, but he'll never
know it's done-no, Sir-not It'll he
gifts to the judgment seat, anyway"
The old man rose and Strengthened
himself and blew out his breath and
brushed his hands upon his trousers
by way of stepping down into this
world again out of the close and dusty
loft of his memory. But called him
back
"What has become Of Enoch" I
asked. ..
"Wal, sir, Enoch started off West
bout three year ago an we amt heard
word from him since that day-nary
a word, mister. suppose we will some
time. He grew into a good man, but
there was kind of a queer streak in
the blood, as We might say, on both
sides kind O.. We've wrote letters out
to Wisconsin, where he was p'intin'
for, an to places on the way, but we
can't git no news bout him. Mebbe
he was killed by the Injuns."
We walked out of the graveyard to-
gether in silence.
/ could see a glimmer of a light In
the thfcket Of pines down the valley.
urhitched and mounted my horse.
"Take the first turn to the right"
said the old man as he picked up his
scythe.
sim very much obliged to you,"
said.
mo we amt, nuther," he answered.
"LeaStways there amt no reason why
We should be-"
My horse, impatient as ever to find
the end of the road, hurried me along
and in moment or two we were down
under the pine grove that surrounded
the house of old Squire Fullerton-a
big, stone house with graveled road
around it. 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
Il. | moving figures. A man came out
OF the back door as neared it.
| "Who's there" 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 off yer horse-'til I've chained the
dog. Katell be out in a minute"
He chained the dog to the hitching
post and as he did so a loud, long,
wailing cry broke the silence of the
house. 1t 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 Lickitysplit. How it narrowed me
The man went into the house. Soon
he came out of the door with lighted
candle in his hand, 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 face! 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 withered cheek, Oh
| God! what q moment it was for both
of us!
The way she held me to her breast
and patted my shoulder and said "my
boy Pin low, faint, treble voice so
like that Of child-it is one of the
best memories that I take with me into
the new life now so near, from which
II "e is no returning.
She led me into the house. She
locked very neat now--in black
gown over which was spotless white
apron and collar of lace-and much
more slender than when I 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 from
home and of my life in Cobleskin but
observed, presently, faraway look in
her eyes and judged that she was not
hearing me. She whispered:
"Sallyp
"She has been at school in Albany
for year." said. "She is at home
now and am going to see her"
"You love Sally?" she whispered.
"Better than love my life"
Again she whispered: Get mar
riedw
ave hope to in 1914. I have agreed
to meet her by the big pine tree on the
river bank at eleven o'clock the third
of June, 1914. we are looking for
ward to that day."