The Dolores star., 1919-05-02
CHAPTER XVI.
The Man With the Scythe.


1t was late in June before l was able
TO disengage myself from the work of
the judges office. Meanwhile there
had been blood shed back In the hills.
One of the sheriT's posse had been Sc
verely wounded by bullet and had
failed to serve the writs. The judge
lad appealed to the governor. People
were talking of "the rent war"
What joy entered my heart when
was aboard the steamboat, at last,
and on my way to all most dear to me!
AS l entered Lake Champlaln I con-
suited the map and decided to leave
the boat at Chimney Point to find Kate
Fullerton, who had written to the
schoolmaster from Canterbury. My
aunt had said In q letter that old Kate
was living there and that great
change had come over her. So I went
ashore and hired a horse of the ferry
man.
1 passed through Middlebury and
rode into the grounds of the college,
where the senator had been educated,
and on out to Weybridge to see where
he had lived as a boy. 1 found the
Wright homestead-a comfortable
white house at the head of beautiful
valley with wooded hills behind it
and rode up to the door. A white
haired old lady In a black lace cap
was sitting on its porch looking out
at the sunllt fields.
rs this where Senator Wright lived
when he was a boy?" I asked.
"Yes, SIR" the old lady answered.
81 am from Canton"
She rose from her chair.
You from Canton!" she exclaimed.
"Why, of all things! That's where my
boys home Is. I'm glad to see you. Go
an put your horse in the barn"
| dismounted and she came near me.
"Sllas Wright is my boy" she said.
"What is your nameW
Barton Baynes," I answered as ]
hitched my horse.
Barton Baynes! Why, Silas has
told me all about you in his letters
He writes to me every week. Come
and sit down."
We sat down together on the porch
"Silas wrote in his last letter that
you were going to leave your place il
Cobleskill," she continued to my sur
prise. "He said that he was glad yor
had decided not to stay"
1t was joyful news to me, for the
senator's silence had worried me and
hnUIIn IN Nt.fth oil
future.
81 wish that he would take you tc
Washington to help him. The poo.
man has too much to do"
81 should think 1t great privilege
to CO." I answered.
"My boy likes you" she went on
| "You have been brought up just as he
was. l used to read to him every eve.
ming when the candles were lit, How
hard he worked to make man of him.
| self! l have known the mothers ioy
l can truly say, Now let thy servan,
depart in peace"
For mine eyes have seen thy sal.
vation,'" quoted.
"You see I know much about YOU
and much about your aunt and uncle
said Mrs. Wright.
She left me for moment and soor
the whole household was gathered
about me on the porch, the men hav
ing come up from the fields. They pu'
MY horse In the barn and pressed mt
to stay for dinner, which 1 did. AS
was going the gentle old lady CAV,
me pair Of mittens which her distin
guished son had worn during his las
winter in college. I remember vel
how tenderly she handled them!
II hope that Silas will get you t.
help him"-those were the last word
she said to me when babe her good
by.
The shadows were long when 1 go
to Canterbury. At the head of 1t
main street looked down upon a vii
lage green and some fine old elms. /
was slngularly quiet place. stoppe,
In front Of big white meeting house
An old man was moving Ia its grave
yard near the highway. Slowly b.
swung his scythe.