The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1919-02-13
p XII.
The Spirit Of Michael Henry and
Others.

the records and ceased 20 be n source
Of danger 30 me. Grimshaw came t.
he village that day. On my way TO
ne courtroom I saw him walking
slowly, with bent head as / had seen
aim before, followed by old Kate. She
carried her staff in her left hand while
the forefinger Of her right hand was
pointing him out. Silent as a ghost
and as unheeded-one would say-she
followed his steps.
I observed that old Kate sat on a
front seat with her hand to her ear
and GrimShaw beside his lawyer at a
big table and that when she looked at
him her lips moved in a strange I'M
uttered whisper of her spirit. Her
face filed with joy as one damning
detail after another came out in the
evidence.
The facts hereinbefore alleged, and
others, were proved, for the tracks fit
ted the shoes of Amos. The young
man was held and presently indicted.
The time of his trial was not deter
mined.
wrote n good hand those DAYS and
the lending merchant of the village
engaged me to post his books every
Saturday at ten cents an hour. Thence
forward until Christmas | gave my
free days to that task. l estimated
the sum that l should earn and
planned to divide it in equal parts and
proudly present it to my aunt and
uncle on Christmas day.
One Saturday while l was at work
on the big ledger of the merchant 1
ran upon this item:
October as. Wright-To one suit
of clothes for Michael Henry from
measures furnished by s. Robin
son 81
Shlrts TO match LO
l knew then the history Of the suit
Of clothes which | had worn since that
rainy October night, for | remembered
that Sam Robinson, the tailor, had
measured me at our house and made
up the cloth Of Aunt Deel's weaving.
/ observed, also, that numerous ar
ticles-a load Of wood, two sacks of
flour, three pairs of boots, one coat,
ten pounds Of salt pork and four
bushels of potatoes-all for michael
H~enry"-had been charged to Silas
Wright.
So by the merest chance I learned
that the invisible michael Henry" was
the almoner of the modest statesman
and really the spirit of Silas Wright
naked and warming the cold house,
In the absence Of its owner. 1t was
the heart of Wright Joined to that Of
the schoolmaster, which sat In the
green chair.
l fear that my work suffered a mo
rnent's interruption, for just then I
began to know the great heart of the
senator. It's warmth was in the cloth
Ing that covered my back, its delicacy
In the ignorance of those who had
shared It's be~nefactions.
I count this one of the great events
of my youth. But there was a greater
one, although It seemed not so at the
time of 1t. A traveller on the road to
Ballybeen had dropped his pocketbook
containing a large amount of money
$1,000 IA the sum, If 1 remember
rightly. He was a man who, being
justly suspicious Of the banks. had
nounced the loss and the offer of q
large reward. The village was pro.
foundry stirred by them. Searching
parties went up the road stirring Its
dust and cropping in its grass and bri'
ers for the great prize which was sup.
posed to be lying there. 1t was said
however, that the quest had been un'
successful. SO the lost pocketbook
became a treasured mystery of thu
village and of all the hills and val
leys toward B~allybeen-a topic Of OLE
wives and Cabling husbands at TIT
Preside for unnumbered years.
BY and by the fall term Of schoo
ended. Uncle Peabody came down Il
get me the day before Christmas.
had enjoyed my work and my life a
the Hackets', on the whole, but / wal
glad to be going home again. NJ.
uncle was In high spirits and there
were many packages in the sleigh.
IA merry Christmas to ye both an
may the Lord love yer said MI
Hacket as he bade us goodby. "Ever.
day our thoughts will be going up tn
hills to your house."
The bells rang merrily al we hur
ried through the swamp In the har'
snow paths.
"We're goin' to move" said m,
uncle presently. "We've agreed to &c
out by the middle o. May"
Show does that happenr I asked.
81 settled with Grimshaw and agree
to 60. II 1t hadn't "a been for Wrigh
and Baldwin we wouldn't "a got I
cent. They threatened to bid agains
him at the sale. So he settled. We'r
goln' to have a new home. View