The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1919-05-24

the Republican from the post-oftce.
I opened 1t and read aloud these words
| In large type at the top Of the page:
"Silas Wright Elected to the U. s.
Senate"
"Well want to know Uncle Pea
body exclaimed. "That would make
me forgit 1t il was goin' to be
hung. Go on and read what it 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 a letter Of Mr..
Wright to Azariah Flagg Of Albany,
| written when the former was asked
to accept the place:
/ 81 am too young and too poor for
such an elevation. I have not had
the experience in that great theater of
| politics to qualify me for a place SO
exalted and responsible. I prefer
4 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 conceit-ayes"
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 it and old Kate entered
without speaking and nodded to my
aunt and uncle and sat down by the
fire. Vividly I 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 it.
"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 q
worn and faded bonnet. FOrbidding
as she was I did not miss the sweet
ness in her smile and her blue eyes
when she looked at me. Aunt Deel
y came with a 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-ayes"
She turned to my uncle and said:
"Peabody Baynes, what'll we do
I'd like to know-ayesl She cant
rove all night"
sTll git some blankets an make
a 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-a little
tower of perforated finland put 6
lighted candle inside of it. Then he
beckoned to the stranger, who fol
lowed him out of the front door witt
the plate of food in her hands.
swell declare! It's long time
since she went up this road-ayesl 7
said Aunt Deel, yawning as she re
sumed her chair
"Who is OF Kate?" asked.
"Oh, just poor OIL crazy woman
wanders all 'round-ayesW
$ "What made her crazy?
y "Oh, I guess somebody misused am
deceived her when she was young
! ayes! It's an awful wicked thing t
/ do. Come, Bart-go right up to BET
I. now. It's high time-ayes"
n II want to wait It'll Uncle Peabod!
comes back" said l.
q "Why?"
i "I-I'm afraid she'll do somethln
: to him."
i "Nonsense OF Kate is just as harm
!. less as a kitten. You take your can
i die and 60 right up to bed-this min
e ute-ayes! !"
I. went upstairs with the candl
J and undressed very slowly AM
= thoughtfully while I listened for thu
q footsteps of my uncle. | did not ge
!. into bed until heard him come II
. 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 II
1 the roads sup hill and down dale
g thousands an thousands o. miles.
~ and never reaching the end of he
i journey.
In moment we heard low wal
above the sounds of the breeze tina
!, shook the leaves Of the old ''popple
4 tree above our roof.
- whats that?" whispered.
Z II guess it's OF Kate ravin'," sal
n Uncle Peabody.
- 1t touched my heart and lay lii
I tening for time, but heard only tn
loud whisper Of the popple leaves.
a. Rarfon hecornes aware of the