Cleveland County herald., 1919-05-08

-1O, SlI
 Wal, ye 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 beller like cut bull til he fell back in a swoon.
 Damn him it 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 go down there he'll beller 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, I 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-ne, sir-not til 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 ain't heard a word from him since that day-nary word, mister. I suppose we will some time. He grew into a good man, but there was a kind of a queer streak in the blood, as ye 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.
 I could see a glimmer of a light in the thicket of pines down the valley. unhitched and mounted my horse.
 ''Take the first turn to the right" said the old man as he picked up his scythe.
 "I'm very much obliged to you," said.
 "No ye ain't, nuther," he answered. ye should be-"
 My horse, impatient as ever to find the end of the road, hurried me along ana in moment or two we were down under the pine grove that surrounded the house of old Squire Fullerton-a big, stone house with a graveled road around it. A great black dog came barking and growing at me from the front porch. I rode around the house and he followed. Beyond the windows 1 could see the gleam of candlelight and moving figures. A man came out of the back door as I neared it.
 .sWho's there?" he demanded
 My name is Barton Baynes from St. Lawrence county. Kate Fullerton is my friend and I wish to see her.
 Come up to the steps, sor. Don't git off yer horse-'til I've chained the dog. Kate'll be out in minute"
 He chained the dog to the hitching post and as he did so loud, long, wailing cry broke the silence of the house. It put me in mind of the con- plaint 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 a lighted candle in his hand, woman following. How vividly I remember the little mur- mur of delight that came from her lips when he held the candle so that it's light fell upon my face! I jumped off hOrcn and thn +o man and put my arms around the poor woman, whom I loved for her sorrows and for my debt to her, and rained kisses upon her Withered cheek. Oh God what moment it was for both of usi
 The way she held me to her breast and patted my shoulder and said "my boy !'-in a low, faint, treble voice so like that of 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 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.
 I told all that I had heard from home and of my life in Cobleskill but observed, presently, a faraway look in her eyes and judged that she was not hearing me. She whispered:
 "Sally?"
 "She has been at school in Albany for a year," I said. "She is at home now and am going to zee her." ''You love Sally?" she whispered. Better than I love my life"
 Again she whispered: "Get mar ried !'
 eve hope to in 1914. have agreed to meet her by the big pine tree on the river bank at eleven o'clock the third
 4