Connecticut western news., 1919-02-20


 him 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 ghost and as unheeded-one would Sag-she followed his steps.
 I observed that old Kate sat on front seat with her hand to her ear and Grimshaw beside his lawyer at big table and that when she looked at him her lips moved in strange un- uttered whisper of her spirit. Her face filled 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 a good hand those days and the leading 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. I estimated the sum that I should earn and planned to divide 1t in equal parts and proudly present 1t to my aunt and uncle on Christmas day. One Saturday while I was at work I. on the big ledger. of the merchant I ran upon this item:
 October a-s. wright--rs one suit of clothes for Michael Henry from measures furnished by 8. Robin
 son .Sl4.oU Shirts to match ......................... L7o I 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 Deeps weaving.
 I observed, also, that numerous ar ticles-a load of wood, two sacks of four, three pairs of boots, one coat, ten pounds of salt pork and four bushels of potatoes-all for Michael Henry"-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 feeding the hungry and clothing the naked and warming the cold house, in the absence of It's owner. It was the heart of Wright joined to that of the schoolmaster, which sat In the green chair.
 I fear that my work suffered a mo- rnent's Interruption, for just then I began to know the great heart of the senator. Its warmth was in the cloth ing that covered my back, its delicacy in the ignorance of those who had shared its benefactions.
 I count this one of the great events of my youth. But there was a greater . one, although 1t seemed not so at the time of it. A traveller on the road to Ballybeen had dropped his pocketbook containing large amount of money S2,700 was the sum, if l remember rightly. He was a man who, being justly suspicious of the banks, had withdrawn his money. Posters an- nounced the loss and the offer of a large reward. The village was pro- foundly stirred by them. Searching parties went up the road stirring It's dust and groping in its grass and bri- CTS for the great prize which was SUD- posed to be lying there. It was said, ; however, that the quest had been un- successful. So the lost pocketbook became a treasured mystery of the i village and of all the hills and val leys toward Ballybeen-a topic of old wives and gabbling husbands at the freside for unnumbered years. | By and by the fall term of school ended. Uncle Peabody came down to get me the day before Christmas. I had enjoyed my work and my life at the Packets, on the whole, but was glad to be going home again. My uncle was in high spirits and there , were many packages in the sleigh. : "A merry Christmas to ye both an may the Lord love yep said MT. Racket as he bade us goodby. "Every day our thoughts will be going up the hills to yosr house."
 The bells rang merrily as we hur- ried through the swamp in the hard snow paths.
 "We're goin' to move" said my uncle presently. "We've agreed to get out by the middle O May"
 "How does that happen?" I asked. 'T settled with Grimshaw and agreed to go. If it hadn't "a been for Wright and Baldwin we wouldn't "a got a cent. They threatened to bid against him at the sale. So he settled. We're goin' to have a new home. We've bought hundred an fifty acres from Abe Leonard. Gofn' to build a new house in the spring. It will be nearer the village"
 He playfully nudged my ribs with his elbow.
 "We've had little good luck, Bart" he went on. "I'll tell ye what 1t Is if you won't say anything about it."