The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1919-03-13


''Yes, SIR" answered.
"a fine slip of a girl that and a born
scholar. I saw you look at her as
the Persian looks at the rising sun"
bluShed and Mary and her mother
and the boy John looked at me and
laughed.
'Puer pulcherrimew Mr. Hacket
exclaimed with kindly smile
Uncle Peabody would have called 1t
stout snag." The schoolmaster had
hauled it out of his brain very deity
and chucked it down before me in a
kind of challenge.
what does that mean?" I asked.
You shall know in week, my son."
he answered. 81 shall put you into
the Latin class Wednesday morning.
and God help you to like it as well as
you like Sally"
Again they laughed and again 1
blushed.
he went on. we've q perfect right to
like Sally if we've heart to.
ga lad in his teens
Will never know beans
II he hasn't an eye for the girls"
1t was a merry supper, and when 1t
ended Mr.. Hacket rose and took the
green chair from the table, exclaim-
ing:
Michael Henry. God bless you !"
Then he kissed his wife and said:
Maggie, you wild rose Of Erin! I've
been all day in the study. must take
a walk or shall get an exalted abdo-
men. One is badly beaten IN the race
o life when his abdomen gets ahead
Of his toes. Children, keep our young
friend happy here until come back.
and mind you, don't forget the good
fellow in the green chair"
Mary helped her mother with the
dishes, while sat with u book by the
f1reside. Soon Mrs Hacket and the
children came and sat down with me.
Lets play backgammon" Mary pro-
posed.
ST don't want to-" said John.
Don't forget Michael Henry" she
reminded.
''Who is Michael HenryP' asked.
''Sure. he's the boy that has never
been born" said Mrs. Hacket He
was to be the biggest an6 noblest of
them-kind an helpful an CHEEKY
hearted an beloved o. God above all
the others. We try to live up to him.
He seemed to me very strange and
wonderful creature--this invisible &C.
cupant of the green chair.
1 know now what knew not then
that Michael Henry was the spirit of
their homAan ideal of which the
empty green chair was a constant re-
minder.
We played backgammon and 'oId
maid" and everlasting" until ATr.
Hacket returned.
The sealed envelope which Mr.
Wright had left at our home, a long
time before that day, was in my pocket
At last the hour had come when 1
could open it and read the message
of which I had thought much and
with a growing interest.
rose and said that l should like to
go to my room. Mr.. Hacket lighted
a candle and took me upstairs to a
little room where my chest had been
deposited. There were in the room a
bed, a chair. a portrait of Napoleon
Bonaparte and small table on which
were a dictionary, Bible and a num-
Der of schoolbooks.
'"These were Mary's books" said Afr.
Hacket. 81 told your uncle that ye
could use them an welcome"
I sat down and opened the sealed
envelope with trembling hands and
found In it this brief note:
Dear Partner: I want you to ask
the wisest man you know to explain
these words to you. 1 suggest that
you commit them to memory and think
often of their meaning. They are from
Job:
"Hls bones are full of the sins of
his youth. which shall lie down with
him IN the dust
81 believe that they are the most
impressive in all the literature 1 have
read.
yours truly,
"SILAS WRIGHT, JR."
1 read the words over and over
again, but knew not their meaning.
Sadly and slowly got ready for bed.
The noises of the village challenged
my ear after had put out my candle.
There were many barking dogs. Some
horsemen passed. with a creaking OF
saddle leather, followed by a wagon.
Soon I heard running feet and eager
voices. 1 rose and looked out Of the
open window. Men were hurrying
down the street with lanterns.
Hes the son o. Ben Grimshaw,"
heard one Of them saying. They
caught him back In the south woods
yesterday. The sheriff said that he
tried to run away when he saw 'em
coming"
What was the meaning Of this2
What had Amos Grfmshaw been do
ing7 I rembled as got back into
bed cannot even now explain why,