American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1919-04-18

Wult We KNOW, mister, i JeS snOoh
my head an never let on that ] knew
what he meant an let him wiggle an
twist like a worm on a hot grlddle, an
heller like q cut bull til he fell back In
a swoon.
damn him II don't give him no
rest. lie 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 heller 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, ! guess. Some day,
fore he dies, I'm goln' to take up that
heudstun nm hide 1t, but he'll never
know It's d%one--no, slr-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 l called him
back.
what has become of EnochT |
asked.
"Wal, sir, Enoch started off West
bout three year ago an we amt heard
a word from him since that day-nary
a word, mister. | suppose we Will some
time. lie grew into a good man, but
the blood, as We might say, on both
sides kind o.. We've wrote letters out
to Wisconsin, where he was p'lntln'
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.
| could see n glImmer of n light In
the thlcket of pines down the valley. l
unhltched and mounted my horse.
"Tnke the first turn to the right"
said the old man as he picked up his
scythe.
"rm very much obliged to you" I
said.
mo We amt, nuther," he answered.
"LenstwOys there amt no reason why
We should be-"
My horse, impatient as ever to find
the end of the rond, hurried me along
and In II moment or two we were down
under the pine grove that surrounded
the house OF old Squire Fullcrton-a
big, stone house with a graveled road
around Il. A great black dog came
barking and growing at me from the
front porch. / rode around the house
and he followed. Beyond the windows
| could see the CLEAN OF cnndlelight
and moving figures. A man came out
Of the back door MS | neared II.
"Who's there2" he demanded.
my name Is Barton Bayncs from
st. Lawrence county. Kate Fullerton
is my friend and / wish to see her"
"Come up to the steps, sor. Don't
gilt Off yer horse-'tll I've chained the
dog. Kate1l be out IN q minute"
He chained the dog to the hitchlng
post and as he did so a loud, long,
wulllng cry broke the silence of the
house, II put me In mind of the com
plant of tht damned which / remem-
bcred hearing the minister describe
years before at the little schoolhouse
In L%lckityspllt. How 1t narrowed me !
The man went into the house. Soon
he came out of the door with a lighted
candle In his hand, II woman following.
How wildly | remember the little muir
mur of delight that came from her lips
Which, he held the candle so that Its
light fell upon my facet l jumped of
my horse and gave the rclns TO the
man and put my arms around the poor
woman, whom loved for her sorrows
and for my debt to her, and ralned
kisses upon her wlthercd check. oh
Godl what n moment 1t was for both
of usl
The way she held me to her breast
and pntted my shoulder and said "my
boy l'--ln a low, faint, treble voice so
like that of a child--lt Is one of the
best memories that l 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 n spotless white
apron and collar of lnce-nnd much
more slender than when I had seen
her last, She took me into n large
room In the front of the house with q
carpet aud furniture, handsome once
but now worn and decrepit. Old, time.
stained e%ngrnvings OF scenes from the
Bible, framed In wood. hung on the
walls.
| told all that I had heard from
home ana OF my life In Coblesklll but
observed, presently, n farnway look IN
her eyes and Judged that she was not
hearing me. She whispered:
"SallyT"
"She has been at school In Albany
for n year." l said. "She Is Mt home
now and | am going TO see her"
"You love Sallyq" she whispered.
"Better than l love my life"
Again she whispered: "Get mar
riedl"
"We hope TO in 1914. I have agreed
to meet her by the big pine tree on the
: river bank at eleven o'clock the third
80 TYXWA YCAA NV IAAtt~M e.