The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1919-05-15
THE LI6HT
IN THE 2LEARINh,
A TALE OF THE NORTH COUNTRY
IN THE TINE OF SILAS WRIGHT
N
IRVINE hAEHELLER
BLESSED El&
IKyING HAEHELLER
CHAPTER xI-contInued.
AUTHOR o.
essN HOLDEN. pRi AND l. DAasEL or THE BLESSED ELe$
KEEPING Up WITH LIZZIE ETC. ETC

~
count this one of the great events
bf my youth. But there was greater
bne, although 1t seemed not SO at the
time of 1t. A traveller on the road to
Ballybeen had dropped his pocketbook
containing a large amount Of money
S2,700 was the sam, IL / remember
yIghtly. He was a man who, being
Justly suspicious Of the banks. had
withdrawn his money. Posters an
nounced the loss and the offer Of
large reward. The village was pro-
foundly stirred by them. Searching
parties went up the road stirring its
dust and cropping in Its grass and bri-
ers for the great prize which was sup
posed to be lying there. 1t was said,
however. that the quest had been un-
successful. So the lost pocketbook
became a treasured mystery Of the
village and Of all the hills and val
leys toward Ballybeen-a topic Of old
wives and gabbling husbands at the
ereside for unnrmbered 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 Hackets', on the whole, but was
glad to be going home again. My
uncle was In high spirits aud there
were many packages in the sleigh.
"A merry Christmas to ye both an
may the Lord love yei" said Mr..
Hacket as he bade us goodby. Every
day our thoughts will be going up the
hills to your 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
3ut by the middle O. May"
"How does that happenT asked.
II settled with Grimshaw and agreed
to 60. II 1t hadn't "a been for Wright
and Baldwin we wouldn't "a got q
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. Coin to build new
nous, in the spring. It will be nearer
the village"
He playfully nudged my ribs with
dis elbow.
"We've had little good luck, Bart"
no went on. 'Ill tell ye what 1t Is II
you won't say anything about it."
] promised.
II dunno as It would matter much, y
no continued, ''but I don't want to dc
any braggin'. 1t amt anybody's busi'
ness, anyway. An old uncle over In
Vermont died three weeks ago and
left us thirty-eight hundred dollars
1t was old Uncle Ezra Baynes O.
Hinesburg. Died without a chick OF
child. Your aunt and me slipped down
to Potsdam an took the stage an
went over an got the money. II wal
more money than I ever see before
In my life. We put It In the bank II
Potsdam to keep It out o. Grimshaw'i
hands. ! wouldn't trust that man al
fur al you could throw bull by thu
tall"
1t was q cold, clear night. and wher
We reached home the new stove wal
snapplng with the heat in Its firebo,
and the pudding putting in the POI
and old Shep dreaming In the chime,
corner. Aunt Deel gave me hug al
the door. Shep barked and leaped Il
my shoulders.
"why, Barti You're growin' like {
weed-ain't yef-ayes ye be-" m!
aunt said as she stood and looked a
NE. "Set right down here an warn
ye-ayes esi-f've done all the chores
ayesi"
How warm and comfortable was th'
dear old room with those beloved face
in It. I wonder II paradise itself cal
eeem more pleasant to me. have hat
the best food this world cen provide
in my time, but never anything tina
/ ate with a keener relish than tn,
pudding and milk and bread and but
ter and cheese and pumpkin pie whicl
Aunt Deel gave US TINT night.
Supper over. I wiped the dishes 70
my aunt while Uncle Peabody wen
out to feed and water the horses. Thel
we sat down In the genial warmtl
while told the story Of my life Il
"the busy town." as they called II
What pride and attention they CAV
me theni
My fine clothes and the story Of hov
I had come by them taxed my inge
nuity somewhat, although not improp
cily. I had to be careful not to le
them know that had been ashaJne'
of the homemade suit. They somehow
felt the truth about It and a littl
silence followed the story. Then Aun
Deel drew her chair near me an,
touched my hair very gently an
looked into my face without speaking
ayes kpow," she said presently
In kind of caressing tone. with
touch of sadness In It. "They ain
used to coarse homespun stun dow
there In the village. They made ful
o. ye-didn't they, Bartf"
II don't care about that" I assures
them. ".rhe minds the measure o