Cleveland County herald., 1919-04-17
CHAPTER XII-continued.

resolution of Henry Clay until it began 10 cfumble under the irresistible attack or Mir. Wright. On the 16th he sub- M1tted report upon it which for lucid and accurate statements presented in the most unpretending manner won universal admiration and will be re- membered alike for it's intrinsic excel lence and for having achieved one of the most memorable victories ever gained in the United States senate. After long debate Clay himself, com- pelled by the irresistible force of argu- ment in the report of MT. Wright, was obliged to retire from his position, his resolution having been rejected by vote of A to r."
 With what pride and joy I heard of this great thing that my friend had ac- complished!
 Going out with the crowd that eve ming, I met Sally and Mr. and Mrs. Dunkelberg. The latter did not speak to me and when I asked Sally if I could walk home with her she an swered curtly, "No, thank you."
 have got bit ahead of my history. Soon after the opening of the new year-ten days or so later it may have been-I had begun to feel myself en- compaSsed by new and subtle force. It was a thing as intangible as heat but as real as fire and more terrible, it seemed to me. 1 felt it first in the at- titude of my play fellows. They de- nied me the confidence and intimacy which ! bod apiovod hafnra Thou whispered together in my presence. In all this had not failed to observe that Henry Wills had taken a leading part. The invisible, inaudible, mysterious thing wrought great change in me. It followed ne through the day and lay down with me at night. I wondered what had done. I carefully surveyed my clothes. They looked all right to me. My character was certainly no worse than it had been. How it preyed upon my peace and rest and happiness that mysterious hidden thing!
 One day Uncle Peabody came down tc see me and I walked through the village with him. We met MT. Dunkel- berg, who merely nodded and hurried along. MT. Bridges, the merchant, did not greet him warmly and chat with him as he had been wont to do. saw that The Thing-as I had come to think of it--was following him also. How it darkened his face! Even now 1 can feel the aching of the deep, bloodless wounds of that day. l could bear it better alone. We were trying to hide our pain from each other when we said good-by. How quickly my uncle turned away and walked toward the sheds! He came rarely to the will lage of Canton after that.
 May had returned-a warm bright May. I had entered my seventeenth year and the work of the term was finished.
 Having nothing to do one afternoon, I walked out on the road toward Og- densburg for a look at the woods and fields. Soon thought that l heard the sound of gallOping hoofs behind me. I looked back and I saw Sally round- ing the turn by the river and coming toward me at full speed, the mane of her pony flying back to her face. She pulled up beside me just as 1 had imagined she would do.
 "Bart, l hate somebody terribly" said she.
 "WhomT
 "A man who is coming to our house on the stage today. Granny Barnes is trying to get up a match between uS Father says he is rich and hopes he fn I about it. He is four years older than am. Isn't that awful? l am going to be just as mean and hateful to him as ! can."
 q guess they're only fooling you," I said.
 "No, they mean it. I have heard them talking it over.
 He cannot marry you"
 "Why?"
 It seemed to me that the time had come for me to speak out, and with burning cheeks said:
 "BecauSe I think that God has mar .ried you to me already. Do you re- member when we kissed each other by the wheat field one day last sum- mer?"
 'Yes"
 We had faced about and were walk ing back toward Canton, close by the pony's side.
 May I kiss you again?"
 She stopped the pony and leaned toward me and our lips met in a kiss the thought of which makes me lay down my pen and bow my head a mo- ment while I think with reverence of that pure, sweet spring of memory in whose waters I love to wash my spirit.
 q guess God has married us again." declared.
 'T knew that you were walking on this road and I had to see yOu," said she. People have been saying such terrible things"
 ''What?"
 'sThey say your uncle found the pocketbook that was lost and kept the money. They say he was the first man ab.4 xro,A tho rood oftov vUQ0