The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1919-01-30
CHAPTER I-continued.

express myself in the grief of child
hood. He Rugged me close and begged
me to tell him what was the mat
ter.
''That Wills boy stole my melon"
sobs.
'Oh, no, he didn't" said Uncle Pea
body
yes he did. saw a piece O. the
rim"
''Well by" said Uncle Peabody.
stopping, as usual, at the edge of the
precipice.
Hes a snake" I added.
"And you fit and he scratched you
up that way?'
81 scratched him, too"
Don't you say a word about it to
Aunt DeeI. Don't ever speak o that
miserable melon agin to anybody.
You scoot around to the barn, an
I'll be there in a minute and fix We
up"
He went by the road with the tea
and ran around to the lane and up
to the stable. Uncle Peabody met
me there in a moment and brought
pail of water and washed my face
so that felt and looked more respect
able.
The worst was over for that day.
but the Baynes-W Wills feud had begun.
It led to many fight in the school
yard and on the way home. We were
so evenly matched that our quarrel
went on for a long time and gathered
intensity as it continued.
Gne June day Uncle Peabody and
I, from down in the fields, saw
fine carriage drive in at our gate. He
stopped and looked intently.
Jerusalem fOur-cOrners he ex-
claimed. Its Mr.. and Mrs. Horace
Dunkelberg"
My heart beat fast at thought of
the legendary Dunkelbergs. Uncle
looked me over from top to toe.
Heavens !" he exclaimed. go down
to the brook and wash the mud off
yer feet an legs"
1 ran for the brook and before I
had returned to my uncle heard the
horn blow.
1.-The Dunkelbergs the Dunkel-
bergs! Come quick! :" it seemed to
say.
Mr.. Dunkelberg was a big, broad
ShOuldered, SOlemn-lOOking man. Some
how his face reminded me of q lions
which 1 had seen in one of my pic
ture books. He had a thick, long, out
standing mustache and side whislzers,
and deep-set eyes and heavy eyebrows.
He stood for half a moment looking
down at me from a great height with
his right hand in his pocket. I heard
a little jingle of coins down where
his hand was. 1t excited my curiOs-
ity. He took a step toward me and
retreated. l feared, a little, this
suddenly when he spoke in a small
squeaky voice that reminded me of
the chirping of q bird.
Little boy, come here and will
make you present" said he.
1t reminded me of my disappoint-
ment when uncle tried to shoot his
gun at squirrel and only the cap
cracked.
/ went to him and he laid a silver
piece in the palm Of my hand. Aunt
Deel began to hurry about getting din
ner ready while Uncle Peabody and
I sat down on the porch with our
guests, among whom was a pretty,
bIue-eyed girl of about my own age,
with long, golden-brown hair that
hung in curls.
sally. this is Barton Baynes-can't
you shake hands with him?'' said Mrs
Dunkelberg.
With a smile the girl came and of
fered me her hand and made q funny
bow and said that she was glad to
see me. took her hand awkwardly
and made no reply. 1 had never seen
many girls and had no very high opin-
ion of them.
AS we sat there 1 heard the men
talking about the great SIlas Wright.
who had just returned to his home
In Canton. He had not entered my
consciousness until then.
While sat listening I felt a tweak
OF my hair, and looking around I saw
the Dunkelberg girl standing behind
me with saucy smile on her face.
Wont you come and play with
met? she asked.
I took her out in the garden to
show her where my watermelon had
lain. At the moment I couldn't think
OF anything else to show her. As we
walked along 1 observed that her feet
were IN dainty shiny button-shoes.
Suddenly I began to be ashamed of
my feet that were Drowned by the
Sunlight and scratched by the briers.
The absent watermelon didn't seem to
interest her.
Lets play house In the grove" said
abe. and showed me how to build a
house by laying rows of stones With
an opening for a door.
Nov you be my husband" said
she.
Oddly enough I had heard of hus-
bands but had only a shadowy notion
of what they were. I knew that there
was none in our house.
whats that?'' I asked.
She laughed and answered: "Some-
body that girl Is married to-
You mean a father?'
Eyes"
Once 1 had a father" I boas,ed
Wei, Wen play we're married and