The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1919-05-03
CHAPTER l-continued.

hood. He Rugged me close and begged
me to tell him what was the mat
ter.
"That Wills boy stole my melon"
/ said, and the words came slow with
sobS.
"Oh, no, he didn't" said Uncle Pea
body. aesa 5. ..........
Eyes he did. I saw a piece o the
RIM"
"Well by" said Uncle Peabody,
stopping, as usual, at the edge Of the
precipice.
"Hes snake" I added.
"And you fit and he scratched you
up that wayT
II scratched him, too"
Don't you say a word about it to
Aunt Deel. Don't ever speak O that
miserable melon ag'in to anybody.
You scoot around to the barn, an
I'll be there in a minute and fix ye
up"
He went by the road with the tea
and I ran around to the lane and up
to the stable. Uncle Peabody met
me there in moment and brought a
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-Wills feud had begun.
1t led to many fight in the school
yard and en the way home. We were
so evealy matched that our quarrel
went on for long time and gathered
intensity as 1t continued.
One June day Uncle Peabody and
I, from down in the fields, saw a
fine carriage drive in at our gate. He
stopped and looked intently. .. 90,
Jerusalem four-corners! he ex-
claimed. "It's Mr.. and Mrs. Horace
Dunkelberg."
My heart beat fast at thought of
the legendary Dunkelbergs. Uncle
looked me over from top to toe.
'Heavensw he exclaimed. $50 down
to the brook and wash the mud of
yer feet an legs"
/ ran for the brook and before l
had returned to my uncle 1 heard the
horn blow.
1.-THE Dunkelbergs the Dunkel-
bergs! Come quick" it seemed to
say.
Mr.. Dunkelberg was d big, broad
shouldered, sOlemn-looking man. Some
how t,ir 60 M roD,ip5nd mn of q IioD1c
which l had seen in one Of my pic
ture books. He had a thick, long out
standing mustache and side whiSkers,
and deep-Set eyes and heavy eyebrows.
He stood for half a moment looking
down at me from great height with
his right hand in his pocket. heard
a little jingle of coins down where
his hand was. 1t excited my curios-
dty He took a step toward me and
/ retreated. I feared, a little, this
big, lion-llke man. My fears left me
suddenly when he spoke in small
squeaky voice that reminded me of
the chirping of 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 a squirrel and only the cap
cracked. f..
went to him and he laid a silver
piece in the palm Of my hand. Aunt
Deel began to hurry about getting din
AT NH
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 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 I 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 felt tweal
of my hair and looking around saw
the Dunkelberg girl standing behint
me with. saucy smile on her face.
won't you come and play will
me?" she asked.
I took her out in the garden Il
show her where my watermelon ha(
lain. At the moment couldn't thinl
of anything else to show her. As W.
walked along I observed that her fee
were in dainty shiny button-shoes
Suddenly / began to be ashamed O
my feet that wore Drowned by thu
sunlight and scrarched by the briers
The absent watermelon didn't seem t.
interest her.
"Let's play house In the grove" suit