The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1919-01-01
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itysplit, about the year lszo. Barton meets
Sally Dunkelberg, about his own age, but
socially OF a class above the Baynssss.
and Is fascinated by the pretty face
and nne clothes.
We now stood, face to face and
breast to breast, like a pair of young
ROSTERS. He gave me a shove and
told me to go home. / gave him a
shove and told him wouldn't.
pushed up close TO him again and
we glared into each others eyes.
Suddenly he spat in my face.
gave him a scratch on the forehead
with my finger-nails. Then we fell
upon each other and rolled on the
ground and hit and scratched with
feline ferocity.
Mrs. Wills ran out of the house and
parted us. Our blood was hot, and
leaking through the skin of our faces
a little.
"He pitched on me-" Henry ex-
planned.
/ couldn't speak.
go right home-this minute-you
bratr' said Mrs. Willis in anger.
a.rHeres your tea. Don't you ever come
tsIere again."
- took the tea and started down the
lhJad weeping. What a bitter day
: that was for mel / dreaded to face
my aunt and uncle. Coming through
the grove down by our gate 1 met
Uncle Peabody. With the keen In
sight Of the father Of the prodigal son
he had seen me coming "a long way
off" and shouted:
"Well, here We bel was kind O.
worried, Bub."
Then his eye caught the look Of de-
lection In my gait and figure. He hur-
ried toward me. He stopped as /
came sobbing to his feet.
"Why, what's the matterr he asked
gently, as he took the tea cup from
my hand, and sat down upon his heels.
could only fall into his arms and
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"
said, and the words came slow with
sobs.
ooh, no, he didn't" said Uncle Pea
body.
Eyes he Gid. 1 saw a piece o. the
rim"
'well by" said Uncle Peabody,
stopping as usual, at the edge Of the
precipice.
"He's a snake,"rI added.
"And you fit and he scratched you
up that way?'
81 scratched him, too"
"Don't you say a word about 1t 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 q 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 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 on the way home. We were
so evenly matched that our quarrel
went on for long time and gathered
intensity as IL continued.
One June day Uncle Peabody and
], from down In the fields, saw a
fine carriage drive In at our gate. He
stopped and looked intently.
Jerusalem four-cornei-si I" he ex-
claimed. Its Mr.. and Mrs. Horace
Dunkelberg."
Ny 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 of
yer feet an legs"
ran for the brook and before
had returned to my uncle heard the
horn blow.
"The Dunkelbergs 1.-THE Dunkel-
bergsi Come quickP 1t seemed to
say.
Mr.. Dunkelberg was a big, broad
shouldered, solemn-looking man. Some
how his face reminded me Of lions
which I had seen In one Of my pic
ture books. He had thick, long, out
.-ftpnding mustache and side whiskers,
nd deep-set eyes and heavy eyebrows.
He stood for half q moment looking
N down at me from great height with
his right hand In his pocket heard
a little Jingle Of coins down where
his hand was It excited my curios-
fly. He took step toward me and
/ retreated. feared. a little, this
big, non-like man. Ny fears left me
suddenly when he spoke In a small
squeaky voice that reminded me Of
the chipping Of q bird
little boy, come here and ! win
make you . present said he.
II reminded me Of my disappoint'
ment when uncle tried to shoot hia
gun at . squirrel and only the eap
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