Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1919-01-20

that she hadn't forgot, but she nevel
said word-not a word. The ol
squire had the palsy, so I he couldn'i
use his hands an his throat was para
lyzed-couldn't speak nor nothin'
Where do We suppose he was when
found him2"
''In bedY l asked.
mo, sir-no. stree! He was In he'll
THAT'S where he was-reglar OF fash,
loned, down-east hell, burnin' with fire
an brimstun, that he'd had tie agency
for an had recommended to every sin.
YER In the neighborhood. He was set.
~ his room. God O. Isr'ell You
orto "a seen the motions he made with
his hands an the way he tried to
speak when went in there, but all
could hear was jest long yell an O
kind of a rattle In his throat. Heavens
an airth! how desperit he tried to
spit out the thing that was gnawin'
his vitals. Ag'in an ag'in he'd try to
tell me. Lord God how he did work ~
IAN to once 1t come acrost me what
he wanted-quick as ye could say scat.
lie wanted to have Kate's headstun
took down an put away--that's what
he wanted. The stun was kind O. lay
in on his stummick an painin' Of him
day an night. He couldn't stan it.
He knew that he was goin to die purity
soon an that Kate would come here
an see it an that everybody would
see her standln' here by her own grave,
an 1t worried him. 1t was kind O. like
a fire in his belly.
II guess, too, he couldn't bear the
idee of layin' down fer his las sleep
beside that hell hole he'd dug fer Kate
no, sirl
"Wal, ye know, mister, I ies' shook
my head an never let on that l knew
what he meant an let him wiggle an
twist like worm on a hot griddle, an
beller like cut bull It'll he fell back in
swoon.
"Damn himl it don't give him no
rest. He tries to tell everybody he
sees-that's what they say. He bel
lers day an night an If you go down
there he'll bcller to you an you'll know
what it's about, but the others don't.
"You an me are the only ones that
knows the secret, guess. Some day.
'fcre he dies, I'm goln' to take up that
headstun an hide it, but he'll never
know it's done--no, sir--not til he
gifts to the judgment seat, anyway"
The old man rose and Strengthened
himself and blew out his breath and
brushed his hands upon his trousers
by way of stepping down into this
world again out of the close and dusty
loft of his memory. But l celled him
back.
"What has become OF Enoch?" I
asked.
"Wal, sir, Enoch started off West
bout three year ago an we amt heard
a word from him since that day-nary
word, mister. l suppose we will some
time. He grew into q good man, but
there was kind Of queer streak in
tire blood, as ye might say, on both
sides kind o.. We've wrote letters out
to Wisconsin, where he was p'intin'
for, an to places on the way, but we
can't git no news bout him. Mebbe
he was killed by the Injuns."
We walked out of the graveyard to-
gether In silence.
l could see glimmer of a light in
the thicket of pines down the valley. l
unhltched and mounted my horse.
"Take the first turn to the right"
said the old man as he picked up his
scythe.
I'm very much obliged to you," I
said.
mo We amt, nuther," he answered.
"Leastways there amt no reason why
ye should be-"
My horse, impatient as ever to find
the end Of the road, hurried me along
and In moment or two we were down
under the pine grove that surrounded
the house of old Squire Fullerton-a
big, stone house with graveled road
around 1t. A great black dog came
barking and growing at me from the
front porch. / rode around the house
and he followed. Beyond the windows
I could see the CLEAN of candlelight
and moving figures. A man came out
of the back door as neared it.
who's there?" he demanded.
MY Iame Is Barton Baynes from
st. Lawrence county. Kate Fullerton
is my friend and wish to see her."
"Come up to the steps, sor. Don't
git off yer horse-'til I've chained the
dog. Kate'll be out in minute"
He chained the dog to the hitehing
post and as he did so loud, long,
walling cry broke the silence of the
house. II put me in mind Of the COM
plant Of the damned which | remem-
bered hearing the minister describe
years before at the little schoolhouse
in LlckitySpllt. How II narrowed me
The man went into the house. Soon
he came out Of the door with lighted
in his hand, a woman following.
How vlvldly | remember the little mur-
mur Of delight that came from her lips
when he held the candle so that its
light fell upon my facel ] jumped Off
my horse and gave the reins to the
man and put my arms around the poor
woman, whom l loved for her sorrows
and for my debt to her, and rained
kisses upon her wlthered cheek. oh