The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1919-04-24
CHAPTER xIv-continued.
So saying he handed me this letter


him have been flying around like
pigeons. When school is out 1 would
like to hear from you, what is the rec
ord? What do you think of the soul
in him? What kind of work is best
for it? If you will let me maybe 1
can help the plans of God d little. That
is my business and yours. Thanking
you for reading this. I am, as ever,
Goods humble servant,
KATE FULLERTON
"Why, this is the writing of the ST.
lent Woman" said before 1 had read
the letter half through.
''Rovin' Kate?"
Rowing Kate; 1 never knew her 9TH
er name, but l saw her handwriting
long ago"
But IOOk-this is Il neatly written,
well-wOrded letter an the sheet is as
white and clean as the new snow. IN
canny woman. They say she carries
the power o. God in her right hand.
So do all the wronged''
81 wonder why Kate is asking about
me- 1 said.
Never mind the reason. She is your
friend and let US thank God for it.
Think how she came to yer help in the
old barn an say q thousand prayers,
roy lad"
Having come to the first flight of
the uplands, he left me with many
kind wOrd-how much they mean to
Ii boy who is choosing his way with a
growing sense of loneliness!
l reached the warm welcome of our
They were expecting me and it was a
regular company dinner-chicken pie
and strawberry shOrtcake.
How we'll I remember that hour with
the doors open and the sun shining
brightly on the blossOming fields and
the joy of man and bird and beast in
the return of summer and the talk
about the late visit of Alma Jones and
Mr.. and Mrs. Lincoln!
While we were eating I told them
about the letter of old Kate.
Fullerton ~ Aunt DeeI exclaimed.
care We sure that was the name, Bart %
yes"
Goodness gracious sakes alive!"
She and Uncle Peabody gave each
other looks of surprised inquiry.
DO you know anybody by that
name?" 1 asked.
I'VE used to-" said Aunt DeeI as she
resumed her eating. Cant be she's
one o. the Sam FuIlertons. can it?''
'Oh. prob'Iy not" said Uncle Pea
body. Back East they's more Fuller
tons than We could shake stick att
week later we had our raising.
Uncle Peabody did not want a public
hr1f
way. We had hewed and mortised and
bored the timbers for our new home
The neighbors came with pixies and
helped to raise and stay and cover
them. a great amount of human kind
ness went into the beams and rafters
of that home and of others like it.
knew that The Thing was still alive
In the neighbOrhOod, but even that
could not paralyZe the helpful hands 81
those people. Indeed, what was said
of my Uncle Peabody was nothing
more or less than kind of converse.
tional firewOod. 1 cannot think that
any one really believed it.
We had cheerful day A barrel OF
hard cider had been set up in the door
yard, and remember that some drank
1t too freely. The he-o-hee of the men
as they lifted on the pixies and the
sound of the hammer and beetle rang
in the air from morning until night
Mrs. Rodney Barnes and Mrs. Dorothy
came to help Aunt Deel with the cook
ing and Il great dinner was served or
an improvised table in the dOoryari
where the stove was set up. The
shingles and sheatheS and clapboarC
on
Uncle Peabody and 1 put in the
floors and stairway and partitions
More than once in the days we wer,
working together I tried to tell hin
what Sally had told me, but my cOur
age failed.
The day came, shortly, when I haC
to speak out, and l took the straigh
way of my duty as the needle of th'
compass pointed. 1t was the end O
a summer day and we had watched tn,
dusk I'll the valley and come creepin:
up the slant, sinking th., powders anC
thorn tops in its flood, enc by one. A:
we sat looking out of the open doc
that evening / told them what Sail.
had told me of the evil report which
had travelled through the two towns.
Damn, little souled, narrer con
tracted-" Uncle Peabody, speaking il
low. sad tone, but with deep feeling
cut off this highly promising opinion
before it was half expressed. and ROSE
and went to the water pail and drank
'As long as we're honest we dom
care what they say" he remarked a:
he returned TO his chair.
If they won't believe US, we ough
to show EN- the papers ayes" saiC
Aunt Deel.
Thunder an Jehui I wouldn't g
round the town tryin' to prove that
amt thief" said Uncle Peabody. At
wouldn't make nc differ'nce They'v,
got to have somethin' to play with
If they want to use my name for {
bean bag let 'em as long as they do +
when I sin't lookin'. I wouldn't won
der if thty got sore hands by an by"
naver heard him speak of it again
Indeed. although knew 9he topic wa:
often IN our thoughts It was never
mentioned in our home but once aftel
that, TO my knowledge.
We sat for long time thinking al
the night camo on.