The Columbus dispatch. (Columbus, Miss.) 19??-1922, 1922-01-04
A NEW YEARS PROMISE

i gave me a good sound strapping. II
hurt him more than it did me, he used
to say, but the reminder would be
ever present with me. Until ! was
twenty-one, regularly upon each birth
day the strap played its part and
III think it did good deal towards
teaching me that had master and
in making me better man. | have
concluded to adopt that feature with
my system. You're a pretty good boy,
hut for fear you might kick over the
traces I'm going TO bulk the system
until you are of age. Now, then, take
your punishment like man."
Joel Hardy produced a short, thick
piece of tanned cowhide and Norman
WINGED, but did not cry out during
the unique castigation. 1t was five
years later, and with the usual routine
Flate in the afternoon Joel Hardy re-
minded Norman Of the pending mid
night event. His eyes bulged and his
face betrayed overwhelming amaze
ment as Norman stool up before him,
tall, well-knit STRIPPING almost men
acing in his bearing as he said:
Father, there will be no 5trapping
this time. I'm through with it. Half
the town has heard of it, and the
boys taunt me and the girls twit me.
/ Not that care for any of them ex-
cept Milly Daniels, and she's true
blue and stands by me, and won't
have her humbled and shamed. I'm
going to spend this New Years eve
with the crowd, and I'll be home to
breakfast"
"If you don't report here by ten
O'Clock III send the town marshal
after you" pronounced his father
with fire in his eye.
Norman marched out Of the house,
hung around down town until eight
o'clock, and then repaired to the
agreed-on rendezvous Of the crowd,
an old buggy shed attached 70 great
barn owned by farmer Logan. He felt
uneasy, stubborn and nettled. Re-
Gently he had been dared by his COM
panions to smoke a cigarette. He
had met the dare and now, with two
of them in his pocket, he lit one, and,
in sheer rebellion against his fathers
system, was about to puff out his re-
sentiment when the signal cry of his
comrades echoed forth. Carlcssly he
threw the lighted cigarette into
corner of the shed, he bounded out
and for over an hour forgot all save
| the excitement of the moment The
lnruly cotetie rolled a giant SNOWFALL
and let 1t slide down the hill leading
to the town common; they got up into
the town hall tower and rang it's bell.
IN the midst of setting loose a drove
Of cattle from a live stock enclosure
they were attracted by the dash and
rush of the village fire cart, making
for a vivid, spreading glare.
"Why, it's Farmer Logan's place"
shouted a chorus of excited voices
and Norman Hardys heart stood stiHs
He recalled the cigarette and the lit
tered woodshed. He stood dumb and
scared The flames completely en-
quilted the great frame barn. Norman
skunk off alone by himself, oppressed
with an appalling sense Of guilt. His
emotions were doubly infested when
he heard someone say;
logan thinks it was set ablaze.
Arson. | pity the firebug if he's
caught It's straight Ii years in the
penitentiary."
1T will ruin Logan they say spoke
another. "The barn was stored with
grain and machinery and the insur-
ance ran out last week"
Norman was crushed with a sense
of his culpability. He felt like flying
| from home, town and all the people
he had ever known. He SIX liked be-
hind a hedge as a group of girls came
along. They were discussing the fire
so excitedly that they paid no atten
tion to the lone member Of their group
trailing on behind them. Norman
noticed her, however. She was Milly
Daniels He startled her by stepping
directly in her path.
"Just linger for a moment, will you
Milly?" he spoke under high agita-
ton, cor I'll walk with you bit. I'm
in terrible trouble, and I'm going to
leave town for good" and Norman re-
cited the entire story of the evening.
There's only one way out, don't you