Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1931-01-01

/ AAsA"" - e0eN styS1te k0AHcTiuS over
head, the home 1t the edge OF For.
hidden valley Was bright with glow
and cheer. The roast was cut open,
and with attendant dishes OF sukqut.
tahhash. johnnycakp. potatoes, and
carrots and hasty pudding with maple
| sirup, gave opportunity for such feast
Ing that an hour WAS we'll gone before
| HPpsibah Adams thrust back his end
Of the long table bench and brought
forth his fat pack from under the
stairs which led up TO Jeems sleep
Ing loft.
Just a few little trinkets." he be-
gan, using the identical words he had
employed one year after another. -
| few whim- whams and baubles for the
boy, bit OF trumpery for Sister, and
farthing worth OF nothing In par
| ticular for you. Henri. All, here we
have the first package. with writing on
!, 1t In the hand OF the scholar who sold
me the goods---a cap, ruff1e, tucker,
and bolt of lace at five shillinps a
yard Now who in this room can such
/ stiles be for-uness-- and at Cath
crimes delighted exclamation he tossed
the bundle to her But scarce had she
opened 1t, with her eyes intent upon
her business. then Hepsibah unfurled
a red silk pettieoat In the candle glow.
and this time Catherine sprang to her
feet with an amazed intake OF breath.
for SO well hRd Hepsibah arranged his
surprise that, one after another. he
had I white love-hood, black love-
hood, and three more petticoats on the
table-One OF scarlet with black lace,
one OF colored drugget with pointed
lace, and third OF black silk with
ash-gray lining; and as Catherine
stood gazing upon these treasures fit
for a queen he added to them two
pairs Of stays for an eighteen-inch
waist, and then showered over them
such an array OF lace 'droWlas, gor-
gets, piccadiilies, and other necker-
chiefs that Catherine closed her eyes
for moment and then opened them
wide as II there might be chance Of
some clever trickery In It.
Dear Mother In heaven |" she cried
Are all OF these ravishing things for
me? They must have cost fortune -
pauslng to look at her smiling brother
and at the same time holding up the
scarlet petticoat with black lace.
This one, for instance
Two pounds fifteen shillings." said
Hapsibah, opening his pack wider and
working his hands quickly. And to go
with these dresses have here rnffles
and fuckers and threads and buttons
and ribbons, and four pairs OF the
incest shoes that ever came up the
Hudson and placing these last-named
articles on the table with flourish
OF arms, Hepsibah gave gloatIng
chuckle and paused to fill his pipe.
Jeems' heart was near breaking with
suspense, and 1t seemed to give an
audible crack when his Uncle Helps
gnarled hands went into the pack
again. He drew bulky package from
his store and passed 1t to .Jeems'
father.
Three OF the finest pipes ever
laid my eyes on, lie announced. zone
made In Holland, one in London, and
one in America, md five pounds OF
Virginia tobacco to 20 with them,
Henri, along with hat, cont, and a
pair O boots that may take you with
honor to any swoirref or gentry merry
making this side OF the sch. Now.
how's that?' And he stepped back as
II his pack were entirely empty and
held nothing at all for Jeems.
For m eternity, 1t seemed to Jeems.
his uncle remained In this terrifying
posture Then, with deliberate ana
aggravating slowness Hepsibah Adams
returned to his pack.
No one OF the three who were watch
Ing him would ever have guessed that
Hepsibah's act was one weighted
heavily with the force OF destiny, nor
that with dramatic ineyitableness It
was to change the course Of human
lives, bringing the high down to earth,
and the earthly to great heights, loos-
Ing passions and hatreds and loves,
breeding tragedies and joys and end
ing. Mt last, in what 1t is the purpose
Of this humble chronicle Of human
events to narrate.
swlft-coming thought, deft re-
turn into the pack OF small bundle
which he had intended for Catherine.
and Hepsibah had changed a world.
On such trivial happenings do the most
powerful OF the fates sometimes rest.
Out OF the farthest corner of the col
lapsing pack he brought this bundle
to light once more and unwrapped 1t
as he turned toward Jeems' big-eyed,
anxious face
'Jeemsy," he said, IF I've put the
notches In my memory right. you were
born on the coolest January day I ever
saw. and that makes you just. twelve
years and four months old this eve
ming. which means that only three
years and eight months lie be-
twixt you and the day when you can
be counted man. According to law,
you are kings subject OF maturity
from that day and can take life and
all Its belongings into your own hands,
so long as ron are honest about 1t.