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About Polk County itemizer. (Dallas, Or.) 1879-1927 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 17, 1908)
aroused relative and persuade her not to set the dangerous lire. But she might as well have talked against the sweeping wind which threatened danger in case the angen^l woman persisted in her determi nation. Back the pony' went again and Dick was duly informed by a very much fright ened and penitent Constance that Mary was determined to set her fire as soon as the green light appeared. "Well, that settles it," Dick said. "I was going to the village to hear the news, hut I'll stay here now to fight fire if she should set one going. Be sure to tell your father as soon as you get home to hurry over and see your aunt and reason with her.” “ I’ll send Uncle Morris,” Constance “He is a Republican and Aunt Mary is too mad now to listen to any Democrat." But when Constance got home her father and Uncle Morris and every other man and boy in the neighborhood had Written Expressly for this Magazine made for one or other of the villages to get the election news. Telephones were JAMES PURRIE f^ast not common then as now and there was nuts over on the hill opposite,” she said in front of Dick's gate and the owner, no way of reaching them. There was to Constance, when the meal was finished, with whom she had maintained an odd nothing to do but await the issue of "Don’t you want to go over there with and jolly friendship as long as she could events. Dick, chafing with impatience, went in me and see if we can’t pick up a few?” remember, came out to chat with her. O f course Constance did and the basket "Aunt Mary says that Blaine is sure to and out of his house, pacing around and around the yard, then back by his parlor was soon filled. Then, as it seemed that be elected,” she announced, there were no more nuts to gather. Mary "!fot in a thousand years!" Dick cm- fire, where he made an ineffectual effort wanted to know if Constance didn’t think phatically returned. Cleveland is elected to interest himself in a book. Each time it would be fun to pile up some brush for just as sure as that sun is going down he went forth he cast a dreadful glance in the direction of the Widow Mason's a future fire. in the west!” barn, but nothing was to be seen. "The Constance thought it would. According "Aunt Mary savj not.” to Constance’s idea, the activities of this "Well, of course,” said Dick, keeping hour of midnight came and still he looked world could be classed under the gen- in his temper as well as he could, "she only into darkness. But from the win eral headings of study, piano-practice, doesn’t know anything about politics, dow of Mary's house shone a light which showed that the owner was still dishwashing and fun. As piling brush She reads the Tribune and believes it.” did not come under any of the other "Yes,” said Constance, "and she says keeping vigil. He grew miserably de she is sorry for anybody who will believe pressed and when he went out for the headings, it must be fun fiftieth time his face felt flying particles Dick sat within his latticed porch with a anything the World says.” of ice, which the sweeping winds carried _ry-glass directed toward the pair. He "She does, eh? Well, sh along, betokening the start of a snow'. would have died before he would have something different from what she t/loes she called out. “ If a snow comes there will be no "What for?” answered Mary, who was let anybody else know of his occupation, now in a few more hours." But he kept up the watch for hours while "She has a big heap of brush over on danger,” he said to himself; but at that deep,in eep, the mystery of pumpkin pies. "Dick Burton is going by on his way to the brush heap grew bigger. He had the hill which she is going to light as a moment he looked again and saw the vote for Cleveland.” was the response. given all his help a holiday and there was bonfire when she hears that Blaine is green light shining from the gable of "Much good it will do him!” said Mary, no danger of his being caught at his elected.” Constance said, delivering the in- Widow Mason’s barn. He turned a quick glance toward Mary's with a disdainfu] sniff. § clandestine employment. So he laid down formation which had been the express rca- house and saw a lantern moving toward Mary was a Republican, partly because the glass and looked and then raised it son for her stopping at the gate, "Well, if he doesn't light it until she the edge of the wood. Without waiting c.- lire. *’ bivWfcie.. A . been - one, but chiefly be and looked again. Trim and sfcm the two figures moved gracefully about, alike, yet bears that.” Dick spoke with grim con- to lock his door he hastened across his termination to <lle. •*h Mm. nef*ktn*c to save the life of U*c . T‘r~*WSk. Dick could* not help thinking fidence, "the pile will rot away right own field in the direction where the fire .. . / . » Ms own. He persuades Brewster *. cwjv .. i _ .. . might be expected to spread. liciously lnsisteu. -* m « nerves and succeeds further del ? Constance was now Mary where it is. He had with him a water pail and a wearing a white plug hat." " \ thto oon,*'#,'n. . .*enty years before, sti»* in “She has sent Abner to town,” Con- "I wouldn’t care to see a man makin’ a short skirts and full of fun and life. stance said, "to hang a lantern up when shovel with which to beat back the flames. fool o’ himself,” Mary snapped. Boy and girl they had been, with man- lie hears Blaine is elected and she will Then was no water near the place where the fire was starting, but if it spread it "Uncle Morris wears a black plug,” hood and womanhood just before them, light the fire at once.” Constance said. He was very certain that he had been in "Good Heavens J” Dick exclaimed. might come within reach of the supply. "Well, that’s different,” Mary began, love but he had never admitted it to any "Surely she isn’t thinking of setting such The shovel was the best thing he could "It isn’t so— so-----” one else and now he was equally certain a fire with the wind blowing like it is think of for beating out the fire as it "And father wears «a white one,” Con- that his love had long been cold. But now! She will set the whole country spread through the dry grass. He hurried over to his own line not stance continued. he thought it ould be pleasant if they on fire!” "Well, he can do it and welcome!" could be friends once more and talk of "But you say that Blaine isn’t going to far from where tile brush heap stood, just in time to see Mary apply a “blazer” Mary said wrathfully. "He won’t wear it those old days and the confidences that be elected!” said Constance, very long after he knows Blaine is had been exchanged so long ago. But he “ He isn’t!” Dick insisted with passion- to the dried leaves at tile base of the heap. elected.” was not going to meet repulse again. He ate conviction. "But that fool of an Ab- She was on the windward side and the "But Dick told me yesterday.” said the was sorry that Mary was so unforgiving ,KT may hear and believe anything that flame at once drove into the heart of the girl, "that Cleveland is sure to be elected.” and lie would hold naught against her on j j n ’t so— he’s a Republican— and lie may heap. A sharp snapping of twigs was “ That’s all he knows about it.” said that account. But that did not mean tlitf jiang out a lantern without any reason heard, then the steady roar of tile rising Mary, red with indignation. "He’ll change he should expose l'i> head to frein for ¡t ¿0 back, Constance, like a good flames and the pdor of burning bark rose liis mind later.” wounds from the metophorical broom- little gjr|, an<t tell your aunt that#it will pleasantly upon the air. "He told me.” said the niece, with keen stick. Dick stood by the stone wall which' ^ be extremely dangerous to start a fire on enjoyment of her aunt’s displeasure, "that At last the brush heap was of suffici- a night like this. She will be almost cer- marked the boundary of the two places. he was going to pay the expense of having ently colossal proportions to suit Miary’s tain to lose her house if she does.” He spoke no word and Mary knew no a brass band corile out at the head of the vindictive intentions. Constance turned her pony's head and thing of his presence. In the strong light Democrats who will march from the vil "There!” she said triumphantly, "that trotted back to Mary's house. "Dick say3 thrown by the brilliant fire Dick could sec lage to his house and have supper as a will .......... _ a ............ make big enough bonfire to cele- that you had better not set that fire to her features as clearly as if it were day. celebration two nights after the election, brate Blaine’s~ e 1 ectic night!” was the not particularly diplomatic Hers was still a face of great beauty, "Won’t it be fun to see them march past * Oh ! Aunt M ary!” exclaimed Con- manner in which she.announced her mes- though it had lost the youthful prettiness of twenty years before. There was in her here, with their banners and torches. and stance.'whose exceedingly,m all stock of sage. play1" * ‘Hail Columbia or something like ^nlitic^ was of the Democratic persuasion. “ He doe«, does he?” Mary answered face none of the exultation he had ex lhiV_.............._u.4__ uu __ iU , “ And I helped pile it! What will father furiously “ Well he can attend to his pected it to show. He saw her turn and Mary was white with wrath say? What will Dick sayr own business and I will attend to mine.’* look toward where his own light still "He wouldn’t dare do such a thing!” If Con«tance bad rested with the first "He says that you will set the whole burned, but she looked back with an ex she panted. question Mary might have felt conscience- world on fire,” Constance continued sweet- pression of sad weariness which took "Why not?” Constance queried. stricken, but the last hardened her heart, ly. “ He says, though, that if vou wait away much of the resentment of the man, "Uncle Morris will sic Bull on them as And. to speak the truth, Constance asked until Blaine is elected, you’ll be lots older gray and grim, who stood watching out side the circle of light. they go by,” Mary suggested as a des the question with no other purpose than than you are!” perate remedy for impending evil. The wind came only in heavy gusts and that of getting a rise out of Aunt Mary. "Did he say that?” Mary asked in a "Fred English has sent him word that during one of the periods of calm the “ What do I care?” Mary savagely de- voice choking with indignation, if he does he will- shoot Bull full of four while Constance turned aside to "Well, those were not his exact words,” flame rose in a perpendicular sheet which teen holes.” Constance cheerfully replied. manded. a laugh. Constance admitted. "But that was what stood high as the neighboring tree-tops. "Well, if they come past here. I’ll---- - hide “You can tell them to look out for it he meant. He said that the pile would Now was heard the sound of wind com I ’ll-----’’ Mary said, choking with anger. ing througn the forest like the rushing of "But there is no use. They will not come. about midnight!” Mary went on. “ By rot just where it lies. But he said that a distant train. The next moment it was that time 1 will know for sure, though Abner was a fool of a Republican and They are going to he beaten.” have been perfectly certain all along, that you were another— no he didn’t say upon them. There was a scurry of leaves, "Dick says not,” Constance maliciously I I have sent Abner to the village to get that— lie said that Abner would believe the trees shook and bent and the great insisted. flames, yielding to the mighty onrush of Marv ton -m„rv to rente- -Vnvhn.hr the ncws as fast a" '* eomes ">■ As soon any fool thing that he heard about Blame air, lay almost level with the earth. When It nnvilem-tl th'an^Smist-ince’ wnuld h ,v ■ as llc lllat Blaine is elected he is being elected and would hang up his lan- the wind had passed, the fire was every 1 card something decidedly to her disad- F °in* to l,an* a ,allter“ ll‘* Sable of tern and then you would liclicve it too and where for many yards to leeward of the v a n t'iV * y ‘ ner Ul ad W idow M ason's barn.” go burning up the whole country." heap, burning fiercely among the dried Constance went to the window and “And what when he hears that Cleve- M?ry could scarce speak for anger grass and underbrush. chuckled. m politic, *'ec,ed>" Constance Innocent,r I - , * * * Z m V Z • £ Mary stood for a moment in dazed fright, then picked up a crooked stick and S a ' r * « ¿ t Cd.fcyrta n i n.W th r p S h - ^ la n d f a * goin g to be ele cte d !” £ began beating fittilely at the advancing opportunity to tease her Aunt Mary by Marv emphatically responded, _ But Ab- b .|( ^ .* And edge bf flame. But the fire responded to ner asked me some such foolish question quoting Dick's antagonistic opinions. then he can look over here and see a big her strokes only by a shower of sparks She sat by the window until Dick re- as that and iust to satisfy him I told . • ■ relehmrion of the vic- and she was forced to retreat step by turned, when she mischievously called him he could borrow a couple of lanterns t th f>tjirr mean step, while the area of flame went h.v Mary; to .the window, ostensibly to see - a red and a g re e n ^ n e -a n d put u^the ‘^ tc ° vp" b, ^ 1ye^ r^ i„ the c 7 m“ leaps, in the direction of her neighbor's a red squirrel on the wall -------------- but actually iquirr-. ------------- „ to greetj one when he hears Blaine is wall. But, Aunt Mary. Dick says ™ Dick riding by with his white plug cd and— hut that's all there is to it. nis lo , Ba She dropped the stick and turned with Don't mention his name to me again!'' hat. Marv retreated swiftly and nursed Constance gave her aunt several more cxei.j1«e,i passionate anger, the thought of running for help, but sli<- her wrath until diiuier, when her plan of of Dick - confident predictions as to the - . ' , , . rcalizcd that long before she could call revenge was fully matured. result of the election and then mounted Constance saw that her teasing had g?n (C ontinmd on f o g t 9.) "I think there arc still some hickory her por- and started heme She stopped too far and si now tried to sooth her ICK BURTON and Mary Cum mings had lived side by side and had not spoken to each other for twenty years. “ I will never speak to you again,” had been her last words which fell upon his ear, and that had been twenty years ago. There had been no good reason. So Dick thought. Mary thought there was. Anyway, the quarrel had taken place, and Mary had kept her word. Mary’s father had died and her mother had died, and Dick’s father and mother had died, and first Mary and then Dick had become the owner of a big stony farm and a century-old house. They had gone Ol their accustomed ways, and had ignored each other's existence as much as if they had been living on separate planets in stead of on farms the boundaries of which wound in and out of eacli other after the fashion of boundaries of farms which date from old colonial times. Never by any chance did either mention the other’s name except when forced to do so, and then it was with a casual in difference which made their studious avoidance of each other’s mention scent the merest chance. ________ _________ It was election _v day and Dick had ____ been to the polls and voted the straight Dcm- ocratic ticket, after the fashion of his father and grandfather and great-grand- father. His road led past Mary's house. Tt was 1884, when Cleveland and Blaine were the contending candidates and when the opposing partisans advertised their prefer ences by wearing preposterous plug hats of felt— the Republicans black and the Democrats white. Dick had invested in one of these foolish hats and proudly wore it to the polls. Constance Matthews was Mary’s niece, and she was at the window when Dick went by. She began to laugh. D