FRIDAY, MARCH 11, 1932.
VERNONIA EAGLE, VERNONIA, OREGON
PAGE FOUR
WILDERNESS
. ¿4 Tale uf the beginning
\
ofa/\éur faifland $
ly IRVING BACtlELLER
At a quarter of ten they set out
for the prison led by a servant tn
uniform with »word and halberd.
"This man Is deaf—very deaf,"
said the governor. "There nre
times when I need such a servant.
He Is a most respectable looking
creature and he understands every
movement of my hand.
I shall
send him into the room with you
and Robert. You can talk freely.
He will not hear you.”
Peggy wus shown to a room be
yond the warden’s office where
prisoners were brought to see their
counsel nnd ..........................
their friends. The
servant stood erect In a corner. Ills
halberd at his side. Robert en-
tered. lle was pule nnd thin but
still as straight as an arrow. The
two met In the middle of the room
and embraced each other. For a
moment neither spoke.
"I thought that I would bo brav
er than this." said Peggy as she
wiped her eves. "Come, let us sit
down together.”
In a cheery tone she told him
of William's refusal to plead and
of his confinement, of the testl-
mon.v against him, of the circum
stances that led to bls relense, of
the humiliation of the hempen
rope, of his courageous conduct
which had won the admiration of
the community, of the growing con
viction that he, Robert 1 leathers,
was guilty because he liad fled
from the Jurisdiction of the court
and refused to return to It, of Wil-
Ham's going with Captain Mason
to tight against the Pequots.
“Now I am to be your lawyer
and for once In your life I slinll
ask you to obey my wishes.” said
Peggy, “You will be brought Into
court tomorrow.
You will of
course plead Hint you are not
guilty, I think that I know of evl-
deuce that will delay action until
It can be produced in court. T
have seen men fail so often there
that I am going to see what a
woman can accomplish with those
sturdy, iron magistrates. Their
wives have no trouble in managing
them.”
‘‘I had already determined to
plead Hint I am not guilty,” said
Robert. ‘‘I suppose that they will
hang me. I saw my fate in those
stern faces on the bench. Well. T
have suffered so many terrors that
dying seems easy, and then T have
learned one tiring from the red
men. It Is fortitude. I have seen
one of them die twenty deaths
without a murmur!”
Peggy held Iris hand In hors and
said: ‘‘Whatever happens tomor
row after you have pleaded, hold
your peace and let no word pass
your Ups. For once—Just once—I
must do all the talking. I wish
that I could sit with you the whole
night, but we must both seek our
rest and the governor is waiting
for me.”
So this meeting of lovers came
to Its end. Preceded by the digni
fied halberdier, Peggy walked with
the governor to bls house, where
she spent the night. They were an
hour by the fireside discussing the
strange eventful story with details
known only to them nnd lavin’
their plans. The governor wr< e
note to Porman. The maid, who
brought her night clot lies and helped
her to bed, was told to awake her at
seven nnd bring her sop and beer.
So Peggy was up betimes and on
her way to the house of Rev. Phil
ander Porman. She had worked
with him tn the new school for the
children of the poor, lie was a
learned man of rare Insight, who
was fond of Peggy nnd knew of
her devotion to Robert, lie had
given her friendly counsel. Lately
he hnd told Iter of knowing a new
witness In the famous adultery
case who would, he felt sure,
change the complexion of the whole
matter. He had been alone by the
bedside of Mabel Hartley when she
died and had taken her last con
fession. Therein the name of the
witness wns disclosed. Peggy was
the only person who hnd shared his
confidence in this matter. Peggy
found him In his study and was
heartily welcomed. She told Per-
man of the arrival of Robert and
of his great peril from Imsty ac
tion. She delivered the note from
Governor Vane.
•‘Rut now the deputies have to
be reckoned with,” said Porman.
•‘They like to curb the severity of
the magistrates.”
-Still Robert
“
Is n hated arlsto-
crat. I hope tn engage their sym-
pa thy. But I dare not Ro to court
without the help you cnn give me.”
-I)p you wish me to go to the
witness chair?”
“Not yet. But I would like a
written statement, signed by you.
regarding the new witness- some
thing that will give strong support
to my plea for the delay we need
to find him and bring him into
court. Do you know where he Is?"
“Yes, and 1 think that we could
bring him here within a week,
shall need a trusty messenger."
"You shall have Amos Todkill.'
“Send him to me," said Porman
as he sat down at Ids desk and
began to write.
Soon he rend to Peggy the letter
which he had addressed to the
magistrates, deputies and assist
ant» of ths court of colony of Mas
■achusetts Bay. It was an ad
mtrable letter of a temperate and
The girl was
convincing tone,
pleased with It. She went tn the
Inn to find Aim* Todkill. They
told her that he had gone to the
prison. She found him sitting
alone on the prison steps, his head
resting on Ids hands. He arose
and came to her with a sad look
in his face.
“Oh, miss! I'm all wilted down
like an empty sack throwed on the
ground," he said sorrowfully.
"Cheer up, man," said Peggy.
“They cannot hang him. I am go
ing to defend with good evidence.”
Amos bowed, his hat In bis
hand, and then looked at her face:
“The candle o' the Lord Is in yer
soul,” lie said, “1 can see the
slilne o’ It In yer eyes, I reckon
that's why Robert loves ye so.1
"How do you know that he loves
me?" Peggy asked.
“Good Lord o' mercy, gal I If he
hadn't hnd hold o' that little hand
o’ yours do ye think he could 'a'
hopped Into hell und clini' out
ag'in? Every day he were thlnkln’
o’ you. Ye know when a man Is
sick and sufferin' it’s a right smart
help for his mind to have a cud
like that to chaw on.”
"Thanks, Amos! I wouldn’t have
missed hearing that. I have come
to tell you that I need your help.
Go to Rev. Philander Porman, who
lives in Church lane. He will send
you to find a new witness for Rob
ert. Bring him to me as soon as
you can. Here Is money.”
Many people were on their way
to the courthouse. When she ar
rived there its seats were tilled
and the area behind them was
crowded. She entered the space
near tlie throne of Justice reserved
for prisoners, officers of the court
and counsel. She sat down. The
grave-faced magistrates. In black
robes and broad white collars, en
tered, followed by the assistants
and deputies. Two constables came
with the prisoner. The court was
called to order. Robert Heathers
was arraigned and asked to plead,
lie declared that he was not guilty.
Governor Vane said: “Before we
proceed with this trial there Is one
here who lias asked for the priv
ilege of addressing the court nnd
presenting a communication relat
ing to Important evidence lately
discovered bearing on the point at
issue. We will now give our at
tention to Miss Weld."
Peggy Wold arose and bowed.
She was dressed in sober black
with a white collar and snowy lace
beneath her throat and on her
wrists. The costume was cunning
ly chosen. It was the right acces
sory for her color and her beauty
and the singular charm of her
manner. In n moment all those
stern-faced men were deeply Inter
ested. With a modest bearing and
a voice filled with the music of a
sincerity she won their sym-
Wliat she said is In the
records of the court:
"Gentlemen, not long ago we
were all Impressed by the eloquent
words of our governor when he
spoke of the peril of haste in seek
ing ’ustice. when he told how our
fafhera had been wronged by hasty
judgment» Inspired by bitter feel
ing and carried out with an tm-
perfect knowledge of the I truth
Remembering those words
------- I now
ask you for a brief delay in these
proceedings. I ask It not because
the prisoner Is my lover, not be-
cause bls life Is dearer to me even
than my own, but because I have
discovered new evidence which
may save you from an error the
consequence of which, In ruined
lives and afflicted conscience, you
could never repair. I have the
honor ot bringing to your minds a
communication from one whom
you all know and respect—Rev.
Philander Porman."
She read the letter:
" ‘To the magistrates, assistants
and deputies of the General court,
Gentlemen: I had not thought that
it would ever be necessary for me
to address you as I now do. But
the time has come when I must
tell you that I know who was
guilty of adultery with Mabel
Hartley on the night of October
twelfth. He is not either Robert
Heathers or the beloved William
Along the Concrete
I grain on thousands of acres
| without danger of oversupplying
Little Promise Seen in Late Crop the local northwest market. Seed
flax has an assured market in
Opportunity in Gras* Seed,
Portland and will do well when
properly cared for on much wes-
Clover, Corn, Flax
tern Oregon land.
COLUMBIA FARMERS
the white man. The colony had
given them no cause of 111 will.
The battles at their well-built
fort on Mystic river, In the swamp
and at the last stronghold of the
tribe on a hilltop above the Pequot
river, were a stern lesson to the
wild men of the forest. No other
was needed for nearly half a cen
tury.
Of the heroic conduct of William
Heydon one may read In Mason’s
own account of the campaign, how
he cut the bowstring ot a savage
aiming at his commander from a
point so close that the arrow would
no doubt have done serious dam
age. It was fighting hand to hand
and face to face. His sword flashed
at Mason's side as swift as a cat's
foot and many fell before it.
The victorious company re-
turned to Boston three days after
Peggy Weld had changed the plans
of the general court. In his re
port to the governor Captain Ma
son declared that his life had been
saved by William Heydon who
•'from the beginning to the end of
the campaign had behaved in the
fashion of a hero.” The new-won
fame of the young man quickly
spread from house to house. A
committee of the leading citizens
went to his home to express their
appreciation. It did not find him.
Margaret Hooper reported that he
had gone to the prison to see his
friend, Robert Heathers.
It Is only known that the young
men spent an hour together In the
room where Peggy had sat with
Robert. Dusk was falling and the
beacons were aglow when William
came away and wulked to his
home.
What She Said I, In the Records
of the Court.
possibilities of profitable ex
EARLY SPUDS LOOK vide
pansion in many sections. Corn
BETTER THIS YEAR could replace potatoes or spring
Heydon. He is quite another In
dividual. I know a witness to his
misbehavior who cun, I hope, be
brought here within a week or so.
“ 'With deep respect 1 am
“ 'Your obedient servant,
“‘Philander Porman.'"
Peggy sat down. Her plea for
time was granted. There was a
great stir In the crowd as the peo
ple began to leave their seats. The
governor beckoned her to the
bench and whispered: “Well done."
John Winthrop shook her band
(Continued Next Week)
and the stern Dudley smiled as he
looked down upon her.
Bishop
George Edward Epp, D.
This modest maiden had become
a toast and a theme in the colony. D., Rev. F. B. Culver, district
superintendent of the Portland
district of the Evangelical church,
and Rev. C. P. Gates, district sup-
William Return» From the War
erintendent of the Salem district,
and Is Praised for Heroic
were guests at the home of Rev.
Conduct.
HE Pequot Indians had fallen and Mrs. G. W. Plumer last week.
CHAPTER XIV
T
on the English settlers in Con
necticut and slain men and women
as they worked In the fields. John
Tilly had been ambushed and slain
on the fresh water river. A whole
family In that valley had been
massacred. It all came of an an
cient grievance when Thomas
Hunt, an Irresponsible man, seized
twenty-seven Inoffensive Pequots
In 1614 and took them away In the
hold of Ills ship and sold them as
slaves. It wes a grievance against
TAX ASSESSMENTS
MADE IN COUNTY
Assessing in various parts of
Columbia county began March 1,
according to Fred J. Watkins,
county assessor, who states that
five men are working in farming
communities.
T. W. Tandy will have charge
of the work in Marshland and vi
cinity; Donald Parcher will make
assessments in Mayger, Rainier,
and vicinity; Caly Sherman will
cover the communities of Yank
ton, Deer Island, and Columbia
City; H. T. Bennett has been
given the neighborhoods of Bach-
elor Flat and Warren and J. G.
Watts will visit homes in Scap-
poose and vicinity.
Owing to sharp reductions in
various county expenses by the
levying board, the amount to be
raised by tax for 1931 expenses
is only $702,310.20 as compared
to $1,008,199.11—a difference of
over $250,000.
Levies in the various cities and
towns of the county show a re
duction from the levies of 1929
and 1930. The greatest difference
is shown in the Vernonia levy
which dropped from 93.7 in 1930
to 56.1 in 1931. The lowest levy
is that of Columbia City with
39.4; St. Helens is next with
42.1 as compared with 65.8 for
1930; Goble has 43.0 for 1931 as
compared to 48.8 for 1930. Scap-
poose levy will be 47.0; that of
Clatskanie is 59.8; Rainier shows
the highest levy in the county
with 62.9, which is a reduction
from 69.7 in 1930.
—St. Helens Sentinel.
It used to be said that the way
MAY LOWER TAXES
to grow high priced potatoes was
to plant cheap ones—as most
“There will probably be a re
farmers --
do « just
---------
--- the
--- opposite— i ciassuicution
classification ui
of vuiumuiu
Columbia vvuiiuy
county
but such doesn’t appear to be lands as the direct result of Sat.
the case this
“ ‘ year, warns —
E. -- — R. urday’s meeting with the mem
Jackman, crops specialist at O. bers of the State Tax Commis
S. C„ in reviewing this season’s sion,” was the opinion of O. Hen
crops outlook. Every indication "’ou” commenting on Satur-
points to poor prices on late po- ! day>s meeting .<At the present
tatoes again next year, he says, {¡mej Columbia county is the only
provided normal crops are pro-'one ¡n the state that clasgifie8
duced.
farm lands as‘cultivated,* ‘tillable*
“Farmers who normally grow'and ‘non-tillable.’ We hope that
a certain acreage year after year j ¡n the future our lands will be
illUy wall
well nnntinna
continue fn
to rlr»
do an
so, ,r ” I • classified as ‘cultivated, » ’ «.kiwi,
which
says Jackman, “But this is a will include all lands under cul
poor time for a new man to tivation, or ‘non-tillable’ which
jump into the business.
will include stump land.”
“On the other hand, there ap
A group of farmers met with E.
pear to be much better pros L. Fisher and Mr. Scott, of the
pects for fair prices for early state tax commission in a pro
potatoes,” Jackman believes. “The longed session. The farm owners
early crop in California prom were endeavoring to get assess-
ises to be greatly reduced so ments on their lands lowered. At
that it would appear to be a good present, Mr. Oleen stated, Colum
bet for the potato grower to de bia county farm lands are given
vote more of his acreage than a valuation of about $71 per acre
usual to varieties to be dug as . w
hich is cunsiueruoiy
considerably uiuie
more than
willlll
man
early in the summer as possible.” ' ! the valuation given land in Polk,
Jackman does not stop with Clackamas and Marion counties.
telling what not to plant, but al
—St. Helens Sentinel.
so lists a number of seed crops
that give good promise, particu
larly in western Oregon. Red and
alsike clover are the “backbone”
of the seed industry, and des
pite present low prices Jackman
PACKET HEADS
believes conditions are right for
an upturn in this business.
LETTERHEADS
“The market still looks good
for Austrian winter peas,” Jack
INVITATIONS
man continued. “Drouth in the
STATEMENTS
south had as much to do with
poor demand last fall as poor
BILL HEADS
farm prices. The acreage for next
year is way below requirements.
ENVELOPES
“Forget about the common
Italian rye grass, as there is too
RECEIPTS
much of it for present condi
DODGERS
tions, but we could grow some
English rye grass. English rye
FOLDERS
grass, orchard grass, tall oat
grass, chewing fescue, and meadow
BLANKS
fescue all offer good returns and
CARDS
are cheap crops to grow. There
is no reason why Oregon could
TAGS
not be producing these crops at
the rate of some $300,000 a
. . . . and guarantee your
year.”
Corn and seed flax also pro-1 aatiafaedon with our work
We Print
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11