could gorrontee you peace from wars and sech troubles. We all ricollect
the truce that was called here in early summer by Fallons and Kents
for the time you stayed. Now I could take advantage of Fult and Darcy
and say to 'em that, now you aim maybe to stay for good, the truce
will hold for all time. But this wouldn't be hardly fair, when their
intentions was only for the summer. If they will agree now, of their
own free will, to make hit stand allus, then we will know just where
we are at, and whether to go on and fix for the school. If they won't,
then we cast our plans to the winds, dig graves for all our bright
hopes, and bid you a sad far'well. Hit all hangs upon the mind of them
two boys, and I ax them to be pondering whilst I talk on.
"Hit appears to me, people, that what we need is to get back to the
time, two year gone, when we was enjoying peace, and when Fulty, having
fit for his country, first come back from Cuby, and everybody was proud
to welcome back such a pretty, brave boy; for, like his paw, he was
allus much beloved. Hit is my opinion that, if he felt like working
off his sperrits a leetle, then, and shooting up the town, and a few
meetings, and sech-like harmless pleasures, no notice ought to have
been took; hit was naetural, especially atter that turrible, pent-up
year at Frankfort. The grand jury would have done better--yes, hit
would, Lot--to take no notice. Atter hit did take notice, and drawed
up the indictments, then Darcy, being sheriff, was obligated, whether
he liked hit or not, to sarve 'em, which, as might have been foreseed,
Fulty wouldn't stand for. So, as you mought say, the grand jury was
the main cause--yes, hit was, Lot--of the war starting up again,
and of placing them two boys in a position where they purely had to
fight. And, not larning wisdom from experience, hit went on drawing
indictments every court, which was but throwing fire in gunpowder.
"Now, my idee is to go back and drap out them two years like they had
never been, and ondo what harm was done the best we can. And to that
eend," drawing a sheaf of papers from his pocket, "I tuck hit upon me
afore I come up here to go to the clerk's office and get out every
indictment again' Fulty, which I now hold all and sing'lar here in
my hand, my notion being, sence they have fotched so much sorrow and
trouble on us, to destroy and burn 'em here in the eyes of the county."
Calmly drawing a match from his pocket, the old man set fire to a
corner of the sheaf, and held it out before him as the flames arose.
"Some folks, especially lawyers, mought say hit was a leetle
high-minded for a man to take the law in his hands this way," he
remarked; "but there's times, people, when righteousness has first
claims over law. Hit is my prayer," he continued, watching the flames,
"that in this here smoke all ricollections of Fult's and Darcy's
troubles, and of their fathers' troubles afore them, shall pass away
and perish."
When he had seen the last bit of paper fall to the ground and blacken
and crumble, he turned to Fult.
"Fulty," he said, "Knott County hain't got ary single thing again' you
no more--all is wiped out and done away. Hit confidences you never to
do no more wrong.
"And you, Darcy, hain't obligated never no more to pursue atter Fult.
Hit is my belief you allus wanted peace, and want it wusser now that
things has come into your life to make hit more sweeter to you.
"And now I will ax you two boys to come forward here on the stand and
say what you feel to do."
The two young men, both still in their lordly velvet garments, stepped
on the platform from different sides, and slowly approached Uncle
Ephraim and the women in the centre.
"You being the oldest, speak first, Darcy," he commanded.
Darcy, gazing all the time into the eyes of the cooking teacher below,
spoke clearly, calmly. "I say let the truce hold forever," he said; "I
never wanted war."
Uncle Ephraim turned to Fult. "Hit is my prayer, Fulty," he said, "that
you will be of the same mind. Hit is my hope to see you from now on
leading the county in goodness and rightness, and raising up offsprings
for us as brave as you and as fair as Lethie here, who is our fairest."
Fult stood a moment silent. Lethie, still a fairy princess, but with
little Madison now in her lap, leaned forward slightly from a front
seat, her soul in her eyes as she gazed upon Fult; and Aunt Ailsie
waited for his words with trembling hands.
Then he spoke. "I love my country," he said, "the land that give me
birth and suck. And I love my people, though they hain't allus done
me right, and some of 'em sont me off once where I couldn't never see
nothing but stone walls. But I don't hold that again' em--they never
knowed how hard hit would be. But there is feelings in my heart I don't
never expect to be able to forget, and hit was them I had to study on
before I could answer Uncle Ephraim. If anything could make me forget,
hit would be what he said and done here to-day; if anything could make
me like the name of Kent, hit would be his goodness and justice. And
I don't feel to disapp'int the hopes and expectations of that good
old man, or to stand in the way of good coming to the young of this
country. I will, therefore, bury my feelings as deep as I can, and give
my word never to let them get the better of me no more. If I find they
are aiming to bust forth, whether or no, I will quit the country before
they do. I give you my hand on hit. Uncle Ephraim."
The old man took Fult's hand, with a sudden movement clasped it to his
bosom, and then passed it, and afterward Darcy's, to the two women.
"You'll come to us now, women?" he asked.
Their faces bore the look of those who have just received a great and
solemn call. "We will come," they answered.
Then, bowing his head upon his breast, Uncle Ephraim prayed, simply:--
"Father of our sperrits, look down upon this here scene to-day and
pour out blessings upon these two young men that has put aside their
hate and revengement for the good of the county; may they have a
failable ricollection for meanness done 'em in the past, and hearts
more and more mellered by love and life in the future. And look upon
these good women, that is about to cast in their lot with us; hold up
their hands while they do for our young-uns and lighten our darkness.
Look upon the county, strike off hits shackles, turn again hits
captivity, bring hit into the fair and wealthy land that now stretches
plain in view ahead. And, Lord of all mercy. Answerer of Prayer, now
lettest Thou thy servant depart in peace."
Printed by McGrath-Sherrill Press, Boston
Bound by Boston Bookbinding Co., Cambridge