Jasper County Democrat, Volume 12, Number 96, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 March 1910 — OUESTION OF DESCENT [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

OUESTION OF DESCENT

Settled to the Satisfaction of Ail Concerned. By CLARISSA MACK lE. [Copyright. 1910, by American Press Asso** elation.] “There’s no use talking, Addison, I’ve got it all fixed in my mind plain as can be that you’re descended from ‘Over the Mountain Dodge.’ who used to live in the white farm on the east slope.” Mr. Luke Goddard knocked the ashes from his pipe and carefully refilled the bowl. When he had returned it to his lips and applied a match, he lifted his keen gray eyes to the obstinate face of the young man on the other side of the hearth. "What say, Addison?” he Insisted. Addison Dodge arose to bis great height and looked down on the little gray bearded father of Emily Goddard. “I ought to know who my great grandfather was,” he said with cold dignity. “‘Over the Mountain, Dodge’ wasn’t any ancester of mine. I’m descended from Philemon Dodge of Exeter and nobody else, sir.” Emily Goddard’s father shook a crooked forefinger at Emily’s lover, and his shrill voice quavered with rage. “Don’t you dare contradict me to my face, Addison Dodge! I’d like to know who ’twas that taught school on the mountain here for thirty years—eh?” “You did,” returned Addison crisply. “Who is it that’s allowed to know the genealogy of every man, woman and child in Peters county, eh?” “You.” “Who is it that’s referred to when the committee wants to find out who fit in the wars, eh?” “You.” Luke Goddard’s voice rose triumphant. “And who are you that sets up and tells me that you ain’t descended from ‘Over the Mountain Dodge’ when I say you are. eh?” “I’m Philemon Dodge's great-granu-son,” retorted Addison firmly, “and no body else.” There was a long silence after that while the two men measured the depth

of each other’s obstinacy with narrowed eyes. Pretty Emily came and peeped at them through the kitchen door, and at sight of their angry faces her own went quite pale. Finally her father spoke. "My daughter Emily shan’t marry any one except be descends from ‘Over the Mountain Dodge.’ No need to make that any plainer, eh?” Addison Dodge grew white to the lips, and for the first time his eyes met the pleading ones of his sweetheart. His teeth snapped angrily, and he turned his miserable glance away from Emily’s face. “I don’t know what you’re getting at. sir,” he said hoarsely. “Do you mean to say that If I don’t admit I’m a descendant of ‘Over the Mountain Dodge’ that you’ll forbid Emily’s marrying me?” “That’s what I mean.” snapped Luke Goddard. Addison turned toward the door. “Very well, sir. I’m not going to lie about the matter to gain anything, not even Emily. She wouldn’t want me to, would you, dear?” His voice dropped into tenderness as she came forward and slipped her hand Into his.

“No,” said Emily with trembling lips. “Father knows I shall never marry without his consent, and if he feels that he is Justified In making me unhappy over the question of some man who la dead and buried this hundred years, why, I have nothing to say.” She broke into sobs and hid her face in her hands. “Except ‘goodby,’” added Addison Dodge, kissing her golden head. The outer door opened and closed and left Luke Goddard and his daughter alone In the mountain cabin. Outside the door Addison Dodge thrust hto arms savagely into the sleeves of hto heavy jacket, belted it snugly about. hto waist and palled bis cap down over hto ears. Then he strapped on the that he had left bee'**'* the door and.' throwing his gin • ’’or hi* rhoulder.

strode away up the steep mounts! path. i Great pines heavy with snow leaned above the narrow trail. As he crashed through the thin crUst with fiercely placed steps a light wind sent the snow crystals In icy stinging gusts against his face. As he plodded upward the crust was thicker, and when he reached the top Of Bald Knob walking was difficult. Hfe paused and looked around at the mountains of snow glistening with icy caps in the bright sunshine. Overhead was a sky of deep blue. Below nestled the village, with his school In the center, and under the shoulder of Bald Knob was Luke Goddard’s comfortable home. Addison could see the smoke pouring from the wide chimney. It crept like a blue mist up over the shoulder and curled away Into nothingness in the light air. The house was long and low, and it was built so snugly under the moun- • tain that the kitchen opened directly into a great natural cave in the rocks, and that cave was Luke Goddard’s woodshed. Addison’s strong arms had hewed vigorously that long autumn to fill the woodshed. Every night after school he had come up the mountain and, with Emily sitting near by to gladden his eyes, he had cheerily reduced the pile of cord wood to kindling. In the spring he and Emily were to be married and come to live with Luke, and their plans for the future had been so long In making and so interwoven with love and little self sacrifices that now, standing alone, on the mountain top, with a loveless future before him. Addison Dodg» waa very miserable. His was a nature that would never yield to an unjust claim. Neither would he lie to save his soul.

Luke Goddard, In his own way, was obdurate. He loved Addison Dodge as his own son. and yet his domineering spirit would not concede one inch In the controversy which had separated them that morning and in which the old schoolmaster believed himself to be in the right. Genealogy was his hobby. That any one should dispute him upon his beloved subject was unbearable. Pretty Emily would have fared hardly between these two unrelenting men she so dearly loved, but kind Providence intervened and made clear the descent of Addison beyond all doubt and quite to the satisfaction of his future father-in-law. Addison roamed over the mountain top all the afternoon, rejoicing in the keen wind that arose and chilled him to the bone.

His snowshoes gilded over the frozen crust and bore him along against the bitter wind with startling swiftness. He always remembered that day on the mountain as one of pain and self torture. His love for Emily sent him toward the trail a dozen times, and his pride sent him back again as many more. At sunset, when the whole west was a glorious blaze of crimson and purple and gold and the expanse of frozen snow was blinding in the glare, Addison skirted the shoulder of Bald Knob, seeking for a short cut to the village ©Slow. A, He had made up his mind. He would not take back what he had said to Luke Goddard.

When he reached a point above the cottage of his sweetheart he paused and looked down the glittering slope to where the blue smoke cnrled upward from the chimney. While he gazed Emily and her father came out of the cottage and looked toward the west, as was their custom at sunset. He could see the pink shawl about Emily’s head, and In the clear air he heard Luke Goddard’s Bharp cough. In another second they would see him silhouetted against the sunset sky, and he turned abruptly away. As I said before. Providence intervened. The mass of snow upon which he stood suddenly slipped forward, and before the young man conld throw himself from the little avalanche he was speeding downward, downward with startling swiftness. He heard Luke’s shout of dismay and Emily’s frightened scream as he swept down toward them —toward a goal which could be no other than the roof of their home. It was growing larger, larger now. and the stinging blue smoke of the chimney smote his eyes, and then—the avalanche of snow struck the stout roof and packed itself into a high plateau about the tall chimney. Addison clambered out of the great bank of snow to find Luke Goddard, poised on a tall ladder, staring at him over the eaves of the roof. “Boy, I thought you were killed.” said the old man hoarsely as he helped Addison to descend to the ground. Emily’s arms were around her lover. “Father and I came out to look for you. Father made a mistake”— She looked at Luke with loving, sympathetic eyes.

Luke smiled grimly. “I looked up that Dodge matter after you went out. Addison, and—and as near as I can make It out ‘Over the Mountain Dodge’ was a crabbed old bachelor that lived and died a hermit So I’ll have to give in that you came from Exeter after all.” He held out his band, and Addison grasped it warmly. ' “We’re both wrong aud both Bight.” asserted the young man as ha stood between bis sweetheart and her father. “I was wrong not to give In about an Insignificant matter, yet I am descended from Philemon Dodge of Exeter, and at the same time I might be called “Over the Mountain Dodge,” because 1 Just came down that way,” “You’ve established an independent line of descent.” chuckled Luke ithe doorstep*;'.'end .row you two watch tho, 'notarise while 1 get that* blrthdnjr supper ready.”

SPEEDING DOWNWARD WITH STARTLING SWIFTNESS.