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Mitchell, S. Weir (Silas Weir), 1829-1914

"Westways"

Some of us have to. The sketch of Lincoln's life was to me a
wonder of terse biography. At the close he did not dwell on the murder,
but just said--'Then--and then, my friends, God took him to himself.'"
"Thank you, Leila. What a lot of wagons--we must have half the
county--and in this rain too."
"Now, John, you hate this affair, and so do I; but the Westways people
think it great fun, and in the last few years they have had very little."
"_Ni moi non plus, Mademoiselle Grey._"
"Yes, yes," she said, "I know, John, but make it go--make it gay, John.
It will soon be over."
"I will try." They left their wet garments in an empty outer room and
entering by a side door stood beside the raised platform at the end of
the crowded hall.
Quite a hundred villagers or farming people, young and old, filled the
room, and the air was oppressively heavy. At one end on a raised platform
the Colonel was seated, and near by his wife well pleased to see him
smiling as he recognized here and there some of the farmers who had been
the playmates of his youth. John stood by the long table on which,
covered by sheets, lay the articles for sale. Rivers came forward to the
front of the platform, leaving Leila, who declined to sit down, at one
side with Mr. Grace and the two McGregors.


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