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THE FRIENDLY ROAD
〃Youyou like my hedge？〃 he asked。
〃It is certainly wonderful hedge；〃 I said。 〃I never have seen anything
like it？〃
〃The' AIN'T nothing like it；〃 he responded； quickly。 〃The' ain't nothing
like it anywhere。〃
In the twilight as I passed onward I saw the lonely figure of the old
man moving with his hickory stick up the pathway to his lonely house。
The poor rich old man！
〃He thinks he can live wholly to himself；〃 I said aloud。
I thought； as I tramped homeward； of our friendly and kindly
community； of how we often come together of an evening with skylarking
and laughter； of how we weep with one another； of how we join in making
better roads and better schools； and building up the Scotch Preacher's
friendly little church。 And in all these things Old Toombs has never had a
part。 He is not even missed。
As a matter of fact； I reflected； and this is a strange； deep thing； no
man is in reality more dependent upon the community which he despises
and holds at arm's length than this same Old Nathan Toombs。 Everything
he has； everything he does； gives evidence of it。 And I don't mean this in
any mere material sense； though of course his wealth and his farm would
mean no more than the stones in his hills to him if he did not have us here
around him。 Without our work； our buying； our selling； our governing； his
dollars would be dust。 But we are still more necessary to him in other
ways： the unfriendly man is usually the one who demands most from his
neighbours。 Thus； if he have not people's love or confidence； then he will
smite them until they fear him； or admire him； or hate him。 Oh； no man；
however may try； can hold himself aloof！
I came home deeply stirred from my visit with Old Toombs and lost no
time in making further inquiries。 I learned； speedily； that there was indeed
something in the old man's dread of a road being built through his farm。
The case was already in the courts。 His farm was a very old one and
extensive； and of recent years a large settlement of small farmers had been
developing the rougher lands in the upper part of the townships called the
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Swan Hill district。 Their only way to reach the railroad was by a rocky；
winding road among the 'hills；' while their outlet was down a gently
sloping through Old Toombs's farm。 They were now so numerous and
politically important that they had stirred up the town authorities。 A
proposition had been made to Old Toombs for a right…of…way； they argued
with him that it was a good thing for the whole country； that it would
enhance the values of his own upper lands； and that they would pay him
far more for a right…of…way than the land was actually worth； but he had
spurned themI can imagine with what vehemence。
〃Let 'em drive round；〃 he said。 〃Didn't they know what they'd have to
do when they settled up there？ What a passel o' curs！ They can keep off o'
my land； or I'll have the law on 'em。〃
And thus the matter came to the courts with the town attempting to
condemn the land for a road through Old Toombs's farm。
〃What can we do？〃 asked the Scotch Preacher； who was deeply
distressed by the bitterness of feeling displayed。 〃There is no getting to the
man。 He will listen to no one。〃
At one time I thought of going over and talking with Old Toombs
myself； for it seemed that I had been able to get nearer to him than any one
had in a long time。 But I dreaded it。 I kept dallying；for what； indeed；
could I have said to him？ If he had been suspicious of me before； how
much more hostile he might be when I expressed an interest in his
difficulties。 As to reaching the Swan Hill settlers； they were now aroused
to an implacable state of bitterness； and they had the people of the whole
community with them； for no one liked Old Toombs。
Thus while I hesitated time passed and my next meeting with Old
Toombs； instead of being premeditated； came about quite unexpectedly。 I
was walking in the town road late one afternoon when I heard a wagon
rattling behind me； and then； quite suddenly； a shouted； 〃Whoa。〃
Looking around； I saw Old Toombs； his great solid figure mounted
high on the wagon seat； the reins held fast in the fingers of one hand。 I was
struck by the strange expression in his facea sort of grim exaltation。 As I
stepped aside he burst out in a loud； shrill； cackling laugh：
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〃He…he…hehe…he…he〃
I was too astonished to speak at once。 Ordinarily when I meet any one
in the town road it is in my heart to cry out to him；
〃Good morning； friend；〃 or； 〃How are you； brother？〃 but I had no such
prompting that day。
〃Git in； Grayson；〃 he said； 〃git in； git in。〃
I climbed up beside him； and he slapped me on the knee with another
burst of shrill laughter。
〃They thought they had the old man；〃 he said； starting up his horses。
〃They thought there weren't no law left in Israel。 I showed 'em。〃
I cannot convey the bitter triumphancy of his voice。
〃You mean the road case？〃 I asked。
〃Road case！〃 he exploded； 〃they wan't no road case； they didn't have
no road case。 I beat 'em。 I says to 'em； 'What right hev any o' you on my
property？ Go round with you；' I says。 Oh； I beat 'em。 If they'd had their
way； they'd 'a' cut through my hedgethe hounds！〃
When he set me down at my door； I had said hardly a word。 There
seemed nothing that could be said。 I remember I stood for some time
watching the old man as he rode away； his wagon jolting in the country
road； his stout figure perched firmly in the seat。 I went in with a sense of
heaviness at the heart。
〃Harriet；〃 I said； 〃there are some things in this world beyond human
remedy。〃
Two evenings later I was surprised to see the Scotch Preacher drive up
to my gate and hastily tie his horse。
〃David；〃 said he； 〃there's bad business afoot。 A lot of the young
fellows in Swan Hill are planning a raid on Old Toombs's hedge。 They are
coming down to…night。〃
I got my hat and jumped in with him。 We drove up the hilly road and
out around Old Toombs's farm and thus came； near to the