The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1871-03-25
SHOOTING A LOVER.
BY A RICHMoNDER.

BY A R1CHMONDBk.
Everybody said that Allie Ham
moDd was q natural born holden,
and she would Lever be anything
else If her Uncle John didn't take
her in hand and show her how TO
behave like other mortals.
Suppose she was pretty, with
such a cloud of dark hair, and eyes
the same hue, did that excuse her
for racing over the fields, climbing
the orchard trees, riding her un-
cle's most fiery and unmanageable
herse, and doing many other things
that would do justice to boy :
Twas q perfect shame to give
her fairy form such freedom Why,
if she would stay in the house and
behave herself, any boy within ten
miles would be glad to have her;
but so long as she persisted in be-
ing so wild, not one mother would
consent to have her as daughter
in-law; and not one farmer would
have her in his house or on his
farm.
So everybody said, if we except
Miss Allie and her uncle. He
didn't want her to marry and leave
him all alone, after he had raised
her from little child.
II her present course would keep
off lovers, and should prove so ef-
fectual as to cause her to remain
and comfort him in his old age, he
wished nothing better this'side OF
the other, brighter world.
| If allowing her such freedom
should ever become too bad, and
| if the neighboring farmers families
talked too much, he could easily
change the tide of affairs by send
ing the dear little witch off te
boarding school.
Then how lonesome he would bt
without her to bring his slippers ii
the evening. And how he woult
miss her soft, clinging arms, and
her evening readings.
Who woald bring his coffee ant
toast when be took an uncommonly
severe attack of rheumatism, an,
would be unable to go to the table
They may gossip as much a
they please he said, 'and ma.
scold until tired; but l won't min'
'em no morn if they we're lot q
ducks. Allie shall do as she pleas
es, and don't think she'll pleas
to do anything that would displeas
! me-
! And then his mind would RI
back over his life and visions Z
her good deeds, pictures of be
wild acts, and memories of her al
most fatal frolics would crowd uE
on him. He always shuddere
when he remembered one inciden
and he could almost see her actin
it out once more. But she ha
never ridden the spirited hors
| since for then he had run ava,
dashing her to the ground and gi,
= ing her an almost mortal wound.
4 She had lain so still for week
$ her breathing scarcely perceptibl
Y her face white rs marble, and b.
J, eyes closed as if in death.
;, Despite the predictions to Il
8 contrary, she recovered her healt
and lost none of her bouyant spi
it's by it either.
!, Twas one frosty morning, VIII.
the snow lay in white sheets ov
the fields, and the trees were groa
ing under the heavy loads of pur
ness, that Uncle John sat in h
t. room, enjoying a book and tt
bright coal fire in the CRATE befo
him.
,, d Allie had gone out for q NOR
5. ing walk. SO as TO have an appeti
II for breakfast, she said.
!, The old housekeeper was clatt,
r ing among the dishes, the moi
re mingling with the Kissing and sp
- ting Of the frying sausage, whi
m was now and then drowned
Of snatches of songs from the Q
n lady.
c The clcck licked loudly, and
, each jump of the second hand t
r. old mans head sank lower up
n his breast, and his book slipp
CT further down his knees, and wh
d, it fell off 1.-THE book, not his hea
n, and crashed upon the floor, a
!. spread out its leaves as il in ht
ic, ror Of such usage. he only CAV,
s. little start, like the second hand
,s the clock, and relapsed into cal
comfortable slumber.
R, And when Allie came in.
" " flushed with excitement, her e,
ng sparkling with expectation,
Sc didn't move. Even her shaki
v. did not fully arouse him, and VII
+, she cried:
% Uncle John /! Uncle John! {
l have your rife . moment 2
- saw the dearest and most delicit
" rabbit just now!' be said syes,' b
conscious of what be was doing.
She dashed from his side, leavi
him sleeping almost as soundly
IT'S before; and, going to the kitch
=, 81 she seized the old mans rifle fr
behind the door.