The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1873-04-11
THE ANCIENT REGIME.
A Realistic Sketch of HOOsier Life.

AZ was 80 ~ SOoASA,1 wv
tage as is to be found even in all
the Wabash Valley, situated on a
prominent bluff overlooking the
broad stretches of bottom land,
and giving a fine view of the
wide, winding river. The win
dows and doors of this cottage
were draped in vines, among
which the morning glory and the
honeysucklc were the most luXur-
liant; while on each side of the |
grayeled walk that led from the
front portico to the door-yard gate
grew clusters of pink, sweet-wil- |
liams and larkspurs. The house
was painted white with very green
window shutters-old- fashioned, |
to be sure, but cosy, home-like,
and tasty withal.
About the hour of 6 on Monday |
morning, in the month of May, a |
fine-looking lad of I3 walked |
slowly up to the path which led
from the old orchard to the house. |
He was dressed in loose trowsers
of bottle-green jeans, jacket of
the same, heavy boots, and we'll
worn hat. His face was striking
ly handsome, being fair, healthful,
intelligent and bright, though now
it wore an indescribable, family
visible shade, as of innocent per-
plexity or possible grief.
The mistress of the cottage was
at this time in the kitchen prepar-
ing for the weeks washing. She
was middle-aged, stoutly built,
healthy matron, sandy haired and
slightly freckled, blue-eyed, and
quick in her movements. Usually
smiling and happy, it was painful
to see how strongly she now strug-
gled to master the emotions of
sadness that constantly arose in
her bosom like specters that would
not be driven away.
A bright-eyed, golden-haired
maiden of sixteen, was in the
breakfast-room washing the morn
ing dishes, and singing occasional
snatches from a mournful ditty.
1t was sad indeed, to see a cloud
of regret and half suppressed an
guish on that fair young face, and
dimming the earnest sparkle of the
unusually merry eyes.
Mr.. Coulter, the head of the
family, owner of the cottage and
its lands, stood near the center of
the sitting room gazing fixedly
and sadly at the picture Of sweet
child holding white kitten in it's
lap, which hung on the wall over
against the broad fireplace. A
look of sorrow betrayed itself
even in the dark, stern visage of
the man. Occasionally he drew
his grizzled moustache into his
mouth and bit it fiercely. Eyi-
IDENTIFY he was chatting under grief.
The cottage windows were wide
open, as is the western custom in
fine weather, and the fragrance of
the spiceWood and sassafras float
ed in on the fiood-tide of pleasant
air, while from the great locust
down by the yard fence fell the
twittering prelude to finch's
song. A white line Of fog above
the river was plainly visible from
the west windows, and through the
fieecy veil focks of teal, and wood
cocks cut swiftly in their down
ward sweep to the water. A gold
en- flicker sang and hammered on
the gate-post the while he eyed q
sparrow-hawk that wheeled and
screamed high overhead.
The lad entered the kitchen and
said to his mother, in voice full
of tenderness, though hardly au-
/ dible:
''Ma, where's papt'
sin the front room, Billy" re.
piled the matron, solemnly.
Passing into the breakfast
room, Billy looked at his sister
and . fash of sympathetic SORROW
played back and forth from the
eyes Of one Of those TO the other;
then he went straight into the sit
ting-room, and handed something
to Mr.. Coulter.
The. man looked at his boy
proudly, sternIy, sorrowfully
The lad looked into his fathers
face sadly, exultingly, heroically
It was living tableau no artist
conld reproduce.
Billy" said the father grayely
AZ took your mother and sister Il
church yesterday"
: aYes, SIR
"And left you to see to tn
things"
d ayes, SIR replied the boy, gag
ing out through the window at Oh,
| flicker as it hitched down tn
J gate-post, and finally droppe'
} into the grass with shrill chirr
= aAnd you didn't water tn
c pigs?s
1000. Oh, sir Gecroody. Oh
3 me. Lawsy, lawsy mef'
Il The slender scion of an appl
: tree rose and fell in the hand G
: Mr.. Coulter; and up from tn
T Jacket of the lad, ike incens
d from an altar, rose q cloud of dus
! mingled with the nap of jean
S Down in the young clover of th
Il meadow the lark and sparrow
o sang cheerily, the gnats and fis
e danced up and down in the SUI
shine. the fresh, soft leaves of ii