Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1874-02-13
MISSING.

"Thosc are hard things to throw
in u mans teeth, uncle, and |
shouldn't like to think that you
meant them all.
So spoke John Birch, the carpen.
ter, as he stood up before the old
bird-fancier--tall, sinewy and strong
with his handsome face in hot
glow, and flash of temper in his
eyes-a specimen of fine physical
type, showing in marked contrast
with puny, pale young man about
his own age, who sat in corner
apparently reading, but in reality
intently watching what was going
on.
"Thc harder, the better, so that
they hit the mark; but what l have
said tonight l am ready to say
again-aye, and mean them, too"
John Birch had never won much
favor from the little, hard featured
old man who kept the bird-shop,
and lived there with his pretty
granddaughter. But tonight he
had been insulted, and before a wit.
ness, between whom and himself
there was an open feud, for it was
| rivals that they met. Tom Bartlett.
the soft.spoken schoolmaster, had
managed to insinuate himself in the
favor Of David Birch, and was also
striving to supplant the young car
penter in the regard of his cousin
Polly. The old man was the first to
speak.
"You need not glare at me like
that, because l have found out what
brings you sneaking around here" "
81 never sneak, uncle" said John; ;
sneaking does not belong to the
Birches."
"No, it does not, my lad," the old
man replied in slightly mollificd
tone, adding, "and Pm sorry You
don't take after them. There's a
spice of your mother"
John Birch interrupted him, say
ing passionately, "Silence, Uncle
David, you must not dare to say a
word against her!"
"This to my face! Get out of the
house, and never dare cross my door
step again till you are sent for, and
that will be long enough, for ! tell
you once for all that, if can hinder
it, Polly Carson shall never marry
an idle, beggarly fellow, always ont
OF work, who can find nothing bet
ter to do than live on his sisters
earnings"
This was the stab that cut keen
est of all. The young mans voice
quivered as he said: "That is too
pad. Uncle David, you don't know
what feelings you stir in me-" and
in his excitement he laid his hand
on the old mans arm.
At that moment the sly, watchful
reader in the corner came forward,
and williully misunderstanding his
intention, thrust himself between
them, saying, "Come, no violence,
it would be a pity, and l should be
so sorry; you ought to remember
Mr.. Birch is your uncle and an old
man."
In an instant he found himself
put back with just the amount of
force which strong man would feel
neediul to use in dealing with some
puny obstruction which he held in
contempt.
"Mind your own business, Tom
Bartlett, and don't mcddle with
mine; it doesn't need your sly tongue
to teach me what ! ought to rcmem-
Der. My uncle is in no danger of
violence from me and you know it"
Then turning TO the old man he ad-
ded, "Uncle, shall not want telling
twice to 60. l know you bear me
ill-will, but l didn't think it was in
you to upbraid man for what is no
fault of his; for l defy any one that
knows me to say that l ever shirked
work when could get it to do. l
am sorry for what has passed to-
night, and perhaps you will be be-
fore you are many days older;" and
snatchiug up his cap, he strobe an
grily through the shop into the
street without deigning another
look at Tom Bartlett, who had skunk