The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1879-11-28

OF SlgnC before Ills pOinCS couIu De wei
discussed and criticised. In truth, the
good folks upon the porch Of the eoun
try store were more interested i'm the
couple that were seated fashiOnably alof
upon the gay box of the wagon. A
fleeing vision of laughing blue eyes
and yellow curls swantOning with the
November wind, and the pale dark face
of stranger in close proximity to these
charms, caused the wise heads upon the
porch to wag again with melancholy
unison.
"'Tain't the natur' of the sile thai
young Joe complains Of" said one.
" Nor yet the corn, nor the punkins, y
said another; "it's that he amt got the
stomach for 'em he used to hev before
that city fellow broke his wagon in front
of the widow Benson's door, and took
q notion to Kitty"
"And swan to man eff the widow
amt that set up about it she's hevin'
black Sam to do her fall whitewashin'. -
"She' better not count her chickens
before they're Matched. That fellow
don't mean to marry Kitty Benson ;
she'll fall between two stools, that's
what Kitty'n do. She'll get shet of Joe,
and lose that city chap, after all. Joe
was in dead earnest, poor fellow, but
this chaps only foolin'."
Which was not altogether true. The
"city chap" had begun perhaps in
rather trifling mood. He considered
the remarkable interest which he took
in this little rustic was all due to his
artistic perceptions. About six weeks
before, in passing through the village,
his horse had stumbled upon big
bowlder in front of the widows door,
and one of the yellow wheels had come
to grief. 1t was the most natural thing
in the world for Mr.. Morton to knock
at the nearest door, and equally natural
that the widow should ask him in. Kit
ty lay sound asleep, with her curly head
on the kitchen table, all the yellow tan
gle of it tumbled carelessly about the ex-
quisite line of her brow and curve of
her rounded cheek. Her brown lashes
Just merged into the flush upon her face,
and her red lips were parted, showing
the white even teeth within. Mr.. Nor
ton was suddenly seized with color
lists enthusiasm. The low-ceiled room,
with its wooden rafters smoke-seasOned
richly, the quaint primitive fur
niture about him, the ruddy face
and rustic attire of the widow as she
held the candle so that it shone full upon
the sleeping girl-all these impressed
Mr.. Morton's mind, entirely, as he be-
lieved, from an ideal point of view. He
wished an artist friend of his might be
there at the moment; he might make a
pretty little penny by the inspra-
ton; the whole thing was one of those
happy little effects that Greuze could
make a masterpiece of.
claws a mercy!" said the widow,
with kindly curiosity, "therc amt no
body hurt, hOpe?"
"Only the wagon Wheel" said Nor
ton.
"And you want to git to town? Well,
now, reckon Joe COmstock must be
up and about yet. l saw light at the
farm bit ago. If Joe's up, he'll take
you down to the railroad"
"Does every body 60 to bed here at
said MIR. Morton, taking out
his watch, but finding it hard to with
picture in the candle-light to look at the
time. cit can't be O'Clock"
swell, you see, the young folks
went chestnutting to-day, and they're
about tuckered out; but if you'll wait
minute, I'll get a lantern, SOS you can
pick your way down the back lane.
That's ashort-cut to the ComstOck farm;
and if JOe's up, he'll take you down
He can't be done his chores
YETI
81 hope he'll bungle long enough
about his chores to be up when l get
there said Mr.. Morton.
He had not taken his eyes from the
sleeping beauty, and was suddenly sur
prised to see her lift her head from her
arm and open wide her eyes upon him,
while the flush deepened in her face,
and even stole down upon her throat
and the white bit of her neck that was
visible.
"Joe never bungles about any thing"
she said.
els he a friend of yours?' said Mr..
Morton modulating his voice to a Won
derfully gentle tone.
"Never mind what he is" replied |
Kitty, hotly; but he's no bungler-of
that you may be sure"
Here she slipped away and vanished
up dark little staircase, and suddenly |
all the charm went out of the picture.
"The central figure taken away"
said Mr.. Morton to himself, as he picked
his way to the COmstOck farm, "of |
course the whole effect is married; but
It was fine interior-very fine.''
That "central figure" followed Mr..
Morton to the farm, and all the way
down to the railroad. He found Joe
Comstock up and ready to accommodate
him, and he had to concede with Kitty
hat Joe was no bungler; there was a
quick capacity about the sturdy hands
hat handled the reins, and a natural
grace and vigor in all his movements
he little that he had said was terse and
o the point, but Mr.. Morton found him
aciturn and reserved after the first mile
u two. He had ventnred to speak of
he idmates of the cottage.
81 think it probable the young girl
vas one of the nutting party Of to-day"