The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1879-11-28

all might have been well. hut lac must
needs 70 home and don his Sunday-go-
to-meeten' clothes for the occasion.
which took half the heart out Of his re-
solve. and in the mean while a long
limbed horse was making quick work of
the road that led 10 kitty's door, and q
man who was easy IN his Sunday clothes
every day in the week was bent
upon the same decision. The stiff collar
rasped Joe's neck as he went slowly 10
the village; his coat was too tight in
the sleeves; he grew redder and rcddcr,
till he knew that the doomed Thanks
giving turkey goblcr's comb was nothing
TO him; the perSpiration rolled from his
honest rubicund face, and he began to
wish he'd find Kitty out when he got
there he could talk 10 her mother, and
she could talk 10 Kitty, and il would
come kind Of easier somehow. And
suddenly he stepped aside there was a
rush Of wheels in his ears, high. yellow
wheels, and 4 vision Of somebody hail
ing him politely, somebody with an easy
way of wearing good clothes, and some
thing about him that would have per-
suaded Joe to take off his hat 70 him ii
he hadn't been too mad and tiustcred
and curious and afraid. Joe went
moodily on, and suddenly his scarlet
grew cold. when before kitty's door he
saw the high-whceled newly mended
wagon Of the city fellow he had driven
TO the railroad the other night, and his
long-limbcd newly shod horse paving
the ground before Kitty's gate; and
presently out came Kitty herself, shawled
and hooded, her eyes sparkling, her
cheeks glowing, and beside her was the
stranger, who nodded pleasantly 70 Joe.
Kitty nodded kindly too, he thought,
and it seemed To him Mrs. Benson called
to him TO come in. Joe wouldn't be
certain about these things. His head
whirled around as Kitty drove away; it
seemed to him the whole world took a
somersault, and left him sick and sore,
so that he could just get strength TO
crawl home TO the farm, and doff his
Sunday clothes. throw them in d heap
on the bed, himself upon them, and
there lie through the long October af-
ternoon, the prey 70 a misery he had
never dreamed Of.
The sun went down, the fowls went 70
roost, and m old hoary owl that might
have had more heart laughed hooking
In ut Joe through his bedroom window.
And then Joe, who dawdlcd 80 over the
asking for a sweetheart, made up his
mind quickly enough 10 more rueful
work, for that very night when he went
down 10 supper, and never ate mouth
full, he declared TO the good folks assem-
bled there that he intended To 20 out
West 70 settle-he was sick Of the land
hercabouts.
.Whaf the plaques the matter with
the landP'' said his father. :. Its the
same As twas yesterday, and then you
talked Of plowin' up the meadow next
spring. and drainin' the gully, and the
Lord knows what and all. What's come
to you now, Joe?'
Alas. what, indeed, had come to poor
joe? He never made the least effort 10
regain his footing with Kitty. lie gave
up all hope Of the sweet future that had
seemed to him his birthright. To marry
Kitty Benson, and settle down on the
old homestead as his father and grand
father had done before him, seemed as
natural to Joe a seed-time and harvest
He never had the slightest desire 20
swerve from the somewhat tame and
monotonous life these people led from
year 10 year Even now his soul was
yearning for il, when il was full Of re-
bcllion and riot, and bent upon break
ing down every barrier that lay between
the big tumultuous waves within him
and those ~ the unknown world beyond.
The weary days went on, each 81
them heavier and more desolate. In
fair weather or foul Joe walked and
wandered, aimlcss. listless and forlorn,
choosing the most desolate places, shun-
ming and forbidding all companionship
Of man or beast
There's that roam colt" said old
Joe Coinstock, ssthat was like the apple
Of his eye to joe: il amt no more to
him now than poecat. And IL 'twa mt
for me the hull o. that tcn-acrc field
might ha' gone TO thunder with rot and
mold. Don't talk 10 me o. Thank Civ
in; when ones own flesh and blood
turns agin you that way, what Is there
TO be thankful forp''
1t was well on in November, and the
landscape was somewhat sere and worn.
The day was waning, and i seemed 10
Mr.. Morton as they drove along that the
warmth had all fled from the scene
about them and nestled in kitty's hair.
There was subdued and timid cx-
precision in Der face that lent il an I'M
usual charm. The curves about her
mouth dropped like those Of an ag-
grieved child, and she had not spoken a
word for the last mile or two. Mr..
Morton could hesitate no longer. II
would be an easy thing, he thought, 10
wear away the usual exuberant gayety
that dcfracied from Kitiy's present
charm Of manner. What could BE
swceter, more lady-like, and prim than