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

the road brought the cottage in sight.
Black Sam was still whitewashin9-
great Heaven! not the big bowlder:
Yes, nothing less; he had some white
wash to spare, and he was latherine j,
thick upon this rock in the road, max
ing it seem big as mountain. Mr.. Nor
tons face grew pale, and not too soon
the evil was upon him in the instant
he had feared it; the horse plunged
back upon his launches, his fine ears
stood erect, his clean-cut limbs trem-
bled; then with one bound he sped
along, grazing the white phantom in the
road, and disappearing in a cloud OF
dust. Mr.. Morton clune to the reins.
and Kitty chung to Mr.. Morton. The
widow Benson looked after them with
c!asped hands and straining eyes, while
black Sam, now almost white with white
wash and terror, held his brush aloft in
a mute appeal for Divine help in this
dire extremity.
MIR. Morton knew now that nothing
could save them. A few minutes-four
at the furthest-and all would be over.
The gully just below the ComstOck farm
was a bleak and dreary place, well fitted
for the tragedy. He remembered a
chestnut tree that hung desolate and
bare over its brink, and broken rocks
and black pools of stagnant water lay
below. Here would his strong bones
splinter, and the deft and cunning
mechanism at his side be rudely rent
and distorted. In these few seconds,
that seemed a parenthesis between time
and eternity, a whole lifetime passed in
regret and retrOspectiOn. To get rid of
the reproachful eyes of Madeline, Mr..
Morton shut his own; but Kitty's whole
heart went out in a prayer to joe
which was answered right on the brink
of the gully by the melancholy shadow
of Joe himself, that clutched at the head
of the horse, was dragged onward step
or two, then pulled aside, and finally
was left victor, the beast, quite subdued
now and trembling, in lather of foam.
Mr.. Morton was trembling as well as his
beast, and it was difficult for him to
quite understand the exact tenor of the
scene before him. Kitty lay white and
limp in Joe COmstock's arms her hands
were clasped about his neck; her hat
was gone long ago, and her curly hair
was all tumbled about her face, which
was still as white as the accursed bOwlder
before her mothers door; and once in a
while she sobbed out, "Joe! dear JOe!'
and Joe soothed her, and held her
closer, and murmurcd, "Kitty! dear
Kitty" and the yellow light of the wan
ing November day catching the diamond
again, it cleaned upon Kitty's finger,
that lay caressingly upon the sturdy
neck of Joe Comstock; and presently
the little hand shifted about, and Kitty
saw the gem too, and slipping down
from the arms of Joe, and slipping, too,
the ring from her finger she held it out
to Mr.. Morton with that same shy, sad,
subdued, and altogether irrcproachable
expression that he had admired few
miserable moments since.
Keep it, Kitty" said Mr.. Morton;
keep it in any case. You'll allow her
to accept this little present, won't you,
JOe?''
eff It's all the same, I'd as lief she
didn't" said Joe, with honest sim
plicity.
And I'm glad Kitty didn't get the
ring; she could well do without It, and
there was slim and tapering finger far
away that had grown simmer and more
tapering for lack of this gem. The
night of the accident it lay listlessly in
the lap of Miss Van Vlect, and it did not
seem from the apathy of her face and
manner that any thing could induce her |
to lift that fair, frail finger. The bell
rang, but hope had cheated her so often,
not hair of her beautiful head or a
muscle moved in response. She had
ceased to expect the visitor she coveted,
and all others were Indifferent to her.
am so glad," said voice, "to
find you alone, Madeline.'
The voice was so tender it made her
heart beat, although she knew how de-
ceptive that tenderness might be. How
sweet it was, nevertheless!
Another organ began to thump in the
room above, and the mild mahogany of
Mrs. Van Vleet's complexion deepened
with anxiety and suspense as the import
ant moments wore away. At last the
light step of her daughter was at the
door, and Madeline's face told the story.
It was radiant with joy.
Has he spoken?' said her mother,
IN husky whisper. "Great Heaven!
has he indeed spOken?''
eyes mamma" said Madeline, toy
nc with brilliant gem upon her finger.
"Thank God!" said Mrs. Van Vieet,
levOutly. "Then l will Immediately
.ccept the Colonel's invitation for
Il
Sand by the hokey!" said old Joe
"we'll have Thank'givin' {
ret. I'm blest if that there boy o. mine I
lidn't say last night, 'Pappy,' SEE he,
we'll begin fence down by that there |
ully, and drain the hull marsh by this :
ime next year, and jest nodded, for
. couldn't speak when I found that
here Western scheme o. his had gone
thunder; and, gentlemen, I'm open to
treat all round; but ask it, in all I
onesty, what Is Thank givin' if there
int nOthin' to be thankful for?''-Hay. q
pTse Wppk1u a