The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1881-09-02

ST tell you, boys, said Seth Plunkett,
fiercely and with abundant profanity,
turning to the expectant throng, ut
an awful night, and anybody that thinks
I'm agoin' to carry this mai! over Inat
road any longer for two hundred douars
q year is sold. That's all. III be blessed
if 1 will!'
"What is he goin' to do?' said the
Judge, as Seth disappeared to "put out
his team" "He's driv' stage-wal, IL
must be nigh onto seventeen year: lie
amt used to dom nothin' else. ls'Pose'
though he could team it," he added,
thoughtfully.
mo-" said Uncle Cephas, who laid
up every word that was uttered by the
great men around him and who was
elated at knowing some news. 81 heerd
him say t'other night that he could run
his stage an make fvin' out OF pas.
sengers an sich, an they could get
SOMEBODY else to carry their consumed
old mail"
"You didn't" said the Judge, with
an accent of unbelief.
eyes, did, persisted Uncle Cephas.
"Wal! wal! said the solemn Deacon,
whose words were few but welghty.
81 didn't think Seth was such q -
fool"
ssJest so,' said Grandpa Billins,
placidly. He never swore himself; but
he felt, perhaps, that the eternal fitness
of things demanded strong language
from somebody, for he patted. his cane
softly, and repeated: 81 say jest SO to
that, Deacon, every time. But who'll
carry the mail?"
"Dunno," said Uncle Cephas, the re-
CARDS of the whole company forcing out
the notifying confession. 81 heard
Seth say that; but l hain't heard no
more"
But Uncle Cephas, as well as the rest
of the village, knew before the month OF
December was out that Uncle Sam had
absolutely refused to raise Seth Punk
ett's salary; also that another stage was
about to be put on the road, which
would convey the United States mails
and also carry passengers.
"Can't neither on 'em pay" said the
Judge, in the silence which followed
this announcement, when first made by
Banty at the Post-office. Neither on
'em won't pay; but the teller that takes
the mail will get the best ont, fur he's
got sunthin', sure. An Seth's got his
team to keep, an all that. Mark my
words, boys, Seth'n have to 60 to the
WALL"
It was afterward recalled that at this
point Pelt Cressy looked uncommonly
sober. The fact was that Pelt was one
of the best drivers in the section, and
had just had offered him by an
influential friend of his in neighboring
town-who, however, knew nothing OF
the internal complications of Pelt's at.
fairs-the chance to run the new stage
between Selborn and Clearpond.
Pelt was trying hard to get money
enough together to marry Hettie Punk
EFT. He had pair of horses, which he
had raised from colts, and he had beer
ssteaming it" for year back; but what
he could make in that way was very
little, compared with the profits OF the
stage.
eth make Seth mad, O. COURSE" HI
reasoned, as he walked toward thu
Post-office, the evening after the fore
going conversation; "but," straighten
| mo up defiantly, she can team it. He.
got a better chance than have. Some
body's cot to take the mail. It Nigh
as well be ne. I'll 60 right over ant
see Hettie about it now," he continued
turning toward Seth Plunkett's cottage
"It's got to be settled tonight, and sn'
can settle it,
Hettie was doubtful and finally tear
full; but she was at last persuaded b.
her lover that Seth, finding it impossl
BILE to compete with ''the Government,
would soon retire, more or less good
naturally, feeling that the gain wa
coming to the family anyhow, and tina
, he would make almost as good Twin
at teaming.
"Well,5' said the yielding girl, 8
last, wishing sadly that her dead mott
; er was near to counsel her, ''you decid
it, Pelt; and, if you take the stage, an
father is angry and won't let you com
a here, we'll love each other just th
h same"
a During the second week in January.
1 grand sensation shook Clearpond to il
foundations. Pelt Cressy's horses wei
e to draw the new stage, and Pelt himse
was to drive them.
q The first night after the new NOV
: ment was inaugurated Seth Plunkett
J.. coach reached the Post-office first. Il
stopped and settled with Banty for son
!. trifing errands which he had done
o Selborn, but his dark looks and irritate
? manner showed that he was in savass
!. mood. The mail was what they we
n waiting for there, and the one wi
II brought it was the man of the hou
r. Seth Plunkett felt that he was di
crowned and dishonored, and before
r. went to bed that night he made solen
20 VOW that Pelt Cressy should never ha'
y his daughter.
"He's q scoundrel!" said Seth Plu
ia kett, between his set teeth. "He's us'
# me mean, and I'll have none of him
This feeling grew day by day, as Il
>, stages passed each other on the road
"a paused at the Halfway House togethe
4 Then the feud began to extend. T
- ladies who went to Selborn to shop ro
with the one whose cause they happen
=. to espouse; and, as Seth, though by
a. means protesting Christian, nominal
., attended the Methodist Church, VIII