Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1883-06-29

.rl.lille Tommy wssilake," +" was lh'
nplN
AWhai dld he waniin
"Mhy, he wanted 10 know II WE'D
seen John to-day. No SAYS John CT
up very early this morning aud went
away. leaving bis work undone, ani
they have not seen lin since p
.Slrange. said Ms. i0hns0n.
"Moll, Molll llurrah, MollF'
shouted one of ihe hoya
"What' said Mary coming 10 ihe
door
John Wesllako has found another
Mol and ran 81 with her.
IAN right. was the reply, 'let him
70. can easily gci another John N
"she has got another ono alrcadyN
mull0ned John.
They were al now Al dinner every
thing was quiet.
"6iyu mo liberty or give mo doaihlN
said John, as he crawlei out
Now, like a savage fleeing from bis
enemies, he ran, STOPPING, along The
fence and past the barn 20 the corn,
held, As he sprang over the corn.ileld
fence the dogscaught a sight Of him and
started IN pursuit, yclpng and bowling,
while old Bun. from the barn, with loud
mouthed BAYS. indicated his desire 10
join IN the chase
'What IN the world 4 the matter?n
exclaimed the 'SQulc,as he quit carving
10 listen 10 the uproar
'Hurahl said the boys, lnmplngur
and running 10 the door
"Nhats lheregN said tho Squire.
"Somelhlng IN the eorn-ield,n was
the reply.
Jones cattle again. Go over, Tom,
and put them out
Tom, when he started, saw some.
thing twisting about IN the middle Of
the Held, but when he got ,here he saw
nothing, though he met the dogs
homeward bound and apparently badly
frightened John, when he found them
about 20 oyertake him, had stopped by
stone pile, and had given them a re.
oepion which they could not stand.
Tom went back and reported. "Noth.
ing In the iieldl" but It was mystery
which ho could not explain, why the
dogs seemed so badly scared.
John when he reached home went
round by the barn, through the garden,
and into the house the back way.
Going up stairs quietly 10 his room.
he put on a suit Of clean clothes; then
going down as quietly as he came up,
he reached the barn by the roundabout
course he had taken when coming in.
Now from the barn he started and
marched boldly up through the yard to.
wards the house.
The family were at dinner Walking
in he hung up his hat, pulled out his
handkerchief, wiped his face and said
In time yet, | see. y
"We're glad to see you back, john
said his mother; "but we'd like to know
where you've been"
"Yes, give an account of YOURSELF
said his sister Julia. ave had about
concluded that you and Mary had gone
TO Gretna Green, or some similar place.
"Well, I'll tell you, said John,
"You know told you a few DAYS ago
that some of the academy boys were on
az excursion to the city this morning,
and wished me to go with them ! did
not intend TO, bat thought | would 60
over this morning and see them of
"You know the train starts very early,
and expected to be back in time for
breakfast; but when got on they held
to me, coaXing me to go with them, un-
I'll the train was going too rapidly for
me TO get out and Of course | was car
ried to town and had to wait there until
the return train, which, you know, does
not come out until near noon. y
This explanation was satisfactory to
all expect joint was lie which he
had been working up all the forenoon
for this occasion He felt bad over 1t,
yet it seemed a fitting conclusion for the
blmders of the day-how else could he
conceal what for the world he would
not have any one but himself know?
That afternoon he was in anything but
a good humor. In the bayfield, he |
worked by himself as much as possible.
He seemed to have a special ill-feel-
ing towards his dogs; if one Of them
came up to him, no matter how friendly, |
he was sure to ret rap over the back |
with the hay-fork that sent him away
howlng The relationship that existed |
between Mary and the other John was
a question that now troubled him,
Yesterday he was of the opinion that
he could have her for the asking, and |
now it seemed evident that She already /
belonged TO some one. The loss, or the /
danger Of losing her made him realize
how much he loved her, and like
many another man, under like circum-
stances, he was willing to overlook de-
fects.
domestic abilitesl" said he. "What |
do | care about her domestic abilitiesa
| will have Mary johnson if she
doesn't know enough to bake a loaf Of
bread!N
That afternoon he made resolution.
Tomorrow evening" said he, a
will go over and tell her frankly
how much ! love her, and ask her TO be
mine.n
The next evening John drove up to
Johnson's door. Mary came out to
greet him, and gave him her usual
cordial welcome. After talking a
little while she said, somewhat mis-
chievously'
by the way, John, you walked over
last time, did you not?n
"No,n replied he, not comprehend
ing; don't you remember, rode old
CharleyP'
John could not muster courage TO say
what he desired until leaving time,
and then, as they stood upon the
porch, he, with his arm about her
waist, told his love and asked her to be
his wife.
John" she said in reply, "let me
tell you story
"Once upon time there lived not fan
from here a gentleman and lady. The
who esteemed himself man
Of great prudence, was in love with the
lady, or at least his attentions led hertc
believe so.
"But before making a proposal he
as a man Of prudence shOud-res0lyed
to satisfy himself in regard 10 her abil.
ity TO conduct the affairs of n household
but instead Of trying 20 obtain
this information in an open, man.
\ Wav. he waa feolfqh cnouoh