Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1883-06-29

"Who was that in the field talking
to you?" said Mrs. johnson to the
squire.
Little Tommy westlake," was the
reply:
What did he want?"
"Why, he wanted TO know If wee
seen John to-day. He says John goi
up very early this morning and went
away. leaving his work undone. and
they have not seen him since"
{" Strange" said Mrs. johnson.
MOL, Molli Hurrah, Molln'
shouted one Of the boys.
WHAT said Mary, coming TO the
door.
John Westlake has found another
Mol and ran off with her
"All right, was the reply, ''let him
90. can easily get another John
'She has got another one alreadyr'
muttered John.
They were all now at dinner; every
thing was quiet.
Give me liberty or give me deathr'
said John, rs he crawled out.
Now, like savage fleeing from his
enemies, he ran, STOPPING, along the
fence and past the barn to the corn
field. As he sprang over the corn-field
fence the dogs caught a sight of him and
started in pursuit, yelping and bowling,
while old Bull, from the barn, with loud
mouthed bays, indicated his desire to
join in the chase.
What in the world is the matter?"
exclaimed the Squire, as he quit carving
To listen to the uproar.
"Hurrah!" said the boys, jumping.ur
and running to the door.
whats there?" said the Squire.
Something in the corn-feld," 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 field, but when he got there he saw
nothing. though he met the dogs
hOmeward bound and apparently badly
frightened-John. when he found them
about To overtake him, had stopped by
stone pile. and had given them re-
cePtiOn which they could not stand.
Tom went back and reported: Moth
ing in the field'' but it was n mystery
which he 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 blck way.
Going up stairs quietly to his room,
he put on suit of clean clothes; then
going down rs quietly rs 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
4" In time yet, ] see"
Were 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. 1--WE 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 few DAYS apn
that some Of the academy boys were ON
an excursion TO the city this morning.
and wished me to go with them. did
not intend TO. but thought | would go
over this morning and see them off.
"1ou 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. I'M
I'll the train was going too rapidly for
me to get out and of course | was car
rled to town and had to wait there until
the return train. which, you know, does
not come out until near noon"
This explanation was satisfactory To
all expect JOhn-it was "a lie which he
had been working up all the forenoon
for this occasion. He felt bad over it.
yet it seemed fitting conclusion for the
plumbers 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 bun
good humOr. In the hay-field he
worked by himself as much as possible.
He seemed To have a special ill-fcel-
ing towards his dogs; if one of them
came up to him, no matter how friendly,
he was sure To get rap over the back
with the hay-fork that sent him away
bowling. The relationship that existed
between Mary and the other John was
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 abilitiesr' said he. "What
do / care about her domestic abilities?
| will have Mary johnson if she
doesn't know enough to bake loaf OF
breadI"
That afternoon he made n resolution.
Tomorrow evening"" said he, Il
will go over and tell her frankly
how much | love her, and ask her to be
mine"
The next evening John drove ND to
Johnson's door. Mary came out To
greet him. and gave him her usual
cordial welcome After talking n
little while she said, somewhat mis-
chievously:
by the way. John. YOU walked over
last time, did you not?''
No" replied he. not comprehend
NRh NOh ANAAANAAlNNls Il IOtlt OH
Charley?'
John could not muster courage to say
what he desired until leaving time.
aAd 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"
'tDnce upon a time there lived not far
from here gentleman and lady. The
gentleman, who esteemed himself man
of great prudence. was in love with the
lady, or at least his attentions led her to
believe so.
"But before making proposal he
as man of prudence should-resolved
To satisfy himself in regard To her abil-
ity to conduct the affairs of household
but instead of trying to obtain
this information in an omen. man.