Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1884-04-03

D1Ecn-
II was quite plain the crazy old tub
had made up its mind to 90 80 the bot
tom. and the beautiful persistency with
which she settled to her work would
have sent Us down with sickening swift
ness. orly that Providence, remember
ing Us at the yer last moment rushed
to our rescue in the shape Of Captain
DAM
To say we ad0red our next-doOr farm
or but shabbily expresses the devotion
with which we assailed the preSerTer Of
cur useless little lives All along. we
had kaswn him simply As the man with
beard. and bothered no more about
him. but nOtcs
Tin cans of my childhood. how full 20
stopping we kept you with bait, Oh.
soft crabs. quivering like unto live poul-
tees in dingr nets. Oh, fat. purplish
angle-worTns. Oh. brown-snoufed clans.
We beat up partridges from the russct
hedges. and while his gun was smok-
ing, hunted the stubble 90 bring them
10 him warm and wet and dead We
les him into the secret of every nest and
burnOw IN the chaffy pines. and bis
tered ourselves in the corn-held fighting
marNuding crows. We eveL extended
our love 70 the old mare that had come
home from the war with him all ribs
and horsehair--and 10 the rusty little
fishing smack that had helped to save
our lives
He never made Us feel. God bless
himi that We were not delightful to
gaze u;5on. or that we might be less ag-
sressive in the wav OF teeth and Rails
and heels. There was always bright
sort of welcome in his brown frecklcd
face when we scampered across fields OF
along reads 10 meet him, and his was
always the first CHEEKY word, always.
at least. until that unlncky evening
when we met him cantering from the
village with the alarming announce
ment that Cousin Till had come.
Cousin till meant mas niece She
was one of those big. gorgeous looking
young w0nen a body calls stunning be
hind her back young woman with
lots of bronze HAIR in = demOrali1ed
state of puff bang and frizzle. with
cheeks Ike peach-blo0ms all pink and
waxy. and lips as red and tempting Is
ma bush of scarlet sage
She was rich. too. in a mild sort of
way, duessedin milk-~hite frocks and
blue ribbons for breakfast and had =
beau. ma said. for every day in the
week For the rest. she owned n big
farm ten miles above us. visited ma
when there vas nothing better going
on. and always went of in a huff She 1
treated US children fairly enough. con-
and all we knew or cared /
about her was thEt she slept in mitlens /
10 keep her hands white, carried her 1
trunk key with exasperating consisfcncv, !
never tasted coffee On account OF her /
complexion and wished her name was /
Maud instead Of Matilda-all we cared /
At least. until thar unlucky evening /
when Captain Dan would bulge no /
nearer than the ganien-after which / 1
am bound to own We hated her with .
hatred too genuine to put in print
Budgel be wouldn teven look toward /
the house--eFen when we clnng : his /
saddle flaps and sw.rmed abss S
legs, and tugged and coaxed ano d. 1
ed. We could get no better satisfaction |
than playful Zip of his riding whip as
ks gave his horse the bride and slowly /
rode away. That was the beginning Of /
Il We rarely saw our preserver after
that. and never once At the hOuse-how
we hated her for il. and how we wished
10 goodness she would have the seEse
tc g0i
At last. when things had become so
desperate that Captain Dan never even
scaaded by in his fishing smack, nor
Iurned his old mares head into our
r0ad-and Cousin Till kept on being
sweet as peaches-we held an indigna-
ion meeting on the back piazza and
vented our wr0Egs in speech.
..Cut her throat and bury hsr IN the
pines" suggested John. our harmless
oldest. who was addicted 70 unc0mfort-
sbly vivid dreams.
Wy tant we put ard trabs in her
0ed AMI dwown herwi wope." lisped
sggia. our Borgia # six
.. Better shave that head of he-si''
advised jim. who really gave brilliant
promise Of heing a first-class villain
lnly be died, poor little lad. before he
lad time 70 work out his vocation
And TO shave our Cousin lilly we de-
.ided-
We were very jubilanf at the tea-table
ihaI night-s0 jubilant that ma moaned
4 US through her bedroom dOOr, and
,apa and Cousin TIL frowned at US
loUn from their end Of the table-and
wren at last she had retired early by
'ezsOn Of mas beaeaehe. and papa had
satechised US from VINO made vOus''
What became of Cain?" We. too, fled
I'D the crooked old stairway TO the
lO0ms allotted 10 our sway.
We had cast John for the barber in
,ur thrilling version Of the '-Rspe of the
-Ock." but being overwhelmed with a
'0nscience AT the trying moment. Jim
lssumed the part at the usual five min
He's notice and doubtless would have
his role with perfect salts
action but for fableau not down in
he bill.
The harvest moon was shining Ike a
alcium As we crept stealthily on our
are tip-foes 10 the door Of nv Cousin
rili's chamber. There she lay fast
sleep. ike the princess in the fairy ,
ale, and there were we face to face 70
ace with-John was the first to spy IL I
a fluffy coil OF reddish guild sprawled
ut on the dresser,
When we carried Captain Dan the
candai0us news think he had wild
I0tiOn to box us for our pains He
aughed. too laughed tilI the fishing
Fss spoiled. and made Us promise .
ever 20 raise our hands again 20 harm
hair of her head Then papa. being
D a proper mood. we lured him behind .
be granary door and confided in him
5 well-a confidence that led TO tie ,
Orrible discovery that Cousin Till and ,
ur Captain Dan had been something ,
lcrs than friends.
Wasn't she t0 blameP' asked John.
tho had heard of such goings en- as !
ouriing involves. and liked 10 air his .
I
We'll. yes. honey. I think there no !