The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-12-25

! Will 8CSLuIc.
What do you want the job throwed
up for?" she asked, as her husband
closed his cavernouS mouth without
speaking.
"Well. I'll tell YOU" answered Mr..
/ Case little nervously, for he did not
fancy the Intervention OF the sharp
featured woman, my tanrery Was
burned last night, and I am thinking
OF building next spring and sum
mer in a different place. and
so 1 should like to have the bark
lie where it is till next winter. It's well
piled up and can be easily covered.
am thinking of building quite near to
where the main body of the bark is"
Mrs. Strong eyed him shrewdly. 'Ef
Absalom hadn't done as he agreed,
you would made him pay 5000 forfeit.
Now You want to throw up the bargain,
an You don't say nothin' of payin' him
any forfeit -
The visitor drew down his brow
sharply. Il thought perhaps he would
like to cancel the agreement" he said.
slowly. The season is very backward
about hauling; he has been to no ca
pense so far, and didn't know but that
it might be to his advantage to do So"
| Again AbSaiom eSSayed to speak, but
once more Polly enforced silence. Its
al terrib lie nice an smooth when it's
a gOin' to benefit YOU" she said. in
decisive voice, '.but eff the boot WIS on
t'other foot You wouldn't be 50 willin'.
! Now, AbSalom.' she said. turning to
her husband. don't We let him OF on
less he pays We: make him gin
We at least one hundred dollars"
Mr.. Case REDEEMED with anger, while
poor NJ. Strong looked first at his
scheming wife and then at his visitor.
Il thought made this bargain with
a man and not with q woman, retortcd
the latter. BIT Polly, nothing daunted,
interrupted him.
''Ef you al him did have the dom of
it. I've got something to say about the
ondoin o. it, m Alb Strong won't take
| = cent less Il than one hundred dollars
/ for THROWN up the contract"
| Poor AbSalom was powerlcss. The
| iron grip Of fate was upon him, and he
uttered no sound. But with Mr.. Case
it was different. He arose quickly to
his feet, damned his hat unceremoniouS-
" upon his head and made for the door
With his hand upon the latch he turned
and said:
Il beg pardon for making any propo-
Sitions whatever. let the contract
stand as it is, and, if the bark is not
delivered at the time specified, | shall
enforce the payment of The forfeit"
AbsalOm endeavored to expostulate,
but the iratc Mr.. Case would listen to
nothing further. He hurried out, sprang
into his carriage and drove rapidly
away without turning lis head.
AbsalOm Strong was nearly choking
with anger toward his wife, and for the
time being, at least, their relative pO-
sitions were changed. Who's the fool
now?" he cried, fiercely, Stamping
about in 4 towering rage. ''Ef you'd
held y're tongue Id got out O that
scrape mighty easy. Now I'll have to
pay that two hundred dollars sure'S
fate, " and he ground his teeth Savagely.
Il think there's sech a thing as
DRAWN the string a leetle too tight"
he continued. is Polly sat in silence, for
once at a loss what 10 say, IAN I'm
gOin' to turn over Il new leaf this blessed
Christmas The Widder Mason shell
have 4 COW an pay me when she gets
able; an I'm goin' to do the far thing
by poor Jake Smith. too, see if don't.
This grinda', an pinchin', an screwin'
the last copper out of poor onfortunits
I'm done with. I'm sick ont"
What do You mean by dOin' the
right thing by Jake Smith?" questioned
Polly. as Absalom ceased speaking,
though he kept up his walking to and
fro.
IN tell We some other time" eiacu-
lated that worthy. looking 1T the huge
old clock that licked solemnly in the
corner. Its most ten O'Clock, he |
said, an I'm ago;n' nov. afore | git
hard-hearted agin." and he left the
house with the look of Il man who is bur
dened with q wcighty mission.
Polly Strong sat as one in a dream.
TO the stold old farm horse. and then
she looked from the window and
watched him till he disappeared from
sight.
A short drive brought him to the
Widow NaSon's :. He left the horse
standing before the house and applied
his knuckles to the door. He could not
have told, for the life OF him. Watcher it
was Indignation al his wife or desire
to do good. but be it either he felt Il
strange satisfaction in pursuing his
present course.
rs VI mother IMP" he asked of .
little Girl who answered his knock.
Tell her to come to the door, he con-
4,,,,nl +b., oh 4 10
answer, and then as the widow appeared
he said hastily:
Mrs. Mason, I've been t-linkin' that
over. an you can have that COW, an
pay me when yer git ready. l don't
want nothin' to show for it,
Without waiting to hear her thanks
he clambered into his wagon and clucked
vigorously to his horse. Turning
around in the wagon after he had gone
Il little distance he muttered as he looked
back:
.Darned eff it don't make man feel
good to do thing o that sort, arter
all"
Then he drove along in silence till he
arrived at the poyerty-stricken home of
Jacob Smith. Somehow his cheerful |
ness deserted him as he got out of his |
antiquated vehicle and approached the
door. He had not met the unfortunate |
Mr.. Smith since the time he had been |
compelled TO relinquish his home some
months before. and the thought of |
coming face to face with him now was
not pleasing, even though he brought |
cheering news to the inmates of the
household.
His low rapwaS answered by hollow
eyed cadaverOus man, who looked