The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1885-05-01

ing? 1t might be q message, though
She broke off in her song, and went her.
| self to see.
''Can see Farmer Blackthorn, missP''
asked the lad.
Farmer Blackthorn was about, and
was soon found. The lad pulled his
cap as if to Squire. for Tom Black
thorn had many popular memories
! about him, since the days when he had
tried to live like one.
There's a gentleman of the name OF
Harlow herePS asked the hostler.
'Patience's heart gave throb. cay,
| said her father, .'what of him?"
''Only that he was at our house night
afore last, and when he went in the
morning left these here things behind.
The master thought I'd best bring 'em
over, as they might be of valley. Here
they be-"
''Stephen at the Half Moon! Non
sense" said Farmer Blackthorn. '.But
that's s,is pocket-book, sure enough
eh, Patierce? You ought to know. Ay
and here's letters in it. Mr.. S. Har-
low. That's mighty queer. What
should he be sleeping for at the Hall
Moon instead of home?"
That's more than l know of, your
honor. He took bed, and next morn
ing he was off afoot, and that's all
know. Shall leave the things or take
'em away?"
mo. Leave 'em. He'll be here by
| and by. Go and get some ale; and
here's something for your ride" Farm
er Blaekthorn's pocket held just shil-
| ling, and it went at once into the host
| ler's palm. And it was unlucky for the
hostler that the pocket had not held
| two. patience said he, when the
lad had gone into the kitchen for his
ale, 'this is queer. Stephen putting W
at house like the Half Moon, within /,
stones throw, two nights ago. Do you
know what it means?"
mo-" said she. Business, sup
pose"
But Farmer Blackthorn knew what
| business" too often means only too
well. He had been young, and he
was Dicks father. Business be-
hanged. Do you mean to say you've
heard nothing of him all this while?"
"No, father. But"
"'But' be hanged, too. l like to UNI
derstand everything; and 1 will. A low
er's quarrel-eh?"
Father! Quarrel with Stephen-I."
"And gone off afoot, and never come
home. Holloa-what' thisP" he asked,
examining the pocket-book, from which
half-open letter futtered to the
ground. "Yes; / must read it; will
A precious thing-to let thing like
that stand betwixt my only girl and a
man, if he were Prince of Wales. MY
darling-I will meet you at Your
own loving Katen A love-letter, and a
hot one, too. All, Master Stephen-I'li
look bit further before I've done"
For shame, fathern' cried she
"Give me the book-the letter. 1t is
his, not ours"
"Not ours? Then WHOSE Is it, if YOU
please? No; l will not give you the
letter. It's mine. Nobody's but mine
mine and viper's, Patience; viper's
like the one that stung the man that
warmed him. in the tale. And that's
the man l thought better than Dick,
poor lad-no; not poor lad. Patience
never let me hear you name Dick again!
But Dick, hang him, never made love
TO one girl while he carried another's
letter NEXT his heart, that I'll swear.
That comes of thinking the son of a
drunken blacksmith could change his
spots-I'll never think so second time,
as sure as my names Tom Blackthorn.
Never you mind, my lass. l never did
think him fit for you. Put him out of
your mind. AS for his money-who
wants his money? And as for him
there; thank the chance that's found
him out. Never you worry about a
blackguard, my lass. I've got stick
that'll fit his back to T, and I'll GO
over to Marrish for another loan"
With that other letter burning in her
pocket-where was the trust now?
Why, in her heart of hearts-where else
should it be ]?
"He will come - father, he Wil
come" was all she could cry.
But the days passed, and the weeks,
and Stephen Harlow never came home.