The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1885-10-09
LIKE A GUINEA HEN.
The Contemrib.e Trick Served by
q Father Upon His Son.

q Father Upon His Son.
CHAPTER I.
"Anderson, l don't know any other
way to put 1t up" said my father. you
are fool. Here you have been study
ing your books and musing over the
great things you are going to do. and
now you want to marry a widow. Ibid
not think that Japerson, especially
Anderson Japerson, would so far give
mp that Unborn idea of importance which
has ever distinguished us from our
neighbors.
NV father turned. walked to the end
of the porch, took drink of water and
.rinsed his mouth as if he would wash
out the taste of his words. Twas much
in love with the widow Hankins. Oh,
she was beautiful; so graceful with a
charming little laugh "a ripping giggle,
like the tinkling of music-box. The
Widow Harkins, or Zelda, as was per-
mitted to call her, was several years
older than l, but she was SO 1.-the, so
blithe, oh, SO everything that Iknew her
beauty would last forever. This charm
ing creature had married miller. Han
kins was not handsome man, but his
old water mill was such a romantic
place that Zelda, with her notions of
poetry and moss -covered rocks, could
not resist his opportunities. He only
lived two years after his marriage. and
when l saw him buried in an old
orchard, fancied he must have died of
excessive happiness.
NV father was rather a stern man,
but there was about him a peculiar
humor that occasionally cropped out,
but since my mothers death the out
groupings had become rare indeed.
you ought to have more sense"
said my father, turning from the end of
the porch and slowly approaching me.
elf you are so keen to get married,
sir"
'.But am not SO keen to get married,
SIR
1T seems that you are. What is there
about Zelda Hawkins that you find SO
attractive?"
'sShe is beautiful" l replied.
Beautiful" he contemptuously re-
peated. ''Why, sir, you can go out in
the woods any time and jump up bet
ter looking woman than she is. She is
.squint eyed" =.
Father, you know better than that. y
mo, Idon't She is squint eyed, with
an expressionless doli-face, and has a
laugh like the cackle of a guinea hen. "
II won't stand here, sir. and listen to
you. You are insulting"
YES" he continued, paying no at
tention to my rising resentment. land
worse than all, she is flirt. If you
marry her. you shall not bring her to
nv house You are only nineteen.
Wait until you are twenty-one and then
renew your proposal of marriage
Il haven't proposed to her yet.
swell. wait until you are twenty-one
and then if you want to marry her viii
give you this farm and every head o.
cattle ON the place"
Il won't accept such an outrageou:
proposition"
oh, well, then, go ahead; but re
member. sir. that you rSr not brins
her to my house"
I'VE can live at the mill.
Can you? Well, am glad to hear
it 1 have mortgage on that property
aud the day you take up your residence
there the mortgage shall be foreclosed.
Father. | thought that you were
kiad-hcarted man."
And l thought that you were sensi
bic boy"
..Iwould rather lack sense than kind
ness of heart"
.'Oh, you are no doubt a philanthro
pist, and like nearly all philanthropists
lack discretion"
''Were you not in love with m,
mother?" / asked after moment
silence.
oh, yes, but my love was tempered
with sense. Your mother was a youn,
aud talented woman. Twas q man, no
a mere boy"
You are wasting your words on me
father
Il think you are right in that partic
-ular. Go ON, now, and pursue you
own course. but remember what hav
said"
CHAPTER II.
remembered what my father ha
said. but that evening went over to sc
Zelda. Oh, how beautiful she looked i
her new checked dress. When I arrive
at the mill, she was sitting in q coz
little room engaged in embroidering
pair Of slippers for me.
Come 10, Anderson" she said, arit
ing and extending her hand. Il es
Pected you this evening""
Il hope that your thoughts of m
were pleasant.
'1Oh. YES. Kittie." turning to negr
who appeared in the doorway. ''briug i
some wood and build up fire. The ri
is chilly"
Kittie made fire and retired. Iva
afraid that she would remain in til
room.
This fall weather is delightful
Zelda remarked.
-.Yes, it's so beautiful. I like the ia
80 much better than do the sprins
The spring is full of glee but the fall
full Of signs"
Then you like signs better than 70
do glee."
41Oh, yes. they mean so much more.
She laughed in her ripping way. IN
the blood of resentment mounted to ID
1ace IS I recalled my fathers declar'