The Iola register., 1886-11-25

| SSANk NOISY Iamlly OF domestic
| ~scSf%N fowls. 1t was drawing
near to Thanksgiving, aud with that para
doxical nature, which so strangely exhibits
itself even in the human family, all the
feathered creatures were tanner, more con
fiding and more interesting than at any
other period of their lives, on the principle
] suppose, that ''blessings brighten as they
take their flight"
"You poor dearr' Mollie said, in con.
templative tone, as she patted the bobbing
| head of the great handsome turkey already
marked for the sacrifice, you shall have all
you want, for tomorrow you die. It's just
a shame. If you had only died when you
were little you wouldn't live to be roasted
and eaten now! And you are SO happy
herer'
Then she smoothed the ruffled plumage
of jealous fowl-king of the harem-
| and reproved noisy duck that was
| eating more than his share.
~ declair," said her father, who stood in
the doorway watching her, 81 dew be-
leeve every one of them dumb things senses
Mollie and likes to hear her voice. She's q
purity gOOd-lOOkin' girl, too, hey, mother.
She favors YOU"
Mrs. Hartner took her hands out of the
dishwater and looked over her husbands
shoulder.
"She amt humbly," she admitted, "but I
allus thought she took after your side Of the
house, 'Lisha"
"She's jest you over ag'in, Maria, as you
looked when come a courtiu', like San
ford Stiles is q doin' meow. HullOl Talk
of angels an you hecr the rustlin' of their
wings. Amt this middlln' airly for you,
Stiles"
'Ycs, sir" answered the new conner, in
n somewhat shame-f faced manner, 81 was
just passing this way, and l thought I'd
stop in and ask you if the fall-plowing-the
the cOrn-the''-
"Yes! it's out thare in the gard'n. Go
rite through. Mollie's feedin' it to the
feowls. She'll tell You the pertikelers her
self"
The visitor hurried out through the side
door, and the farmer started in another
direction; but before he went he inquired
of his wife:
''Say, Maria, was ever sich pesky fool
as that chap when l come a-courtin' yous"
"Worse," answered Miss Hartner, grave
ly; ''an' you amt got over it yet, 'Lisha''
But the twinkle in her eye told that she
was partner in his foolishness.
began to tell you what a pretty picture
Ruth, ''breast high amid the corn" She
was such a sweet, wholesome, well-made
girl, with the rich, ripe, harvest color of a
scek-no-further apple in her round, dimpled
cheeks, and as she stood there with all her
soft, dark hair wind blown, and the color of
the skies matched in her great blue orbs,
you would go further and look far to find
any thing as fair as she. So thought the
lover as he stepped softly upon the scene,
coming to give her surprise.
As if she did not knowl She had heard
his foot at the front gate, heard his bung-
ling speech to her father.
"Oh, lovers eyes ere sharp to see!
And lovers ears in hearing
But she went on all the harder feeding
her faithful poultry, and only that the color
spread from cheek to brow and the dim
pies twinkled in q delicious confusion of
smothered laughter, the demure Mollie
knew nothing Of aught but her feathered
friends.
And the lover feasted his eyes She had
on simple blue gown, with a white fichu
tied about her shapely shoulders; but how
fair, how fair she looked to him. do not
think myself that lovers eyes are hyper
critical in regard to the colors their be-
loved ones wear. II Mollie had worn red
Rnd-yellOw or sage-green it would have
been all the same to Sanford Stiles. She
would still have been
-''the fairest
That e'er the sun shone on"
He was not Unlocking himself in his
straight, sturdy manhood. As he ap-
preached Mollie he held something in HIS
hand, a tiny box, which he regarded with
somewhat divided attention. Stealthily
craeplng nearer, nc took that which the box
contained in his thumb and fingers, and ex-
tended his arm, intending to reach it over
her shoulder-when-sh-o-o flew Q