The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1886-03-18

and Aleck, though he had not his fathers
spirit and cleverness, was a lard worker
and very careful-too careful, some people
said, for whereas his father was only keen
and saving, he was as mean and hard as a
miser. But in matchmaking these are not
defects to make a party ineligible, and best
of all, Thought Adam, 'there'll be no need
70 divide the money!. And accordingly he
poor Kitty had a hard time of it, what with
her uncle's threats and tho no more agree
able persuasions of her money-grubbing
sutton. Yet she was too spirited to yield,
and in her inmost mind was resolved to
have both the sweetheart and the money,
for who needed it if not careless, %squander-
ing Willie?
1t was no aul in her eyes that her lover
cared nothing whatever for her fortune,
though she would scold and rate him well
for his Indifference. One winter night, as
she was returning from a ~neighboring vii
lage about three mics off, to which she had
been sent by her uncle, Willie quite acct
dentally met her, and they had a happy
walk homeward, along q lane, on the snow
| covering of which the moonlight fell fair
and softly. making. the hard wheel-tracks
glitter and shivering the ~half-black, half
whitened Indigenous. Willie never before
as when Kitty poured in his ear the story
of her persecution.
'sNever mind, lass" he said; 'let hin
keep the money. T've little. but Pm not in
debt, and il you'll but promise to come to
the croft rl-yes, Kitty-I1l sell every live
thing I have and work day and night for
yog,"
please that wretched Aleck2 It's just what
he wants, for me to marry you and leave
every thing to him. He would be pleased
to see me quarrel with uncle, for it's not
proposes again, do you know, I've a good
mind to take him at his word, just out Of
spite. That's the worst I could do to
him
with; you're jokin', lass; but l dfnna like
it. Say anything but that. You would
never leave me for a bit of dirty golda"
"Would I notl" queried Kitty, who was
an incorrigible teaze; you'll may be see
glad you would be after a while to get quit
of me. But here's the door. If I'm not
away, TIl may be be in the wood on Sun
day night;" and she was of, leaving Willie
to go home SO thoughtful that he quite for
the night by its yelping, a thing that had
never happened in his life before.
Business wal very dull in the "Red Lion''
next afternoon, and Adam retired to his
attic-room, where Kitty had a cheerful fire,
before which she sat knitting. Meg, the
celebrated black-and-white greyhound, of
which Adam was very proud, stretched its
aristocratic body out on the rug. while, be-
Sluo IL TcClll6u d NcTH ul16ItIlU lOOhluH uOks
The rough, short, curly hair of the latter
was that of a terrier, but its long face and
limbs and slender contour demonstrated its
relation to the breed of which Meg was a
pure and beautiful specimen. Jack, as he
was called, was the very mongrel for a
poacher.
Adams conversation did not relate to
his hounds, however, but to his son.. He
referred to Willie Allan with a moderation
and impressiveness his neice had not ex-
Dected to fQd,
"Bairn,n he said, 'sye'n rue a lifetime if
ye marry a man like that. 1t might be fine
a twelvemonth, but after he'll get worse
than ever, and the work and anxiety III all
fall on you, Better take a man like Aleck,
that you can depend on to keep you COM
Portable, than one like Allan, that'n expect
you to take care o. him."
"Ah" replied Kitty, had Aleck been
looked to another, but I can not trust him.
"That's where you're wrong, lass. San
dy's a well-bred lad, both on the mothers
side and the fathers. There's not a better
tell. He may be quiet, but he's game, I
warrant yau. l could trust him with all
have"
"But if AIeck was a bad, t~reacherous
man and didn't care a bit for me, would
you leave me free to take anybody / like2"
queried Kitty.
ssSartinly, sartinly," answered her uncle.
'.'Well, if I thought his blood as good as
his breeding, I would take him Tomorrow
began Kitty, but she stopped, for Adam
hts eye outside, and a stranger to his habits
might have thought him wrapped in con-
temptation of the winter sunsets REDEEMED
clouds or the snowy landscape. The win
field which stretched away from the village
gardens to a great thick wood, from which
it was separated by a brook. In the very
middle of it stood a solitary tree, the
the evening light. 'Look yonder," said
Adam, pointing to the foot Of this tree. A
timid, limping, hungry hare, probably
tempted by the remembrance of the vege-
tables it had sometimes on moonlight
nights found in the gardens, was making
toward them in little starts and run fol-
lowed by stoppages, during which it would
sit with its long ears pricked up to listen
to or scent danger. Gould any Blackford
man look on that's sight unmoveda It might
have turned the old minister himself into a
poacher, n the temptation was quite too
strong for Adam. The very dogs, by the
eager way in which they started up to fol-
low him, seemed to see a chance Of sportin
his looks.
He was no sooner gone than Kitty did a
very curious thing. Running to her own
apartment, she hurriedly produced a big
gish bunch of old keys and began trying
the loci of Adams chest until she got one
to fit. Then she opened it and looked in.
But no pile of gold met her eye. Adam
had a second box within the big one, and it
was locked. Kitty did not seem at all dis
appointed. Without touching any thing
in the box she let the lid fall, carefully
locked it and put her keys back where she
had found them.
Had Willie Allan been there to watch her
next proceedings he would lave been hurt
and surprised, for the little f1irt, after
~smartening herself up before the mirror,
proceeded to the kitchen, where Aleck was
busy polishing the harness Of the DOCTORS
Red Lion" E-nsconcing herself snugiy
in the corner, she plainly said, by look and
n move sa1 "Coms, 20 woo al me- no III. Though ,ga
inclination to respond, he possessed none
of hat spirit of gallantry which ought to
have made him quick to take the hint.
Kitty's eyes were beginning to twinkle
barrassment, when, luckily, Adam looked
in with the hare, but he forgot all about
Jacks performance in his pleasure at see
ing the cousins SO friendly. "Aha l' he
like that whenever the old mans backs
turned" and in great glee he went away
and left them.
"What do you think of that now?" said
Kitty, laughing.
81 wish it was true,' said Aleck.
"That is because you're afool," said Kit
ty. "What on earth should we be sweet
heartin' fora What kind o. life would you
live here if you were married, Sandy! AS
long as Adam Blacks here-and that may
be twenty years yet-Adam Black will be
master. And as for you, you'll toll and
MOL and mourn till the gray hairs come,
and you'll get his money when you're past
enjoying it. That's the lookout for a
woman with a notion to you, my lad"
CPL not deny you've hit it, Kitty. It's a
poor spec at the best, keeping a country
public; the kinds haven't the money to
spend. If I had fathers savings now, 1
wouldn't bide here past the term. I'd get
a place nearer the pits-them's the lads to
spend"
"If 1 were a man like you, Aleck, do you
know what I'd do? would make a big try
to get these same savings and bolt. If you
were quick and clever enough they'd never
catch you, and you could change your name
and get a new start"
"Ah! I've thought o. that, but the old
ones over c%unnin,. 1 believe he wears thu