The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1886-03-18


+ enforcing his own view, for he had full
? command of Kitty's little fortune-some
: thing like hundred pounds-left her by
: her father, Adams elder brother, who haC
preceded him in the occupation of the 'Ret
| Lion" Whatever it amounted to 1t was al
in the big box that stood in Adams favorits
attic room, for he had a deep-rooted sus
picion of banks, and like many other coun
try folks of that time, held that his saving.
could not be safer than under his own loci
and KEY.
'If YOU marry Allan" he said to Kitty
and she knew that no nice scruples abou
right and wrong would hinder him from
keeping his word, mot a penny will yor
get from me-"
The truth was that he had quite another
scheme in his head. Why should Kitty
look beyond his son Aleek! True, they
were cousins, but the prejudice against
cousins marrying was not strong in the
neighborhood. and then what advantage:
there were. Kate was q splendid manager
and Aleck, though he had not his father:
spirit and cleverness, was a hard 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 q
miser. But in matchmaking these are not
defects to make party ineligible, and best
of all, thought Adam, ''there'll be no need
to divide the money" And accordingly he
spared no effort to enforce his will, so that
| DOOT hIJbl Hdu a HdIu JlIilc VI IT, "uub Will
her uncle's threats and the no more agree
able persuasions of her money rubbing
| sutton Yet she was too spirited to yield,
| and in her Utmost mind was resolved to
| have both the sweetheart and the money,
for who needed it if not careless, squander-
| ing Willie!
twas no fault 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 viii
| lage about three miles off, to which she had
been sent by her uncle, Willie quite acct
dentally met her, and they had a happy
walk hOmeward, along a 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
| had seemed so true and earnest and loyal
as when Kitty poured in his ear the story
of her persecution.
| "Never mind, lass" he said; ''let him
keep the money. I've little, but I'm not in
debt and if you'll but promise to come to
| the croft I'll-yes, Kitty-I'll sell every 1.-Two
| thing have and work day and night for
you"
mo, no, Willie: there's no use for that,
] but do you think I'll give up my rights to
please that wretched Aleck! 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
me, but the money, he wants. But if he
| proposes again, do you know, I've good
mind to take him at his word, just out of
spite. That's the worst | could do to
| him"
'eWhist! whist~ Willie interrupted her
with; you're jok;n', lass; but dinna like
| it. Say anything but that. You would
never leave me for bit of dirty gold!"
Would nOt!' queried Kitty, who was
an incorrigible teaZe; you'll may be see
me make runaway match of it; aye, and
glad you would be after while to get quit
of me. But here's the door. If I'm not
away, I'll may be be in the wood on Sun
to go home SO thoughtful that he quite for
got to feed his tame fox until Weakened in
the night by its yelping, thing that had
never happened i'll his life before.
Business was 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-
side it reclined very different looking dog.
The rough, short, curly hair of the latter
was that of a terrier, but its long face and
limbs and slender ourdemOnstrated 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-
pected to find
BARN." he said, ''ye'n rue lifetime if
We marry a man like that 1t might be fine
a twelvemonth, but after he'll get worse
than ever, and the work and anxiety IL all
fall on you. Better take a man like Aleck,
hot aoV 70 tnnr
Portable, than one like Allan, that'll expect
you to take care o him."
"Ahr' replied Kitty, had Aleck been
the man his father is, | would never have
looked to another, but | can not trust him."
THAT'S where you're wrong, lass. San
dy's well-bred lad, both on the mothers
side and the fathers. There's not better
bred lad in Blackford, and blood is sure to
tell He may be quiet, but he's game, /
warrant yau. could trust him with all l
have"
but if Aleck was bad, treacherous
man and didn't care a bit for me, would
you leave me free to take anybody like!"
queried Kitty.
''Sartinly, sartinly," answered her uncle.
well, if thought his blood as good as
his breeding, would take him tomorrow"
began Kitty, but she stopped, for Adam
was not listening Something had caught
his eve outside, and a stranger to his habits
temptation of the winter sunsets Redeemed
clouds or the snowy landscape. The win
dow commanded a view of forty-acre
field which stretched away from the village
gardens to a great thick wood, from which
it was separated by n brook. In the very
middle of it stood a solitary tree, the
boughs of which shone like dark tracery in
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 runs fol-
lowed by stoppages, during which it would
sit with its long ears pricked up to listen
to or scent danger. Could any Blackford
man look on that sight unmoved! 1t might
have turned the old minister himself into a
poacher, and 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 chance of sport in
his looks.
He was no sooner gone than Kitty did a
very curious thing. Running to her own
apartment she hurriedly produced big
gish bunch of old keys and began trying
the lock 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 have been hurt
and surprised, for the little firt, after
smartening herself up before the mirror,
proceeded to the Kitchen where Aleck was
busy polishing the harness of the doctors
horse, which happened to be kept at the
Red Lion" EnSconcing herself snugly
in the corner, she plainly said, by look and
movement: 'Come, WOO me-" Though
inclination to respond, he possessed none
of that spirit of gallantry which ought to
have made him quick to take the hint
Kitty's eyes were beginning to twinkle