Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1886-12-23

dry other fearless liberties. Their
coats, too, soon shono with unwonted
luster under his ceaseless rubbing, and
their joints became exceedingly round
with luxurious living, Joel was also
owner of a COW, large, dappled, with
clear horns and fine eyes, but Of exact
ing disposition. The beautiful beast
had unfortunately tender udder, but
as 1t lay within the line of Absalom's
duties, he proceeded 10 milk her Sit
ting down with accustomed assurance.
he graspcd the pail between his knees
and was swiftly filling the vessel with
snowy foam, when the animal kicked
him headlong, drenching him from
head to foot with milk. Getting up
with the warm fluid dripping from his
eyelids, nose and chin, he coolly
went into the barn, brought out
a strap, and fastening it to
one of the animals front feet, threw
the st-ap over her back, then going
around on the opposite side. drew up
the cows foot against her body by
pulling on the strap and sitting upon
IL proceeded TO milk. Once or twice
the animal attempted her diverting
mancuver. but, finding that she could
not successfully perform il without haz-
arding her own neck. she quietly sub
mitted. Joel, who had Witnessed this
laughablc encounter, was supremely
pleased, and went away chuckling
about the boys uncommon "sand. v
This latter word in its slangy express
iveness exactly suited this big success
ful Westerner. IL seemed little less
than an epitome of his life, and was
often sounded from his tongue with
sinewy zcst. Absalom also grew in
favor with the crickety housc-maid
Ether What with his physical and
mental spryness, his laconic speech
and willingness of spirit, his odd in
trigucs and sly dislike of Mrs. Whitney.
he quite overlook her heart Many
were the games of checkers they
played in the kitchen, and many
were the whispered duets of indigna-
ton they held touching Mrs. Whitney's
unchristian treatment of little John
Earling. This was am unfailing foun-
tain of affinity at which they drank,
looking into each others eyes from
either brink Of the question, though, in
point of fact, il was some time ere
Absalom was aware that the crickety
Il
owing to the abnormal indircctncss of
her line Of vision. But Absalom soon
learned in spite Of any lack Of beauty
in these guiding stars, that about the
crooked orbs of little Miss Popp his
own eccentric sphere Of life began to
reyolvc with n sweet and soothing
motion. She was, indeed, of much
value to him; teaching him diligently
and studying diligently herself when
occasion presented, in order that she
might keep well abreast of this keen
witted country boy. Again and yet
again their heads were laid together
over some troublesome problem,
usually with the result of Alb
SALON. seeing its bottom first. As
time progressed, however, and Absalom
heightened in person and began phys
ically to look down upon little Miss
| Popp, she began to blush and shrink
from their old familiar contact This
grieved and puzzled Absalom un-
speakably, and for many days nc went
about knocking his shins against famil-
lar objects, and once he was noticed
by Miss Popp TO have fallen in his per-
picking reverie over a wheel-barrow
with his head under the fence. In this
undignif.ed attitude he remained some
moments with his legs whipping the
air, and when Miss Ether ran out and
extricated him by pulling vigorously
upon his feet, he only stared at her rue
fully and quavered: 30 Poppl Poppl
how could youP' and went away into
the barn. That scrupulously-kept pre-
cinct too. in this grieyous time Of his,
witnessed many evidences of his per-
pleXity and distress. Not few times
he caught himself currying the horses
against the natural lay Of The hair,
making them look fuzzy and i'll
groomed, and twice while passing from
ono side Of horse to the other by the
tunnel route as be designated il, he
stopped absent-mindedly under the
horse and proceeded to think, was
stepped upon ana rudely awakened
from his reverie. How long this per-
pleXity would have continued, and TO
what degree his reputation for sagacity
and cleyerness would have suffered,
mad not events changed the conditions,
is conjecnral. At any rate. Miss
Popp. sitting in the kitchen one even
ing after day OF unusual coyness, was
suddenly startled by hearing a voice
lamenting and calling her name as il
from the bowels of the earth, and
snringing up, With her visual peculiar
ity very marked, she ran out and cast
ing her eyes about in terror found that
the voice proceeded from the cistern.
Leaning into the opening 10 that CHM
merian cavern she could hear Absalom
ilcundsring in it's collected rain. Evil
| ha Nft,a q -
| hgid was Of depth that precluded any
other employment than splitting il out,
for he alternated each word with a
spurt OF water. 80 Absaloml Alb
salon! is that you?" crled Miss Popp,
wringing her hands.
Yes-spurt-its me-spurt-O-spurt- l .
spurt love spurt you sO-spurt-get a.
spurt- clothes spurt line-spurt Popp-
and-spurt-let it-spurt down -spurt-q =
spurt-q-quiek!" said Absalom.
Very quickly, indeed. did little Miss
Popp spring into the Kitchen and pro-
cure the clothcs-iine; winding It about
her waist, she dropped one end into
the cistern, and sitting down fat upon
the ground braced her feet against the
the cistern curb. With might and main
she held on while Absalom clambered
up the rope. Very besozzlcd and
oozey his shoulders and head emerged
from the opening, and bearing himself
upon his hands with bis legs dangling
IN the cistern, he paused and looking
lugubriously at Miss Popp upon the
ground, he quavercd: 20 Poppl Popp!
How could you?" And Miss Popp,
with melting twitter, caught him
by the head and kissed him.
Whether or not Absalom fell
into the cislern while in one Of
these troubled frances Of thought.
or flung himself headlong into the gi-
gantic jug out Of sheer dispair Of ever
unriddling Miss POpp's attitude, viii
nlMaNs rnnlnin a mNalDrr Rni ihni