Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1886-03-28
A RUSTIC COMEDY.

able looking building. On any gusty day
in November, when the very trees on the
hilltops seemed to have tnrned their shiv-
ering backs to the breeze that whistled
through their branches and whirled away
the red-tinted leaves in a madcap dance,
the "Red Lion" inn stood alone, with its
comfortable overcoat of imperviOus
thatch, retained its aspect Of quiet COM
fort, and toward evening the rudy glare
of its kitchen fire pressingly invited the
toil-worn cotters to forsake their scolding
wives and brawling children, their scanty
fires and drafty houses, and enjoy its com
Portable warmth. And often at the same
time there would be light at one of the
two attic windows that peered ont from
the roof like pair Of open gray eyes from
under lids of thatch. For one of these
attic rooms was the favorite resort of
Adam Black, the thriving publican Of
Blackford. He was greatly liked and re-
spected in Blackford. The worst that
could be said of him was that he was
rather hard, and as q matter of fact there
was little of softness in his nature.
In domestic life Adam was a martinez.
He ruled his SOL, Aleck his red-haired serv-
ant, Bet, and even his niece, Kitty, with n
rod of iron. Prompt obedience was the IN
written law of the household Only Kitty,
besides being the smartest, prettieSt, and
cleyerest girl in Blackford, was so way
ward and spirited that not even her uncle,
who liked her better than he liked any
body else in the world, was able to kee,
her entirely under control
1t was a great grief to Adam when he
found out that Kitty was in n mood to
throw herself away upon Willie Allan.
Not that lie disliked Willie-nobOdy could
do that-but he thought him unlikely to
be q good husband, that is, a thriving one,
able to keep his family comfortable.
1t was, therefore, not without reason
that Adam was set against his niece tax
ing up with Willie. He considered il
would be throwing herself away. And he
believed that he possessed powerful in
strument for enforcing his own view, for
he had full command of Kitty's little
fortune-something like elO0-left her by
her father, Adams elder brother, who had
preceded him in the occupation of the
RED Lion" Whatever it amounted to it
was all in the big box that stood in
Adams favorite attic room, for he had
deep-rooted suspicion of banks, and, like
many other country folks of that time,
held that his savings could not be safer
than under his own lock and key.
IF you marry Allan" he said to Kitty
and she knew that no nice scruples about
right or wrong would hinder him from
keeping his word, mot a penny will you
get from me-"
The truth was that he had quite another
scheme in his head. Why should Kitty
look beyond his son, Alecks True. they
were cousins, but the prejudice against
cousins marrying was not strong in the
n.
neignborhood, and, then, what advantages
there We're! Kate was splendid man
ager, and Aleck, though he had not his
fathers spirit and cleverncss, was hard
worker and very careful-too care
full, some people said, for whereas his
Iather was only Keen ana saving he was
as mean and hard as miser And ac-
c0rdingly, he spared no effort to enforce
his Will, so that poor Kitty had a hard
time OF II, what, with her uncies threats
and the no more agreeable persuaslons OF
her money -grnpoing suitor; Yet she wa.
lar too spirited TO yield, ana In her lnmost
mind was resolved to have both the sweet
heart and the money, Tor VINO needed II
IL not careless, squanderlng "biie'
IL was no iauit III her eyes that her
lover cared nothing whatever Tor her for
tune, though she would scold ana rate
him well Tor his indifference one winter
nlght, as she was returning from neigh
boring village, about three miles OIL, TO
Whlch she had peeh sent oy her uncle,
Wine quite accidentaiiy met ner, ana
they had happy walk hoineward along
Zane, on the snow covering Oh winch the
moonlight feu falr and softly, making the
hard wheel tracks glitter, and sllvering
the haif-biack, half-whitened hedgerows.
Willie never before had seemed SO true
and earnest ana loyal as Kitty poured
into his ear the story OF her persecution
Never mind, lass, he said, let him
Keep the money. I've little, but 1 m not
IN dept, and your put promise
20 1onie W .he ,ioi'' II yes, ni'y
nv '"i,S = "''"' """ W." ""'
anu night LOT you
NO. no. Wiiiie' .nere Is no use ior tha.'
ou' oo YOU 'hii'h = SNe up my ,is".s 10
please 'ha' "re.cheu iAiech' II Jus,
VIVA. ne Wants-Ior me 10 marry you ana
iea'e ever ,hihs 10 hiii' ne "ouiu oe
pleaseu 10 see me quarrei win
uncie' lor II not me, pue 'he money
he wants nu' IL he pioPoSes "sah,' w
you Know We eoou ihiha 10 TAKE nun
a. ms worn, Jus' gu, vi sPi'e' iha' . 'he
"o s,Ife, ! eouiu uo 70 ,, nun
his', whist, ",iiie INTER- up'eu nei
Il
~. Say any 'hihS ouc tnaa. lou wouio
never We, iea'e me lor VI. VI ui,.y so,u.
;,,oar.iI.;I1a 80" .,a,,1 49, zoe
, a. - = r,,,,.,,.",. - -
Ill ~, ia =. - a,n,,as -,
nit ~ NC ~, ,sro,s ,t,a - 10 r.,
~, go, m ,,,.,t,a =. =, ,ha ,,,l,a -,
Snndav nigb, and she was OF leax;ng
VILE 70 -, ho,,o g, ,ho,,rh,f,i ,h., ~
- go. - G., t;s - c. ,,n,;ll
I .la'', ~ -. -. ;.S
,,. aAu ~ an. s" n ~ q. =; Ita
, INNS ''i''' A''o Hs' A'pP'"s" IA MS ii''
business was very ouii IN 'he REQ
lion nea ~. a''ei MON, anu a ,ta. i.Ie
ni -. a.. s r ,t -, nau
g. -, rasorraa ~ VIM III m,;,h
.moderati,,n and impressiyeness his niece
had not expected TO find. -Bairn.- heI
said. veil rue a lifetime il We marry al
man like that. II might be a fine twelve
month. but after he'll get worse than
ever. and the work and arxiety'll all iaIlj
on Won. Better take man like Aleck.
that YOU can depend on to keep you COM
Portable. than one like Allan. that IL ex-l
pect YOU TO take care o. him.,
AIR replied Kitty, had Aleck been
the man his father is, l would never
have looked TO another. but I can not
trust him"
That's where vou,re wrong lass.
|