Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-04-29
Tales aud Sketthes.
LIKE A GUINEA HEN.
THE CONTEMPTIBLE TRICK SERVED BY A
FATHER UPON HIS Son.
CHAPTER /.

books and musing over the great things
you are going to do, and now you want to
marry widow. did not think Japer-
son, especially Anderson would so far give
up that inb )rn idea of importance which
has ever distinguished US from our neigh
bors.'
Ny father turned, walked to the end of
the porch, took drink of water and
rinsed his mouth as if he would wash out
the taste of his words. | was much in
love with the widow Hankins. Oh, she was
beautiful so graceful. with charming
little laugh-a ripping little giggle, like
the tinkling of music box. The widow
Hankins. or Zelda, as was permitted to
call her. was several years older than |,
but she was so 1.-THE, so blithe, oh, so
everything that knew her beauty would
last forever. This charming creature had
married a miller. Hawkins was not
handsome man, but his old water mill
was such a romantic place that Zelda,
with her notions of poetry and moscow
cred rocks. could not resist his importu-
mites. He only lived two years after his
marriage, and when saw him buried in
an old orchard, fancied he must have
died of excessive happiness.
My father was rather stern man. but
there was about him peculiar humor that
occasionally cropped out, but since my
mothers death the groupings had become
rare indeed.
You ought to have more sense said
my father turning from the end of the
porch and slowly approaching me. If
YOU are so keen to get married sir
But am not so keen to get married,
sir
1T seems that you are. What is there
about Zelda Hawkins that you find so at
tractive?'
She Is beautiful, | replied.
Beautiful he CONTEMPORARY repeated.
why, sir, you can 90 out into the woods
any time and jump up better looking
woman than she is. She is squnt eyed
Father, you know better than that
No, | don't. She is squirt eyed, with
an expressionless doll-face, and has a
laugh like the cackle of a guinea hem
i won't stand here, sir, and listen to
YOU. You are insulting
Yes he continued, paying no atten-
ton to my rising resentment, land worse
than all, she is firt. If you marry her
YOU shall not bring her to my house. You
OulN DllcttCH. w uIllll 1Ou are
twenty one and then renew your proposal
of marriage
Il haven't proposed to her yet
We'll, wait until you are twenty one,
and then if you want to marry her will
give You this farm and every head of
cattle on the place
Il won't accept such an outrageous
proposition
oh, we'll. then, 60 ahead: but re-
member, sir. that you must not bring her
to my house,
We can live at the mill
Can youp Well. am glad to hear it,
have a mortgage on that property, and
the day you take up your residence there
the mortgage shall be foreclosed.'
Father, ] thought you were a kind
hearted man.
And l thought you were sensible
boy
Il would rather lack sense than kind
ness of heart
oh, you are no doubt a philanthropst,
and like nearly all philanthropists. lack
discretion
Were you not in love with my moth
erP asked after a moments silence.
'Oh, yes, but my love was tempered
with sense. Your mother was Young
and talented woman. was man, not a
mere boy
You are wasting your words on me,
father
Il think you are right in that particular
Go on. now, and pursue your own course,
but remember what have said
CHAl TER II.
| rcmpm bprad what INV fatbor b,J u,;J
but that evening | went over to see Zelda.
Oh, how beautiful she looked in her new
checked dress. When arrived at the
mill, she was sitting in coy little room
engaged in embroidering a pair of slippers
for me.
Come in. Anderson she said, arising
and extending her hand. | expected you
this evening"
Il hope that your thoughts of me were
pleasant
Oh. yes. Kittie, turning to negro
who appeared in the doorway, bring in
some wood and build up fire. The air
is chilly
Kttie made fire and retired. | was
afraid that she would remain in the room.
This fall weather is delightful. Zelda
remarked.
Yes, it's so beautiful. | like the fall
so much better than do the spring. The
spring is full of glee but the fall is full of
sighs.'
Then you like sighs better than you do
glee.'
oh yes. they mean so much more
She laughed in her ripping way, and the
blood of resentment mounted to my face
as recalled my fathers declaration that
she cackled like guinea-hen
why. Anderson. what makes you
blushp'
Did blush?'
Yes
No, didn't
Yes YOU did. sir
We'll, couldn't help it,
Il didn't say anything to make you
blush. did p
oh, no; it was something that father
said
Tell me-
oh, | can't
'Why?'
Might hurt your feelings
No it wouldn't. / am not easily
hurt
We'll. he-oh, don't want to tell
you
But you must
He said so much about you that l can
hardly remember it all He doesn't like
you very WELL
sRut tell me what he said