Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1886-03-13

nephews; but such quarrels are not popu-
lar with story writer's.
Uncle Eben regretted having quarreled
with me, for he liked me very much. He
heard nothing from me for two years
then the warning came and he felt il
necessary to make his will. As was
young many of great daring and reck-
lessness, he feared that I might have
passed beyond the benefits of a will, and
found watery grave. He did the best
he could under the circumstances; he
willed all the property to me in case
claimed it within five years; otherwise it
was to go to certain Jared Wilson, a
wealthy second cousin of mine, Uncle
Eben's nearest relative after myself.
Meanwhile I, unhappy youth, was be-
ing kicked and cuffed about by crew OF
of ruffianly sailors far away on the sea.
I had decided that I would not go home
or even write home until I had acquired
an Independent fortune. Fortunes do
not leap forth out of the deep-sounding
sea at the beck of poor little land-lub-
Der, and the years dragged slowly on
without adding to my humble posses
sions.
Uncle Eben had died, and the five
years of grace were nearly spent before
finally decided that solid earth was bet
ter than water, and that would forgive
Uncle Eben, and return home for a taste
of the fatted calf. I had had no news
from my native town since the morning
went away, so I knew nothing Of the
changed conditions at home. 1 thought
to find Uncle Eben hale, hearty and
prosperous, as when I had left him. I
fancied that he might be growing trife
gray, and that he might even be begin
ming to wear spectacles; but then his
form would be erect, the grasp of his
hand firm, and his notions of right and
wrong as orthodox as ever. How re-
freshing the puritanic rectitude of my
uncle seemed to me through vista of
seven years with the jolly tar, can be ap-
preciated by those only who have had
the same experience.
Although 1 gave no notice of my re-
turn, 1 think Cousin Jared must have
had mental conviction of my increasing
nearness, for he was seen to be uneasy
and apprehensive. The five years would
expire at twelve o'clock, Dec. 81, 1886.
At one minute past twelve Jared pro-
posed to be master of the Palmer estate.
That he might take possession punctual-
ly, on the evening of Dec. 81, he sta
toned himself in the kitchen of Uncle
Eben's old red farm house, accompanied
by his lawyer.
The farmhouse was occupied by a
family that had lived there many years,
and, by the provisions of the will, were
to live there and take charge of the
premises until one of the heirs mentioned
had taken possession. The family con-
sisted of James Hallet, wife and daughter,
persons who had known me from my
babyhood. Uncle Eben put me in
Susan Hallet's arms when he brought
me home from Grandfather Browns a
helpless orphan, aged six months. Susan
Hallet cared for me. scolded me, and
cried over me for the next twelve years.
OF course she wept over me and worried
about me more than ever after my de-
parture, and I suppose she lectured
Uncle Eben soundly for having quarreled
with me. Tina Hallet, my playmate and
dearest friend from my earliest recollec-
ton, was one year younger than I.
When 1 ran away to sea, it was with the
secret resolution that Tina should share
my immense fortune when I came home
with it,
Naturally the Hallets did not fancy
having the old farm seized upon by Jared
Wilson. They have often told me how
they sat there through that December
evening, james Hallet, his wife Susan,
and his daughter Tina, all despairingly
watching the departure of the old year.
They had not quite given up the hope
that might appear at the last moment,
but it certainly began to look very dubi-
GUS.
Jared Wilson sat with his watch in his
hand, waiting impatiently for the fateful
index to crawl up from half-past eleven
to twelve. The lawyer grew very sleepy,
and dozed off in the big armchair, but
rest of the company sat bolt upright
their hearts beating in unison with the
swinging of the pendulum.
At quarter to twelve, Jared's watch
suddenly ceased ticking, proof to my
mind that it did not sympathize with the
greedy haste of its owner. No one else
present had watch, or the key to a
watch, so Jared ruefully put his time
piece in his pocket, and gave himself up
to the contemplation of Uncle Eben's
clock.
"You are just five minutes too slow"
he said to James Hallet. II keep the
correct time"
He arose. no one disputing his right,
and moved along the minute hand five
causing the clock to utter a
sharp click, the minute fore-runner
of the hour. Then he sat down and
waited again.
Under ordinary circumstances, ten
minutes is not long to wait; but have it
on the authority of the three Hallets
that those ten minutes were unlike any
others that Father Time had ever swung
them through. It seemed at least half
an hour before the minute hand had
moved along one space; but it certainly
did move, and the pendulum kept on
swinging as briskly as ever.
Something ais that tarnal clock p
said Jared anxiously, when at last the
hand had reached the FIVE minute sta
ton. at can't be right"
'.You are in too much of hurry,
jared" said James Hallet. THAT clock
has kept accurate time, unless you can
make the earth 90 faster''