The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-05-23
lpr'a'sd By Special acknowledgement 1886 j
The DIVIDED HOUSE
Asthor The Story of MvrG, Brother Sesosfris "
Special Providence and Other Stories 4"
Harper and the Century.

ME troub legome ana wearing. having BUS
picion that his condition was worse than his doc
tor or children allowed he gave them no peace
until he had extracted an admission that such
was the case. Left alone with the doctor at his
request, he reproached him.
'rYe might as well told me before as let me
lay here thinkin' and stewin' about it I've lost
sight of strength tryin' to git the truth from
ye and there wan'tno need. Wall suppose l
amt RELY dyin' naow. while I'm talkin' be II"
Assured as to that point, he added: 1.-THE
reason wanted to know is because I've got to
FIX my concerns 80 as to leave EN- as well as
can, and all I want of you is that when you
think rm-wall-if you see taere's goin' to be a
change, want you should tell me, so'st can
straighten things right out and git their consent
to it."
Having promised, the doctor appraised him as
Ehe last moments drew near
"Sho! I want to know! Why, I feel full as
well as did yes'dy, and leetle grain easier, if
anythin'n
at hope this notice does not find you unpre-
pared" observed the doctor.
"Wall, no; I'm prepared as much as can be-
rs you may say. I've been member in good
and regular standing this ffty-ave year-and
hain't arrived at my age without seeing there's
somethin in life beside livin'." He paused, then
added, with an accent of pride: II don't owe
any man a cent, nor never cheated man of one
Wall, I've had quite spell to think of things in
durin my Sickness and don't know but what
I've enjoyed it considerable. Thought of things
all along back to when I was boy. Events
come up that Id clean forgot"
The doctor gone, he called his children in.
''Well. Armidy well. Lucas, the doctor don't
seem to think I shall tucker it out much longer
Wall, naow," he exclaimed, quite vexed, WOW
fort if / didn't forgit to ask him how long Wall,
too late naow. He's got out of sight, spose.
Armida stepped to the window and assured
him of the fact
avail, no greet matter. I jist thought If l
could git him to fix the time I'd like to see how
nigh he'd hit it
'Now / want to fix the property so'st you
won't have no trouble with it. No use wastin'
money gittin' lawyers here. There amt no
shestin' nor double-dealin' anywhere to be found
amongst the Huxters nor the Lucases, and when
you give me your promises to abide by my last
will aud testament shall expect you to hold to
~ JlSL the same as II III was WITH OUT
''Naow about the farm and house. The house,
as you know, stands in the middle line of the
farm, that is, the north side has leetle the ad
vantage In havin' the Jabez Norcross paster
tackled onto 1t, over and above the south half,
but it's near enough That paster don't count
for much. Poorly thick with sheep laurel. Well,
SEEM the land lies iist as it does. and the house
Is jst as it is, propose to divide it even Lucas,
you can have the north half and Armidy the
min right through the house, and right along
down to the river, straight as you can fetch it.
Do you agree to my plans"
Armida and Lucas exchanged glances. "You
speak," said Lucas in low tone. mo, YOU"
said Armida
what you whisperin' about9 P'raps you
think can't hear because I'm dyin, but I'd
have you to know my hearin amt affected a
grain. Speak up now. What is it, Lucasl"
1--WE were thinkin' of Theodore" said Lucas.
you're leavin' him out, seems So"
"'Tain't cause forgot him; but give him all
cal'lated when he quit home FIVE years ago
money; and so I shan't leave him anythin.
Wouldn't do him no good if l did," he said to
himself.
''Well, we should feel better If you did" said
Armida. II don't want he should be left out
Neither would mother if she was lvin', she'd
feel bad"
"rll settle it with yer ma when I see her.
Come. now, what do you say"
There was long silence which Armda broke
by saying, S'posin' him or me was to want to
~ I Nd 6
stayin' here to homer
WALL said her father with chuckle. ''if
either of you feels like gvin your share to the
other you may. I amt goin' to leave my old
place for either of you to sell TO each other nor
nobody else. expect you to live ont"
''Well," now objected Lucas, "sposin' one of
us should git married, then how would 10 bel"
"Why, live along. Put in and work leetle
harder maybe. This farm carried pooty fair
number when was younger. If you should git
too numerous you could build on either side.
guess there amt no great danger" he added.
AS neither offered further objections, Mr. Hux-
ter said: There's been talk enough. s'pose.
Do you agree to II" He waited while each gave
an audible Yes" Now said ne, 81 hain't an
earthly thing to hamper me"
The father dead, for the brother and Blister no
new life began. Armida still skinned all the
milk and made the butter looked after Lucas as
she had before, and Lucas attended impartially
to the whole of the farm, and Armida sometimes
wondered what difference it made To be sure
the profits were divided with the most rigid ex-
actness but everything went TRANQUILITY on until
more than year after their fathers death.
when Armida had suspicion. confirmed by ap-
pearance, that Lucas was becoming interested in
q young girl in a neighborhood few miles away.
The spirit of jealousy surely animated
poor Armida, for nothing else could have
prompted her action. Having ascertained
the girls name, she caused to- be con-
veyed to her the facts, colored for the occasion
relating to the partition of the house and land,
and the young woman, having a shrewd eye to
the mun chance, bluntly told Lucas when next
she saw him that she didn't wish the half of a
house Dr. the half of farm.
Lucas had thought all might go on smoothly
with wife. and had counted on her accepting
the situation. Inquring as to who had med
died in his affairs, he traced the matter back