The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1886-07-07
THE DIVIDED HOUSE.
Theodore Huxter. at Last, Makes
1t q Unit.

When Selucius Huxter had arrived at his
last illness, he proved himself more than
ever in his life troublesome and wearing.
Having suspicion that his condition was
worse than his doctor or children allowed
he gave them no peace until ho had ex-
tracted an admission that such was the
case. Left alone with the doctor, at his re-
quest, he approached him:
aye might as we'll 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 We, and thers WANT no need.
Wall suppose amt reely dyin' now,
while I'm talkin', be IE'
Assured as to that point he added 'sThe
reason l wanted to know is because I've
got to fix my concerns SO as to leave 'em as
well as can, and all | want of you is that
when you think Tm-wall-if you see
there's goin' to be a change. | want you
right out and git their consent to it,
Having promised. the doctor apprised him
as the last moments drew near
"Sh0o! want to know! Why feel full
.;u as well g as did yes,,,dy, and leetle grain
Il hope this notice does not find you un-
prepared" observed the doctor
well, no, I'm prepared as much as can
be- as you may say. I've been a member
in good and regular standin' this fifty-five
year-and hain't arrived at my age with
out seeing there's somethin' in life besides
livin'." He paused, then added with an
accent Of pride: II don't owe any man q
cent, nor never cheated a man of one.
Mall. I've had quite spell to think of
things in durin' my sickness and l don't
know but what I've enjoyed it considera-
BILE. Thought of things all along back to
when l was boy Events come up that
I'd clean forgot"
The doctor gone, he called his children
"Well, Armidy; we'll, Lucas, the doctor
don't seem to think shall tucker it out
much longer. Wall, naow," he exclaimed,
quite vexed, "Ivow fort il didn't forget to
He's got out of sight, l s'pose."
Armidy stepped to the window and as
sured him of the fact.
wall, no great matter. iist thought il
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's't
you won't have no trouble with it. No use
wastin' money gettin' lawyers here. There
amt no cheatin' nor double -dealin' any,
where to be found among tho Huxters nor
the Lucases and when you give me your
promises to abide by my last will and tssta-
ment l shall expect you to hold to it list
the same as il it was writ out
''Naow about the farm and house. The
nouse, as you KNOW, STANDS IN the middle
line OF the farm, that is, the north side has
lsetle the advantage in hevin' the Jabez
Norcross paster tackled onto it, over and
above the south half, but it's near enough.
That paster don't count for much. Pooty
thick the ~ with sheep laurel. Well, seein' the
rs 1t is, propose to divide it even. Lucas,
you can have this north half and Armidy
the south. beginnin' right to the front door
and runnin' right through the house and
right along down to the river, straight as
plant"
Armida and Lucas exchanged glances
"You speak" said Lucas, in a low tone.
mo. you" said Armida.
What you whisperin' about! P'raps you
tnink can't hear because I'm dyin' but
I'd have you to know my hearin' amt af-
Lucas!'
'We were thinkin' OF Theodore" said
Lucas. oure leavin' him out, seems so."
"'Tain't cause / forgot him. but give
him all carlated to when he quit home
hve year ago-money. and so l shan leave
him any thin. Wouldn't do him no good
If did," he said to himself.
said Arrnida. Il don't want he should be
left out. Neither would mother il she was
ivin'; she'd feel bad"
"pll settle it with your ma when sec
her; Come, now, what do you say"
There was long silence, which Armida
broke by saying:
"S'posin' him or me was to want to leave
the place. mean for goOd-get tired of
stayin' here to homer
WALL" said her father, with a chuckle,
II either of you feels like givin' your share
leave my old place for either OF you to sell
70 each d other nor nobody else. expect
''Well," now objected Lucas, "s'posin'
i one q !. Us SHOULD git married; then how
why, live along, Put in and work a
leetle harder, may be. This farm carried a
pooty fair number when was younger. II
you should git too numerous you could
rsst Sa sat1er ss side there amt
= As neither offered further objections Mr..
Huxter said: There's been talk enough.
s'pose.. Do you agree to 't.' He waited
while each gave an audible ives" SNOW"
per me-"
The father dead, for the brother and
sister no new life began. Armids still
skinmed all the NIX and made the butter,
looked after Lucas as she had before, and
Lucas attended imPartially to the whole of
the farm, and Armids sometimes wondered
what difference it made. To bs sure the
profits were divided with the most rigid
exactnsss, but everything went TRANQUILITY
on until more than q year after fathers
nrmsd by appearances, that Lucas was be-
coming s,ahHgIlSt interested in young girl in 2
OF Jealousy surely animated poor Armida,
for nothing else could have prompted her
action. Having ascertained the girls name,
she caused to be conveyed TO her the facts,
c0lOred for the occasion, relating to the
partition OF the house and land, and the
young woman, having . shrewd eye to the
main chance, blunrly told Lucas when next
- saw him that she didn't wish the half
~ . house nor the half of farm.
Lucee had thought all might 60 ON
6sg accspting the situation. Inquiring q
= vho had msdalsd IN his aaeirs' hs traced