The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1886-08-06
When the moons like Q boat,
There IL trouble aflOat

tice and lay me down by mother while.
l had been asleep some time, for the
moon was low in the sky and the dawn
breaking when awoke with hearing a
trampling O. feet coming down the lane.
l listened. and tho trampl:ng came
nearer and sounded hcavy-like, as if
they were carrying something. 1t
stopped at the gate, and then heard
the click O. the latch. Mothers room
was at the back, SO it was no use to look
out o the lattice. was creeping softly
down stairs, when mother awoke and
asked if father had come in.
81 think he's coming now, mother, !"
l said. '.rli fetch thee cup O. tea,"
and went down and opened the door,
and there stood one o the keepers,
William Balshaw. as married my cousin
Anne.
where's fathcr?" I said. trying to
look past him,
''See now. Eunice." he says. ''thou
mum keep brave heart, lass. How is
thy mother?'
'.She's no better. and asking for
father"
"Well, thou mum. put her Off I've i'll
news for thee, poor lass; thy mother
must know naught of it. There's been
q bit O. fight with them Northover chaps,
an'-an we've browt thv father home"
My heart seemed to turn to a stone.
s.ls father killed?' asked Thou
may as well tell mo. William"
''Aye, that is SO. I'm main sorry for
thee, Eunice. I'll tell 'em to bring him
in and lay him on the settle here, and
I'll send Anne round to thee"
With that they carried father in and
laid him on the settle. He was very
peaceful-like to look at. William said
he had been shot in the chest, and died
quite quiet and easy. But all the while
seemed to know there was more to
hear-aye, and worse, for when was
STOPPING DER father one o the men
said something to William that l didn't
rightly catch. and William SAYS back to
him. speaking low: ''Nay, there's no
call to say more Just now, poor lass; it II
do by-and-by." With that they went
away, and took mother her tea, feel
ing all dazed-like.
''Where's thy father, Eunicc?" she
says.
An answered her:
''He's coming up presently, mother"
and then she fell asleep again, being
very weak.
So the day wore on. and Cousin Anne
came, and Squire Lawson and some
other gentlemen; but didn't see them,
for William were round again. and he
told them all about father. When they
were gone l left Anne sitting with
mother, and went down to William and
asked him how it came about that father
was shot.
There was q bit O. fight with tn
poachers, lass, an ono O them had a
gun"
''Was there only one gun, William?"
I says.
.Only one, lass. dunnot think thy
father was shot O purpose. were all
in the thick o the bother. We were
fightin' with ash-sticks, an thy father
were in the midst. when the chap with
tn gun let fly at us, an the shot hit thy
father. That's how it were done,
Eunice."
''And where is he that did it?'' says,
lookin' out o the window.
''He's away. lass. In hiding some
where. There's no call for thee to fret
about that. Most like he'll get away to
furrin parts. l see thou gucsses who it
is, Eunice. It's main hard for thee"
he says, taking my hand, meaning
kindly. for he was good man, was
William. But pulled my hand away
and ran out into the fields. 1t was get
ting on for shutdown then. and as 1
leant against the fence feeling sick and
giddy-like. the corncrake began crOak-
ing in the long grass. as it had done
over night. And thought of yestereve.
when Tom stood there with his gun and
1 tried to turn him away from those
who led him astrsy. 1t had all ended
now; father was dead and mother
was diving, and Tom-but would not
think of Tom. Then Anne came out to
me, saying mother as asking for me.
So went in, and mother looked at ME
and said:
Thou art a good lass. I think thy
father is dead dream. it just now
aud thou art hiding it. rs no matter;
l shall know soon. The Lord bless
thee, Eunicer'
And after that she went INTO sort o.
faint, and died. So father and mo her
were both buried on the same day, and
it was settled that should 20 and live
with my Aunt Deborah. some six miles
away; William was to drive me over that
same evening. Well. at shutdown. all
the things be ne packed. and nothing
left to do, went through the field 10 the
S do o the brook. where / had used to
meet Tom, and there l sat on fallen
tree, think ng of all the trouble, and
how my life seemed dead and buried
with father and mother. Close by me
was thick clump o palm, willows. an
dog-roses, an grass all a-tangle. reach
ing DER the bank: an when I'd sat
thinking a while. heard rustling. an
a voice saying: '.Eun:ce. lass!" / knew
the voice right well. though it gave me
start at the moment.
''Is it thou. Tom?" asked.
AYE" he says, parting the leaves.
and looking through. 'I've been lying
here all day to get glimpse o thee. !
thenght may be thou wonadst come
down here afore thou went of, there's
much that I've got to say to thee"
ut may be much or little" answer
ed b m ''but desire to have naught
from thee, Tom. DOst thou know father
is dead?
'.Aye. Ehnice; but that was ill-luck.
never meant to hurt thy father. 1t
were all done in tn hurry. Iddn't
notice as he were among the keepers.
That's why mum run the country. I
might stand to be took up If tn re were