Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-05-22
ICopyrfghted, 1851

ICopyrig hted, 1ss6.l
When Selucius Huxter had arrived at his
last Illness he proved himself more than ever
In his lie troublesome and wearing. Having a
Suspicion that his condition than
his doctor OF 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.
Eye might 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
", and there want need. Wall sup
pose ! Amt RELY dyin' naow, while I'm a
taikIn'. be I?'
Assured to that point, he added: "The
reason | wanted TO know is because I've got to
H. my concerns To leave em as well as
can. and all / want of you is that when you
az ink I'm-wall-if you see there's goin' to be a
change, want you should tell me- sos't / can
sfraighten things right out and git their con-
sent To it,"
Having promised. the doctor appraised him as
tie last moments drew near.
'Shoi / want to know! Why / feel full as well
a. did yes'dy and a leetle grain easier, if any
thin"
81 hope this notice does not find you UMPIRE
pared observed the doctor.
Nv all. no, I'm prepared much as / can be,
a. you may say I've been member in good
and regular standin' this fifty-five year-and L
Iln l arrived NJ my age without seeing there :
sOmethIn in lie beside Twin He paused,
then added with an accent of pride: 81 don I
owe any man "A cent nor never cheated a man
O one. Nall. I've had quite n spell to think
o. things in, durin' my sickness, and / don't
Know but what We enjoyed 1t considerable
Was boy. Events come up that I'd clean for
g,,t."
The doctor gone he called his children in.
well, Armidy, WELL Lucas, the doctor don't
seem TO think l shall tucker it out much
hngeF Wall ma, na9w ai he exclaimed ScliI quite
how long! " all, too late naow. He S got out of
sight. spose."
Armida stepped to the window and assured
wall, no greet matter. 1 jist thought If / could
ct HIM 10 FIX the time I'd like to see how nigh
Vow 1 want TO fix the property so's't you
Won't have no trouble with it. No use waStin
money gittin lawyers here. There amt no
cleatin uOr double-dealin' anywhere to be
found amongst the Huxters nor the Lucases,
and when you give me your promises to abide
by my last viii and testament shall expect
you 10 hold 10 1t jist the same as ii 1t writ
-Naow about the farm and house. The house,
as you know, stands in the middle line of the
1nrn, that Is, the north side has leetle the ad-
vantage in hevin' the Jabez NorcrOss paster
tucked onto IL, over and above the south half,
hut it's near enough. That paster don't count
or much. Poorly thick with sheep laurel.
Well seein' the land lies jst as it does, and the
louise is list il is, propose to divide il even
Lucas you can have the north half and Armidy
the south, beginnin' right To the front door and
runuin' right through the house and right
along down to the river. straight as you can
Fetch IL. Do you agree to my plaD?'
Armida and Lucas exchanged glances. "You
speak" said Lucas in q low tone. NO YOU"
What you whisperin' about? Praps you
think l can't hear because I'm dyin', but I'd
grain. speak up now, That is it, Luc;.s?''
~ { We're thlnkfn' of Theodore, said Lucas.
~ on re leayin' him out, seems So"
''lain't cause forgot him; but / give him
al caIlated to when he quit home five year
ago-money; and so shan't leave him any
thin. Wouldn't do him no good, if did, he
said 10 himself
well, We should feel better If you did," said
Armida. Il don't want he should be left out
t,eltner would mother If she was Twin; she d
I'm settle 1t with your ma when see her.
Come, now. what do you say?''
There was long silence which Armida broke
ty saying, -S'pOsin' him HE to want To-
stayin' here TO homer"
Wall, said her father with chuckle, sit
either of you feels like grim yOur share to the
eiher You may ain gOln' to leave my old
place Tor either OF you To sell to- each other nor
r.o6ody else Iexiect you to live ont.
~ ell now objected Lucas; - poSin one of
Us should git married, then how would il be:''
w ny. live aions- Put in aud work a leetle
humber when l younger. II YOU should
tlt 100 numerous You could build on either side.
j .uess there amt no great danger ne added
As neither offered further objections Mr.. Hux-
Ter said: There's been talk enough, pose.
40 you aSref 10 to 70 He Waited while each
.n;tin't an earthly thing To hamper me-
Ihe father dead Tor The brother and sister no
milk and made the butter. looked after Lucas
Sne had before. and Lucas attended impair
TALLY Ia the whole OF the farm, and Armida
so1"iIines wondered what difference II made.
10 toe sure the profits divided with The
mos rig ID exactne>s, but every thing went tran
gully ON until more than u year after their
iather's death, when Armida had u suspicion.
cum med 10y appearances, that Lucas was be-
coming Interested in II young girl III u neighbour
huod lew miles away. The spirit of jealousy
surely animated poor ArmiCa Tor nothing else
could have prompted her action. Having as
4 > ed In f.-
NEEc1 To her the facts. cOiUred for the occasion
relating TO the PARTITION of the house and land
4 the young woman, having "a Shrcwd eve to
- main chance, biuutly told Lucas when next
she saw ni.n that she didn [ wish the half of a
house Tor the hall OF a farm.
Lucas had thought all might go on smoothly
win "a WIFE, and mad counted ON her accepting
The SITUATION ln4uiring ~ to- no had III ddIed
Ia BIS affairs ne traced the matter back To-
ATInIOa, and coming home mortified ana angry
n pr11cied her III u4spaTing terms, ending his
re Tai Oi wrongs with: Il don know what you
Ctd - for, unless you AFRAID Your half was
s'lns 10 DC invaded, and IL you Ieel that way
You q Deiter Keep 10 Your side and take of
yO0T own property 1 ain I going to interfere
ATnilds, Was poweriess To protect herself ex-
c"Pt with tears which did not avail with Lucas
~ie made OVerIures OF peace, such as Offering
o. cook her brothers meals and look AFTER his
sts.arU the milk, but was warned Tn attend IN
it.r own business.
lucas had "a new pipe-hole made in the
kitchen chimney and bought new stove and
hunted up Il Kitchen table, telling ArnIda sh.
Was welcome To the stove anu table they mad
previously used IN common. but he Il thank her
SITUATION would have been ludIcrOus IL IL had
not been grim earnest to the brother and
sl-tsT- Lucas had I, hard side 10 his char
aciet- anc he could not iorsIve his sisters
interference. He would not even give Armida
&iN4cc, but allowed her cows 10 break INTO her
CHFuAe!d and her sheep To stray away without
warning her, though all the while his heart
Erlchet him al sight OF her distress Stlll ali
L. would do Was 10 suggest that she get a hired
lnalu.
Accordingly Arnida,. in despair, hired an
eaey-Soing, good natured creature that offered
his services. tie did very well and Arnida got
on betteT-dnd took courage
But There was "A dreadful blow in store for
her. Lucas brought "a gang OF carpenters to the
lsirnI, VINO Instituted repairs on his haif of the
mousse. lie even went 80 FAR To commit the
e1lr&Eagance OF having blinds hung for his
bis half of the front porch was trimmed win
brackets, and then the whole of his halt OF the
house painted white, SO that his neiyhbors
rallied him on being proud. ''Only, a. one
said, why don't you extend your improve
ments right along acrost the house. Lucas? IL
looks sorter queer 10 see one half 50 Tine and
The other slack
"ATmIda's Tree 10 do she's mind to-" said
Lucas. If she wants TO TX up her side She
can don't hinder her.
Nor you don't help her neither as 1 see. I"
said tte other.
II believe IN tendin to your own affairs and
not lnterierin' with other folks Lucas re-
Joined.
Armida was made very unhappy by these
changes ana the comments of the neighbOrS
snd would gladly have beautified her half also
Dut had no money 10 spend. The farm had
nsah and ~