The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1886-12-31

months away IRON Andover,. who
preached 1T the burgh every Sunday
| morning and nj the Landing every Sum
day even ng. For these admirers. includ-
ing the preacher. Bildad had no favor.
and he had been heard to remark that
'.there amt no one this side of York
State good enough for Rusty" As for
the Rev. Rice. he was good enough as a
preacher. thought Biidad. ''but then.
don't want 'Rushy to marry . man
what don't know nothin' but books. "
At this. Tommy Cassel said to Bildad:
swell. the preacher is shinin' up to
Rusty like all Git out. and snum! /
don't blame him." Bildad answered:
"'Twon't do no good s long s have
any thing to do with ill.,
III just bet my best Leg said Tom
my-he had one stiff knec-joint. and
whenever he desired to be particularly
emphatic he offered TO wager his .best"
leg-.that when Rusty g.ts married,
old Bi!dad won't have nOthin' to say
bout it unless he says yes"
Bidad and Tommy had been warm
friends for upward of thirty years and
Until Tommy had SO frankly expressed
himself, the two never had serious diff
ferences of opinion. This speech. how
ever, proved TO be the turning poin: in
the very long lane and for the next
week or two the villagers couldn't help
commenting on the fact that Bildad and
Tommy had assumed a cold dameanor
toward each other. A few questioned
the principals as TO the ca Sc but no ex-
PLANTATION was vouchsafcd and accord
ingly the gossips had full sway. Some
said it was because Bilaad had fore
closed mortgage held by him on a
small sugar-bush across the river owned
by Nj. Cassel; Others remarked that
Tommy was mad because Biidad had
gone over to the burgh to get his first
made-to-ordcr boots. 1t was about this
time that Jerusha Bennett was riding
over to the burgh and her music lesson
in Late Briggs stage, when Lutte asked
her as to the cause of the breach be-
twcen.her father and old Tommy. The
g RI tried to look embarrassed. as much
a to say Cant YOU Guees?" and Lutte
gathered TIP his re rs and slashed his
whiplash into the snow along the road,
as though trying to study out the prob
lem. Don't s'pose father sees how
things are go'n'?" said Jerusha, and
Lutte allowed that he hoped the old gen.
tleman was not wholly blind.
Il know fathers Jealous" said Jc-
rusha. but I've kinder hoped all along
he wouldn't be jealous of YOU"
He'd be all right if that preacher
would keep away and if old Tommy
hadn't goadcd him on" said Lutte, and
just as he had finished speaking the
preacher. Rcv.G. Banks Rice, appeared
u2 the road, driving toward the Land
. 2g. He was going 10 hold watch-meet-
ing services 1t the burgh that evening
in homer of the new year which was to
begin the following day. As he passed
Jcrusha and Lutte with bow he no.
t;ced that their cheeks were very much
flushed and they. in turn. felt that they
had discovered strong supcrcilious eX-
preSsions in the preachers looks
Tommy told your father" said Lutte,
''that you wouldn't marry any man I'M
less you liked him."
..Did he tell him thatf" said Jerusha.
can I'm sure you don't Ike the
You know, Lutte Briggs. Just as well
as you want 10 know, who l Ike" said
Jcrusha, IAN you know l won't marry
anybody else for father. old Tommy,
the preacher, or the whole world.
What else was sad Dy Lutte and
'Rushy during that ride is private prop
erty. Suffice it to say the Music lessen
was taken, Lutte so: the mail, and to-
gether the stage-Griver and his sweet
heart drove back to the burgh, reaching
there just before supper time. Ii was
noticed that Lutte hurried 10 the post
Office with the mai; that he made haste
after, alfred in his best clothes. he APP
pared at Bildad Benefits house, and
was admitted. 1t is also known that
after he had been in the house about
fifteen minutes he came ont on the
porch III 4 very excited frame of mind,
followed by B idad. who shouted after
him: Il amt got no;hin' agin you,
Lutte. as a friend, bat you're not the
man for my 'Rushy's husband"
Itwas noticed. too. that Jerusha stood
in the doorway back of Bildad with her
handkerchief to her eyes. and that by
her side stood the preacher evidently
trying TO console her; that presently
she pushed the minister aside roughly
and entered the house alone, leaving
Bildad and the preacher alone on the
porch looking at Lutte IS he walked
rapidly down the road toward old Tom
my's shoe shop.
As l., tie entered the shop he said to
Tommy: .'Mr. Cassel. you mustn't go to
the watch-meetin' tonight. cause 1
want you here. Dom ask no questions.
but be my friend for once ard my new
year is a happy one"
five alius been Your friend. Lutte, -
said MIR. Cassel. rs he peered up at the
young stagc-drivcr over his stcel-bowed
spectacles in establishment, ''but l hahn
missed watchin' the new year in for
years and
but tonight you kin do somethin'
| better n that" interrupted Lutte.
"'Cause if you 60 to the meetin' house
little snip of i preacher has fixed il all
up with B!ldad Bennett to let Bildad
run the thing an leave you to look
OF.
This argument cl.nched the thing.
| fer Tommy remarked that he didn't
care to 20 to a place where ..mean jeal-
ousy runs things" and he prom sed
that he wou!d ..be at the shop ali the
evcnin'," if Lutte would only tell Kim
"what was up
Cant do 1T" said Lutte: only. It's a
case of life and death. and you're the
only man in town can do the thing up
right"
BY eight O'Clock that evening old
Tommy was smoking his pipe in his
shop As be sat looking out up the long
hi,l toward the meeting house which