Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1886-07-27
AN OLD HAIR TRUNK.
In 1t Was Found the Way Out of
Trouble.

mountains were still bathed in sunlight
and covered with that glory no paint
er's brush can reproduce. The shadow
that had fallen covered the small but
quaint and picturesque farmhouse to
its chimney-top and stretched across
the closely cropped green meadow
land and up the sloplng hillside, its
yellow stubble taking golden tint
that doepened at the edges ofthe irreg-
ular swaths, as II labor had set its sig
nature upon the field. The sunlight
still danced in the topmost branches OF
the tall maple that stood on the. crest
when wagon was driven slowly up
the little lilac-lined lane that led to the
barn. Before the wheels could have
been heard by any but an anxious and
waiting ear, sweet-faced woman
whose hair alone betrayed the fact that
she was far beyond the middle age,
came TO the door and was at the side of
the wagon as the driver slowly de-
scended.
don't grieve, father" she said, TAX
ing his hand. 1.-THE darkest cloud has
a silver lining. We have Dick STILL"
"And that Is all, mother" he replied
with catch IN his voice.
The womans sensitive face paled
and seemed to grow older in moment,
for though her husbands manner had
shown that his mission had failed, some
hope had still remained despite her
brave words. and, whilo expecting the
blow that would deprive them Of the
house and land upon which both had
lived since childhood, there had been
expectation that some way out of II
might be found or that the blow might
be in some way sof,ened.
"Then Nichols would not give you
timer"
"Not day. He is merciless, and
the sale will take place Saturday. He
must have the cash, he says, Saturday,
and will only sell for money down.
Williams is away in New York. / saw
every one who might be able to let me
have the money, but none could lend
me so much by Saturday. He will
buy 1t in himself. Barker says he can
get the money for me in ten days, but
when / asked Nichols to give mo one
more week. he replied that he had not
forgotten his oath II ! had"
1.-THE villain" cried the woman m
dignantly, "But is it legal, fatherp''
she asked, "Can he rob us of farm
worth six times the mortgage and have
the law on his sideP"
''I asked Squire Andrews, and he
went over the papers carefully. He
has planned his vengeance well,' An.
drews said. Every legal form has
been complied with, and he added that
] would be morally, but not legally,
justified in shooting him."
''Poor DickW said the mother,
"Comc, father, the house Ia ours fol
three days longer any way, Some.
thing may happen, Let us talk Of
other things, Supper rs ready and
Dick Is coming across the field"
While talking the light wagon hat
been put in the carriage-house and the
horse had boen fed and watered. II
was easy. to see that the bright-faccd
broad-shouldered young man who met
them at the door was their son and
that he was "mother's boy" His
arm fell naturally around her waist
and he stopped to kiss her as they
passed into the kitchen.
"Well, Mimi, are you ready to feed 8
bear after his winters sleepp" he
asked playfully. "Why, mother, there
are tears In your eyesi Father, what
is the matterP" he asked, as for the
first time he saw his drawn, set face.
His mothers arms were around hi.
neck, and she was crying softly on his
breast.
at means, Dick, that Nichols bought
the mortgage from Secor before ht
went to Mexico; it has been due, a.
you know, for four years; but Nichol,
did not want the. money, and wisheC
me TO let 1t run on, as | needed 1t more
than he did, Secor knew that NicholI
was my son-in.law, and, from wha
Nichols said, supposed he wanted t.
clear 1t off. Secor told Jim Ferguson
that he was going to do it,"
"Secor did not know how he treated
Nellieph asked Dick.
mo, was the weary reply. "Ever
you, Dick, don't know that when
brought Nellie 'home-a wreck, dyins
from his brutal treatment-that h,
swore an oath to have revenge on m,
and mine, because l would not let hin
take her back to the city to die. H,
hated her because she would not hell
him in his wickedness, and when hi
saw her days were numbered, told hel
that she should never see one of Vi
while she lived, and none of us woult
know where she was buried when SHE
was dead. A friend of hers wrote b
me. / went to New York and brough
her home. When he came, in no
haste, for her, / kicked him out. Yol
were only little lad of five then
Dick. He has waited all these years
and now he has his revenge"
but how, fatherp We can easil,
pay the twelve hundred dollars in
week or ten days.
"He has given me the legal thirt
days notice by publication in tn
Bloomfield Register, which never come