Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1888-11-15

blest If know to-day whether top him to
put six beans to hill, or q bean to SIX hills!
l KEEP film up and a film up; and when
l turned to go home, l got the of eye OF his
old boss, and then he'd to laugh The crit
ter gimme such droll look, and the corners
Of his mouth KEEP a twitchin' like he was
goin' to bust right out! When that young
man started on arfter his plow. l secretly
pronounced him q annymated skeercrow.
"WeIl, sorntered homewards, and as
passed Seaton's saw the old man out putin
a new ground-chGnk under panel o. fence.
He riz up and said: Good mornin', and
returned the compliment in a proper man
ner Then said sort o. slow and airnest:
"I Just seen Billy
"sNell,' the old fellow snapped out, Bill
ly's all right, l guess
emo says /, he amt all right by long
shot, Seaton turned to his work minute,
and then turned back to me and said:
"'Look here. now, Miss Lockery, know
what you mean by the smiles. Don't go
a-tellin' all over the kentry how Billy looks
when he's about his work l know how
that boy is wearin' off his clothes. and 1
know the reason why. He still owes some
on the last piece of land he bought-the
Wells eighty-and when he gets that paid
off and is clean out o. debt, his garments
will come round agin, to their material and
proper position. Billy's all right, i tell We;
and the gearl ort to feel proud that he wants
fer his wifen
"'Weu' says /, If that's the way the
land lays, / pity C'lum.' Then l ponied
home"
Mrs. Lockery was not the only one of the
simple, friendly neighbors who, in their
hearts, pitied Columbia. Young Haywood
was a niggard from childhood. He was,
moreover, accredited with domineering
will and sullen temper. He was meaner
man than Seaton, and more to be dreaded,
inasmuch as he was quieter and had more
latent force than the elder skinf1int.
Tie day after he laid down the law to his
daughter, as before related, Seaton went to
town with a load of wheat to sell. He was
charged with various small commissions i'll
the grocery and confectionery line, by Mrs.
Seaton. Columbia had nothing to say. In
the secrecy of her chamber she penned a
few lines to her lover, and her little brother
Tom undertook to deliver the letter at the
imminent risk of being seen by his father.
Tuesday morning came, and with it the
ig-killing. Old Seaton himselfreveled in it,
and it was not altogether unpleasant cpl
sode to his wife; while the two boys, Hiram
and Tommy, were made glad by the un
wonted turmoil, the scalding and scraping,
the hanging up, head downwards, of the
sleek carcass, and, later on, by the white,
curly tail given them to roast over the Goals
to eat with salt.
Columbia kept in the back ground. Once,
as her father and mother were looking over
box of dried herbs, in search OF summer
savory for the sausage, she heard the for
mer saying:
She'll be all right when the time comes.
Bill was in town Saturday and bought a
hull new suit of store clothes. l told him
not to come round fore Thursday; that
C'lum was awful busy, and that she was all
right for the weddin'. You see, knew she
would be. Bill goes to Briertown to-day
for the license
That evening, as supper was preparing,
and the farmers family were assembled in
the wide bright kitchen, there came a re-
sounding rap at the door. The big dog
bristled and growled, but word from his
master Quoted him. SeatOn himself opened
the door, and was confronted by an Irish
tablecloth peddler, footsore and weary,
who with many bows and much palaver
asked for supper and nights lodging.
al guess We may stay" said Seaton.
"We'll give We a sheer o. sech as we've got,
and charge We fer it." These weemen will
TAX it in truck. Ye can pay 'em out'n yer
pack"
Ppm immense obleeged to yer" said the
peddler, swinging his heavy pack from his
shoulder to the floor. "An' its the rare
foine towels an handkerchers I'll show the
leddies in the mornin'."
An hour or so later, down under the big
sycamore by the "run," or brook Columbia
stood talking with Ralph Bryan.
1t was their first meeting since the mes
sage Tommy had carried on Saturday.
Ralph urged a clandestine marriage, but
Columbia would not consent. She was sure
of only one thing. She would never marry
Haywood. She would refuse at the last
moment, and bear her fathers wrath.
81 shall be banished from home, and !
would not care for that, only on mother
account can hire out, and take care of
myself-there DEAR l only meant till you
were better able to take care of me. 1t
would be folly for US to marry now. You
must take your last course of lectures, get
your doctors diploma, and practice your
profession at least year before we marry.
w nave OUCH StIUleu tlldG UtGWcSu
Then Ralph broke out into hot, hard
words against Bill Haywood.
"Why couldn't he have set his gopher's
eye on some two-fisted giantess, like the
widow Morsel She'd be a mate for Bill
When her renters in town fall behind on
quarter-day, she carries out their furniture
with her own hands, nails up the shutters,
locks the door, and puts the key in her
pocket. Why couldn't Bill have thought of
her! What made him want my Anna!"
Things ought to be so different ~ moaned
Anna herself. Father ought to favor you,
you have done so well to support and edu-
cate yourself; and in year or two we could
be married with all good reason on our side
Now do not know what will happenr' And
the strong girl broke down crying.
Something did happen within the next
hour that let a sudden glow of cheering
light over the dark prospect.
Soon after supper, farmer Seaton lay
down on the calico lounge in the kitchen, TO
doze away in the evening till bedtime. The
packman was shown to his room upstairs,
where, after naming his family saints, he
prepared to go to rest. He stretched his
tired back and arms, with audible yawns,
then took of his shoes and stockings, and
proceed to anoiut his inflamed and