The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1889-06-27
Castle of Chillcott's Hollow.
sTA.H IAcKsox. ~ "ARTHUR's uoEE
MAGAzISE"

cupieu Dy DanltI hanail has long
been q prolific source ofinteTnal dis
sensIOn. For four generations the
two families had dwelt side by side,
and from time tO time various social
and financial differences had served
TO keep green and augment the sB-
cient quarrel. Under these circum-
stances, Il was not q little singular
that two Of the Ranall's boys should
have elected TO go to Simeon
Branch's for their wives, when there
were, as everybody knew, plenty Of
msidens as well favored To be had
for the asking.
IL was generally supposed that a
peace had been cemented when Tom
Ranall and Mary Branch were
married; but IL proved TO be only q
peace "Irom the teeth out" a. RO-
sana Branch grlmly phrased ID. Fiji
teen years later, when Il became sp-
parent that young Robert Ranall
had 4 decided preference for Mar
garet, both families regarded the sit
uatiOn with grave mi-givings.
al pray q the good Lord" piOusly
duplicated old Mrs. Ranall, THAT
no more o. nv bOys'll marry them
ERE red-headed Branch girls"
And, when Robert, with the sub
lime efTrOntery Of youth and love,
boldly avowed his passion, and ssked
for Margaret, Mrs. BTanch-it was
from their mother that the girls had
inherited their Tubessent lOcks-rOse
and, not dsigning to answer, indig-
nantly left the room.
Robert, nothing daunted, persisted
In carrying on his cOuTtship at every
opportunity aud a. for Margaret
but Margaret IL a very capable young
person, aud shall speak for herself.
She sat at her ease in q stiff-backed
old armchair by the window, one
summer afternoon. The last rays of
sunlight fell aslant through the lilac
bushes without, and evoked golden
glimmPrs amid the red-brOwn Of her
hair. There was an unwOnted flush
upon her fair face; her long curled
iAshes dropped and shadnwed the
vinlet-blue Of her eyes. She started
when ROsanA flung open the door Of
the sitting-TOOm and entered tenn
pestuOusIy.
ROsana was the eldest of the family
aud had taken entire management
Of the farm since her fathers death.
she WAS n tall, slender woman Of
forty, with n figure erect and shape
ly, despite the years Of toll and eX-
pOsuTe which had hardened her
hands and Drowned and rOughened
her complexion. Her features were
strong and regular; the expression
Of her dark eyes, and the resOlute
curve of her mouth aud chin indi-
Gated q firm will and tenacity of
purpose. She had n flushed. har-
HssFd look as she dropped YEARLY
into a chair.
81 declare I never was so clean
beat out Ia M life" she exclaimed,
as she tOnk of her dark calico sun
bonnet, aud vigorously famed her
self with IL. Them cattle Of Ran
Hll's got in tie wheat ag'in, aud Id
an awful fight Ia Git them out. jisI
druy them straight home an shEt
them up im'the barnyard, aud low
q keep 'em there till they come after
them. They've been cuttin' over us.
too. ] come up through the timber
an seen where a hig white oak he'd
been cut clear the hTidth oG itself
across the line. I'm not gOin' 4 put
up with il a day longer than next
week, when the Spuire'll hr at home,
al III hev them sued fur damages. -
"Mshhy its n mistake" vpnturrd
Margaret. They wouldn't likely
n cut u a-purpnse.
'Gut u a. PURPOSE repeated the
elder woman, scOTnfully. YES,
they would. They know where that
line IL n well n do. People That's
mean enough not 4 fix their frn-
ces'll do anything. Fur a. long a.
kin remember I've shaved, an wnr-
Tied, an worked M very snul-caSr
out runnin' after their cattle an
hogs, an iryin' q keeppeacR a'iwern
Us; hut they'll find n difference after
this. I'll hev every cent O. damages
10 there's law q make EN- pay u.
Aud Marg'pt, IL ! was YOU, III hev
more pride N spirit than 4 hev Bob
RsnAll hangin' Tuun', after whats
come an gone. Everybody knows
lac is list cnuntin' on gittin' in here
4 run things"
There was a flash in MargaIei's
eyes, and she crinsoned Ia the roots
Of her blond hair. She turned Ia the
window and began drumming softly
ON the sill. "lOu wouldn't hev 50
much 10 look after then" she re-
piled, dpmurely.
ROsana's face daTkPned. MAR
get, she said. stprnly, never do
you dare To hint the like 90 me. This
IL your home n long ~ you keer &
stay In IL: IL yO' want & live with n
Ranall's yO' can take your own an
go. But a. long as mother an mes
spared there'll Ice no room here fur
him, mind that" She rose abruptly
an went out.
Margaret did not stir. Sire looked
Il 4 4
vigorously clean aud tidy surround
ings with gravely impressive fa,'e.
Every available spot had been white
washed; the palings, the Outhuild-
ings, the stones, the old, old pots and
tubs filled with gray blooming
flowers, even the tree trunks shOnp
white and Rhostly in the slowly
deepening twilight. The house, a
long, low, rambling structure, had
the appearance Of having been built
at intervals a. the needs of the house
hold demanded. As these additions
had been painted, each in its turn,
they were distinctly defined by SUI
dry gradations Of dull. neutral tint. |
The sun had disappeared beyond the |
Green Lea; dusky shadows dOmi- |
mated the rugged valley: hut the |
HuhiihhA ihN INV ~ Ehibth hhItbit WI Il
the eastern SUBMITS, and the azure |
sky WAS ribbed with crimson.
MR.. Branch came la presently, n
slight, delicate looking old woman /
In cap and sprctarles. "MaTg'et,
wislII you'd run over "a Mrs. VIII
sons an asst her fur some cowrum-
'ET seed. The bugs has ct ourn, every |
stalk, and I'll have tu plant more 1
right of. Hurry. fur IL : gctIin late. "
She WAS too feeble tO assume any do
nestle cares, but she persisted in
pOtterlng about the house and gar
den with = puerile show Of industry.
"Ies, mother" said Margaret,
''I'll go right oil: an you sci down
here, an don't Ice ITyin' q light the
lamp Till HOsana comes in"
An hour later, Margaret, walking
homewsrd, WAS joined 10y Robert
RanalI.
What's the hurry, Maggie ="
Let's set down n spell an talk things
over"
There aini anything 4 talk about
rs ] know Of," said Margaret grave
~. Resides, Rnsaua SAYS I ought
Mt & he haHgin' rnuH' with YOU"
"Shucks! ! guess yn're old enough
Z do a. yu' please. Rnsana's got her
Dutch NJ ag'in ! reckon; Tim said
she he'd our cattle shet up in the
barnyard an he he'd L go an' let 'em
Uut."
AN she done right, too"
flashed Margaret. hoiIy. "They
were all raidin' through the
whaat am hr.l. Il -. - |