Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-09-29

Nancy among the purple dahlias and quillec
asterS.
And it was no difficult task for man O
John Moppet's PHYSICAL strength skillfully t.
lift the old stove out of its place in the outel
shed into his wagon.
''Git up, Prince!" he muttered to his horse
shaking the reins, and away they went.
Elder Meachan was not quite satisfied with
the bargain The church brethren, too
would have preferred new stove, consider
ing the money they had spent; but Brother
Moppet was a man in authority, and they
were compelled to acquiesce in his choice.
Nancy was delighted with the new acqui
sition for the best room.
"Oh, isn't it pretIyin said she.
EYES," nodded Mr Moppet, rubbing hi
hands, ''it'll sort O dress up the room for YOU
weddin'"
"My weddings'
"Jest so. I've arranged matters with Web
ster Wixon, and"--
Nancy burst into tears, and ran out of the
room.
Mr.. Moppet glared balefully after her.
She shall marry him!'' muttered he, ''oI
she shall be no darter o. minel | won't be
set at defiance by = Why, helloa, Absalom
Parker, what brings you hereF'
Mr. Atkins is took wuss this afternoon,
said Absalom, standing at the doorway, like
a rustic Apollo. Wants to see ye-righ,
OFF,
1t was Saturday afternoon. As Mr. Mop
pet drove By the church door be saw the load
Of wood being delivered for the first fire of
the season.
Jest in timer said he to himself. There's
frosty feel in the air"
Grandfather Atkins lay among his pillows,
like wrinkled old ghost,
John, said he, ''all I've got in the world
is yours, but l think I'd ought to tell you
where I've hid it, sense the bank robbery
give me such a scare"
Certainly, certai2ly" said his son-ip-law,
with eager eyes, like those of a bird of prey.
I've hid it away
John Moppet placed his ear close to the PAL
lid lips.
six NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. bills
Eyes, yes-go on!''
''Folded up in an old number of The Horn
Hill Gazette"-
"An old number of The Horn Hill Gazette
i understands repeated Moppet.
I'm the old stove out in the shed." gasped
the old man. Il knowed nobody wouldn't be
likely to look therel It's yours, John Mop
pet-every cent of it. And mind you, don't
spend it in no extravaganza"
So speaking, the old miser closed his dim
eyes and went where there is neither money
nor counting of money.
John Moppet uttered an exceedingly bitter
cry as he remembered the lighted match he
had put to the crunpled old papers in the
stove, to make sure of draught, when it
was put up in the northwest corner of the
church-the roar of the blaze through the
lengths Of Russia iron pipe In his excellent
management he had contrived to overreach
himself.
lie went home and sat all the evening in a
sort of stupor, with his head in his hands.
Nancy, busted about her household tasks,
watched him with hazel eyes Of surprise
Il didn't know he thought SO much of
Gfan'ther Atkins" pondered she
six times five is thirty-six times five is
thirty" unused Mr.. Moppet, rocking to and
fro. "Six five-hundred- dollar biilsl Three
-thousand-dollars- and al gone up chimbly
in one breath o wind, and me as done it.
shall go crazy. l shall lose my mind Three
--thou-sand-dol It's a judgment on
me- I've been mis'able sinner, and cheated
the church. I've tempered with my own
conscience. Six times five is thirty! Six
observation-disclosures billsi Oh, Lord, there
amt no calculatin' what mis'able sinner
I've been!n
AS the old kitchen clock struck 9, Absalom
Parker came in, bringing with him gust Of
fresh, frosty wind.
'Evenin', squire,n said be- I'm sort O.
To- H.,
to be one Of 'ems But I'd like to speak a
word to you first"
''If it's about Nancy, it amt no use" said
Mr.. Moppet, rousing himself to the affairs Of
the world with some petulance.
1T amt about Nancy, Absalom answered,
with a smile Its about Mr.. Atkins money"
Mr.. Moppet gave start.
"Oh, you needn't jump So" treasured Alb
salon. "Its al safe"
He took fat parcel out Of his pocket.
Count EN-" said he. six amt there?"
Mr. Moppet stared at Absalom Parker as
Aladdin might have stared at the Genii
"How-where"-he muttered.
Absalom gave a low chuckle.
Hush" said he. Don't speak loud seen
the old man hide 'em there, Like human
magpie as he was l knowed it wasn't safe,
SO | quietly took 'em out, arter he'd mad that
last stroke, and locked 'em in his black leather
trunk up garrett And you may thank me
that they wasn't all burned up in the first
fire you lighted in that identical stovel"
Mr.. Moppet turned a purplish red.
You know about that stoves" said he,
with gasp.
1T wasn't likely no such conjuring could
so on about Mr.. Atkins place, and me not
know it." said Parker, dryly. The stove
wasn't Of no great consequence, though, ex-
cept for old iron. | guess the church folks II
get sick of it before great WHILE
Mr.. Moppet drew long breath.
When they do. said he, IN make 'em a
present of brand new one. And, Absa-
lom"-
Yes, Mr. Moppet"
"You won't SAY nothin' to nobodyF'
NO" said AbsaIom, Il amt one o. the
talkiu' sort"
And, Abselomn-
Yes, Mr.. Moppet."
"Slnce you and Nancy really are attached
to each other
Were just that. Mr.. Moppet."
Il don't see no objection to your gettin'
married this fall, said Moppet with an eff
lori on may leII NANCY tIlsil she mas my
consent
Nancy cried a shower OF happy tears when
AbSalom told her the good news.
But he never impaired to Ger the story of
the stove. As he himself had remarked, ''he
was not ore of the talkin' sort."-Helen For
sSt Graves in Saturday Night
Idyllic IdleneSs
Lady Of the House-Whv don't YOU 20 &c
workl | don't see what pleasure there can
be in your sort of life with nothing whatever