Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1889-01-18
LEaTHERW00D HOUSE.
AROMANCE OF EARLY DAYS IN
HOOSlERDOM.
BY II. w. TAYLOR.
CHAPTER VII

BY II. w. TAYLOR.
CHAPTER VII
some STRANGE COURT PROCEEDINGS.
AwaEng with the incubus OF this
dream expressing me. from an in.
termi'r .ble period of the Unreasonable
cycl,, Of sleep. l came slowly TO com
pretend the significance Of the occur
rences OF the previous day and the
nigh. only to exchange the heeting
incubus of the night for q more per-
manent one Of the day. Where was
Polly? She had wanted to tell me
<pmetiing of great importance some
secret not to be whispered within the
possible hearing of other people
True. Fan had supplemented this with
the story of the marriage. But was
not this mere rumor? The idle gos-
sip of an envious and back-biting viii
lage? And should accept such q imsy
and unreliable rumors for q full UNDER
standing Of all the facts? Such an
understan ling As could get only from
herr No; must see her. Only from
her in person ought I to accept an ex-
PLANTATION as authentic and complete.
l owed it as duty to myself and to
her to see her and hear from her own
lips her own version uninhuenced by
the presence of others. In short. /
must see her, and alone.
know now that what l thought then
the perfect philosophy Of generous and
manly argument for the pure and SIM
pie truth was in fact q specious and
shallow plea for the present gratifca-
ton of my longing to see her, the
daughter Of the horse-thief! All! I
said it is only for the present and for
the last time. And she can not Re held
responsible in any way for her fathers
crimes, Whatever they may have been.
And perhaps these are the mere ground
loss charges Of mance Had I not seen
deadly feuds involving perhaps more
bloodshed than that Of last night
among noted families in the Sandtown
circuit Couldn't I name them almost
By the score?
Later in life I should have frankly
confessed to the truth that wanted to
see Polly and talk to her simply out Of
my ravenous hunger for her presence.
her touch. and the sound Of her voice.
This would have been ample apology
In my own eyes in maturer years. It
is ample apology and explanation for
TAR more desperate resolutions and
deeds than I contemplated, even in my
greatest frenzy. But hold! Have
not forgotten my sudden hatred for
Judge Banks? The man who in past
times had affected to see in mo mate
rial that might be wrought into brilliant
things. The man who had paid me
the great compliment to point out the
road to preferment-perhaps to emil
eminence. and stir In my heart the first
nuttering Of ambiti0n-that guardian
angel Of , outh through the period Of
greatest temptation and least power Of
resistance.
I easily persuaded my self that the
judges friendship for me was a selfish
one. Through it he could the more
readily reach the proud and hayward
daughter Of the tavern.keeper. I re-
msmbered how many. how very many
times the old Judge had been enabled
to pass whole evening in our COM
pany. In oursi In hers! What did
he really care for mine! I was the
simple and unsuspecting means to the
end ! had sat beside Asr listening to
bis skillfully handl cd fund Of stories
and philosophic dissertations. proud to
show her that I was Of sufficient i'm
portance in the eyes Of the greatest
man with In our ken to bring that
man to her 20 often-so very often.
What = fool!
However. I managed 70 eat very
heartily Of the very palatabls break
last that Fan had speedily prepared on
finding that was It lAse awake. !
even smiled family -. in answer to
Fans question, I confessed the dream
to her.
She was in ecstaciea Always neal
and careful Of her dress she was this
morning in her very best and with the
advantage Of feelings presume
only . woman can feei-that she IL at
her best In every respect A bright
smile fitted about In the many dimples
.of -hsF pinky checks; and her haxeu
hair. curling in the short locks about
her ears and neck. gave her sort Of
refinement and delicscy that I had
heretofore totally failed to discover in
her. Aorsover We were entirely alone.
t. whole family having gone to some
pertions Of the village more nearly the
center Of excitement It this time, and
finding the attraction too strong t.
permit them to return - yet
Usually load and loauacious. Far
bad = smiling aud delighted shyness
and reserve upon her thi3morning-a
examination always captivating to me.
and believe. to Ill Of tho stsrnsr sex.
She said little excepting in answer to
my own remarkA Bat there was On
eager. impatient, exl,ectant and hall.
startled wsy about her looks snd move.
ments that claimed = part Of my alton
don. and even succeeded in come de-
gree in making mo temporarily forget
the keener point Of INV anguish md
festle,snesa.
Finally arose. and. taking INV bAk
walked to the Qoor and looked out
.Ars VIM ~c.nr J;mpn .h.
..hed t;m;al,- .n6 cou,rr En- ~.