Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1889-11-15
pva hoard enouoht'' and with

''GOl We nedr0 enOupii! anu Will
that the girl swept from the room.
For moment Beckett stood still
looking after her, then, whirling on
his heel, he strobe out and away.
AS he walked along the road lead
ing to the mill his mind dwelled on
the scene he had just quilted, and
with each succeeding minute his rage
grew fiercer and his anger higher, and
his face looked strangely white in tho
soft moonlight. Once he clinchcd his
fists and muttered
at shan't be so. I'll kill him first.
It's her money that bought the land
and her money that built the house,
and, though nobody knows it, it'll
be found out if she marries him, and
then III be fixed in a nice pickle. No,
it mustn't and it shan't be. She
must be my wife"
He had walked quite 3stance
and come to the point where the road
followed along the river bank. 1t
wa a narrow pass between the river
and the bluff, and only a footpath,
or thigh cut" as the people called
it where foot passengers turned Oft
from the main road and saved some
distance by going through.
Beckett had passed several
yards along the bank when he heard
the sound of footsteps approaching
from the other way, and looking up,
what was his surprise and indigna-
ton to find himself face to face with
the preacher feller."
Both stopped short and for some
time neither spoke. Beckett's rage
was too great to permit of his utter
ing a word, while the other was too
much shocked by old Sans looks
and actions to find any power OF
speech.
"What's the matter, Mr.. Beckett"
the minister finally asked.
matter enough" Beckett replied,
in a trembling voice.
81 hope nothing serious has gone
wrong with you"
you're liar" Beckett screamed.
"You don't hope any such thing, an
you know you don't. Ifyou did you
wouldn't do it,
"Do what, my friend? do not I'M
utISUttllu y
"No, Ireckon you don't understand
it, when you are at the bottom oft"
Bottom OF what?'
"Bottom of this trouble. Oh,
you're a good one, and you've work
ed it mighty fine, but you shan't nev-
er marry her"
A light began to dawn on Hackett,
and he thought he was getting an in
sight into the old mans meaning.
"Now, look here, Mr.. Beckett" he
said, very calmly, 81 know you are
Miss Higgins guardian, and | pro-
posed to respect your right by in
forming you of our intentions"
"Hang your intentionsl Isay you
can't marry the gal. You can'thave
herp'
"What's your objections?"
'I'm goin' to marry her myself"
The reply struck Nose Hackett as
so preposterous and ridiculous that
he could not avoid laughing.
In an instant Beckett's face grew
red with anger; and taking a step
forward, he said:
"You laugh at me, do you, you
little gutter-snipe of creationP You
think you'll git her anyhow, but I'll
see to it that you don'tl'
And before the minister realized
his meaning, Beckett had his strong
arms about him and was doing his
utmost to throw him over into the
river
Beckett was hardy man and
unusually strong, and he experienced
no difficulty in lifting his little an
tagonist up and churning him about.
But to throw him into the river
was q much more difficult task, since
the little man chung to him like a
leech and refused to be shaken
loose.
There was long struggle which
at last ended in both OF them getting
too near the bank and slipping into
the river.
The minister, being the most active,
was the first to come up, and see
ing his advantage was quick to seize
it, and in an instant he gathered
Beckett by the nape of the neck and
proceeded to duck him two or three
times, after which he said, still re-
tanning his grip:
Mr.. Beckett, | want your consent
to the marriage between Miss Hig-
gins and myself. Are you going to
give it?"
"Neverl' Beckett muttered.
"Then under you go again."
After two or three more duckings
the minister asked again.
"Do you give in?"
"Neverp
"Then / shall have to repeat It. y
A few more plunges weakened the
old man, and hepromised to sanction
the marriage.
"That's not enough" the minister
went on. "You have her money and
you must give it up. Do you prom
Use that?'
mo, l don't, and l won't. I'll die
first"
"Then I shall have to put you un
der and hold you UNDER
"For heavens sake, don't do that
mani Pm drowned now"
"Then youpromise?"
Eyes, l promise"
"Will you swear it?"
Eyes, yesl Let me out; Tn
dying!"
At that moment Dan Bunker ant
Rettv Higgins arrived