The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-05-14
MARRIED AT A GALLOP.

w ell!' IN QeciUeUly bSSIy tome. was
the greeting old Joel Gringer gave the tall
young schoolmaster who stood fumbling
the latch of the front gate, and clearing his
throat more for the sake of attracting at
tention than to remove any obstruction
from his windpipe "WeG?"
But it wasn't well. That wasn't the
right way to encourage the young man,
and shrewd old Joel Gringer knew it. He
wanted to make him go through the tor
ture of telling him plainly that he had
come to see his daughter. so that he could
put an end to the thing then and there.
"Well?"
"H'ml I-I-just wanted to know if
Miss-h'm, h'm-is at home" and the
young fellow relieved his nervousness by
digging up the gravel walk with his left
toe at rate that threatened to damage it
worse than ten years regular wear and
tear.
81 thought your business was to teach
the children to speak the English Ian
guage, and here you can't do anything but
hum and hawk. I'm at home, and so is
Growler there. Anything else?" and the
steely eyes looked through the young man
like ferret's.
mo, sir" with loud ahem; 81 was just
going up the road to Mr.. Mason's, and
wanted to know if the family were all
well-that's ALL" And the bashful young
fellow seemed to have found his wits some
where, for he turned coolly away. raising
his cane as he did SO. and striking the ma
pie foliage over his head three sharp clips
that made the leaves crack like pistol.
And the old farmers eyes were not so
sharp as he prided himself they were, or
he might have seen the futter of some
thing white, three distinct times, from the
narrcwest opening in the blinds above,
and have guessed why the young man was
so easily satisfied.
Maybe love is blind to its own objects;
but for dizziness of vision give me, all the
time, the eyes that are ever so sharp after
a bargain, but have not the quickening Of
the divine passion to make them vigilant
guards against the dangers that threaten
to thwart loves plans. That's long way
of spelling Joel Gringer, but tru one.
He watched the straight, 1.-the young
form until it seemed only shadow
against Neighbor Mason's barn, and then
began banging to the shutters with We
hemence that said to all, "Joel Gringer
can take care of his own every time
leave him alone for that"
"Gone on to Mason's," was his gruff
answer to his wife's questioning look.
"Only wanted to inquire after the health
of the family. S'pose he thinks the dees-
trick is assessed to pay him for goin' round
an doin' that-ha, What would the
funerals of two-thirus of this family count
with him? Good fractions, they say.
Well see how his fractions work in this
house. Much good it will do him to talk
it over with John Mason, the old"-
"Sh-r' Kissed cautiously into his ear,
and warning finger told him to leave I'M
complimentary references to the neighbor
with whom he had been embroiled in a
devils lane" prevented any joining of
line fences unsaid. There's Mason's
hired man again"
perry than moment ago.
The old man sent me over to say them
there hogs O. yourn's been into the back
cornfield agin, an he won't turn 'em out
till doomsday, nor let me. They're there
yit, an maxim the interest on five thou
sand dollars fly like sixty-that's what the
old man lows the field'll fetch him. Bet
ter not take that there pup along, had YEP
Hi! Wait till l can get outl''
The last exclamation was caused by prep
arations for Enchanting the huge bulldog
GROWER, and Ben Stone made one leap
over the fence and was out of hearing be-
fore Joel Gringer could finish something
about going for witnesses.
"Said my say out. Hen the dogs wit
nesses enough, l reckon, to the scrimmage
therel be. Pm engaged in another case
Hogs amt to my likin', Joel Gringer,
though l do know how to drive 'em purity
slick. Wouldn't a-taken that dog if l
hadn't called it a pup an recommended not
Lawsl but there'll be smash to pay for to-
night, sure's my names Ben Stone"
Mrs Gringer set her candle in the back
kitchen window and her supper in the
oven, and watched and waited for Joel's
lantern TO CLEAN down the lane leading TO
the back corntield.
But it was cleaning IN more fantastic
forms farther away. 1t was playing hide
and seek up and down dusty rows of corn,
just in the milk and toothsome to the I'M
ruly swine. He and GROWER were defend
ing the rear, with Mrs. Gringer doing SEN
tinel duty for them-but what of the
front.
In a little hollow in the road, not twenty
rods from Joel Gringer's house, the thick
green turf by the wayside served as a
cushion for the feet of two FESTIVE steeds
that would mp at the troublesome flies
Every nail s fast in their shoes, and
every strap ckled tight, while the nervy
fellows-two of the most tlreless travel
ers John Mason's stable could boast
champed their bits restlessly and tossed
their heads, throwing now and then a fake
of foam that flashed with silvery bright
ness In the chance rays of moonlight,
and But what is thats
Adown the green, thorny breastwork
that defended Joel Gringers possessions
from the wayside grazers fitted a slight
figure, crouching ard hating, and then
darting swiftly forward toward the little
dell which seemed TO be the rendezvous
sought
us that you. Nannie." hoarse, excited
whisper met her few rods distant from
the horses
"Sh-i Yes: never saw a man who
could help spelling things by blunders.
There, don't take it 20 heart, Richard;
won't scold you again after all this IN
We are
Married"
"Yes; but do not let US hurry Tn afraid
every minute that those hogs haven't done
justice TO the obstinscy OF their nature,
and father
well, give me your foot and of We 20.
Well show Joel Gringer whether l am
competent TO teach addition 70 q girl
And are you sure the preacher under
stauds."
Sure, darling: he's to be st Brother
Stillwell's tonight, on his way TO the Kill
deer appointment Now, old fellows, do
your best MI Mason told me not 70 spare