Middletown transcript., 1891-05-14

and slender countour demonstrated
its relation to the breed of which Meg
was pure and beautiful specimen.
Jack, as he was called, was the very
mongrel for preacher.
! Adams conversation did not relate
to his hounds, however, butte his son.
He referred to Willie Allan with
moderation and impressiveness his
niece had not expected to find.
BARN" he said, "ye'll rue life
time if ye marry man like that. 1t
might be fine a twelvemonth, but
after he'll get worse than ever, and
the work and anxiety'H all fall on
you. Better take man like Aleck,
that you can depend on to keep you
comfortable, than one like Allan,
that'll expect you to take care o
him.
!" replied Kitty, had Aleck
been the man his father is | would
never have looked to another, but ]
cannot trust him."
That's where you re wrong, lass.
Sandy's we'll bred lad, both on the
mothers side and the fathers.
There's not better bred lad in Black
ford, and blood is sure to tell. He
may be quiet, but he's game, / war
rant you. could trust him with all
| have"
"You'd better not, uncle; and as
to breeding, do you mind Meg's last
pups that you expected to be SO good,
and still had to drown, for, says you,
she's bred back. Well, l think
Sandy's been bred back, and that's
why | want nothing to do with him."
" No, no, Kitty. If Aleck was
what you say, I would have kicked
him TO the door sooner than let him
marry you. But he's true lad, for
all his backwardness, and has strong
notion for you--a strong notion for
him" ]" Adam repeated.
" But if Aleck was a bad, treacher-
GUS man, and didn't care bit for me,
would you leave me free to take any,
body like ?" queried Kitty.
"Sartainly, sartainly," answered
her uncle.
Well, if I thought his blood as
good as his breeding I would take
him tomorrow" began Kitty, but
she stopped, for Adam was not listen-
ing. Something had caught his eye
outside, and a stranger to his habits
might have thought him wrapped in
contemplation of the Winter sunsets
Redeemed clouds or the snowy land
scape. The window commanded a
view of a forty-acre field which
stretches away from the village gard
ems to great thick wood, from whicl
it was separated by a brook. In the
very middle of it stood solitary tree.
the boughs of which shone like dark
tracery in the evening light. Look
yonder," said Adam, pointing to the
foot of this tree. A timid, limping,
hungry hare, probably tempted by
the remembrance of the vegetables it
had sometimes on moonlight nights
found in the gardens, was making
toward them in little starts and runs
followed by stopages, during which il
would sit with its long ears pricked up
to listen to or scent danger. Could
any Blackford man look on that sight
unmoved I? Il might have turned the
old minister himself into q poacher
and the temptation was quite toe
strong for Adam. The very dogs, by
the eager way in which they started
up to follow him, seemed to see O
chance of sport in his looks.
/ He was no sooner gone than Kitty
did very curious thing. Running
to her own apartment, she hurriedly
produced a biggish bunch of old keys
and began trying the lock Of Adam:
chest until she got one to fit. Their
she opened it and looked in, but NJ
pile Of gold met her eye. Adam hae
a second box within the big one, ant
: it too was locked. Kitty did not seen
at all disappointed. Without touch
ing anything in the box, she let tn,
J lid fall, carefully locked it, and pu
her keys back where she had fount
them.
Had Willie Allen been there t,
watch her next proceedings he woult
have been hurt and surprised, for th'
little firt, after snartening herself W
before the mirror, proceeded to th'
) kitchen, where Aleck was busy polish
! ing the harness Of the doctors horse
which happened to be kept at the Ret
, Lion. Ensconsing herself snugly il
the arm chair in the corner, she plain
ly said, by look and movement
come, WOO me-" Though Aleck
t her clumsy lover, did not lack the in
}, clination to respond, he possessed nom
t of that spirit Of gallantry which ough
, to have made him quick to take tn
| hint. Kitty's eyes were beginning t
r twinkle with amusement at her ant
his own embarrassment, when luckil,
r Adam looked in with the hare, but h
? forgot all about Jacks performance il
i his pleasure at seeing the cousins s
r friendly. "Aha!" he cried, " bu
: you are two sly ones-courtin' ik
that whenever the old mans back
s turned" and in great glee he wen
t away and left them.
:, "What do you think Of that now !?
$ said Kitty laughing.
81 wish it was true" said Aleck.
THAT is because you're a fool,
: said Kitty. What on earth shoul
4; we be sweetheartin' for? What kin
3 O. life would you live here if you wer
. married, Sandy? AS long as Adal
Blacks here-and that may be twent
Z, years yet-Adam Black will be mas
Ii ter. And as for you, you'll toll an
y moil and mourn till the gray hail
d come, and you'll get his money whe
e. you're past enjoying it. That's th
1t lookout for woman with notion [
n you, my lad"
:: "I'll not deny you've hit it, Kilt,
IL It's a poor spec at the best keeping