News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1891-07-16
One bitter word followed another

One bitter word followed another
until all three men were on their feet,
and Lyman, with a little scream, had
rushed between his uncle and his cous-
in. Dick laughed uproariously at
the intervention, and kicking it out
of his way, said;
Goodbye, uncle; I'm not going
to quarrel any more with you. The
world is big enough, l reckon, for
both of us-and for Onr opinions"
He went straight to Ike, who was
sitting just where hehad left him, and
said:
"Ike, tell uncle, N a couple of days,
that | have gone West, and that
there's no i'll blood between US; and,
Ike, watch Mona for me until can
come after her."
"You are bound to go, them"
eyes; the old man is fire and | am
gunpowder We are better apart
that is ALL"
go long, then; III watch what
you leave behind"
Dick felt unhappy enough at leav-
ing Mona. She lived alone with her
father, and he was not always the
best of protectors. Dick spent the
rest of the day by her side, and left
town in the cool of the evening in no
very respondent mood. Mona had
promised everything he asked her,
and all the rest seemed possible.
He had some land and cattle on the
San Marcos, and he purposed putting
up a pretty house there gradually,
mainly with his own hands. In two
years he would sell some of his in
crease, furnish it, marry Mona, turn
grazier, and run for the legislature
When he went back, he would "make
it all right" with his uncle, and being
so far apart, they could keep right
and if not, and he lost his share of
Jack Burleson's estate, made money
was better than given money, any
way.
For a week after Dicks departure
the old man hoped against hope
but one day, when Ike Brennan care
lessly asked: "When is Dick coming
back from the west?" then he knew
the lad had gone to shift for himself,
and lonely as it left him, he thorough
ly liked Dick for doing it. After this
Ike and the Judge spent much time
together. They kept up a perpetual
quarrel, but they were we'll matched,
and after years disputing, the vic
tory on every single point was dis
puted one. Sometimes at the end of
long argument, and long silence,
the judge would say: "Have you
heard anything?" and then Ike,
shaking his head and shaking the
ashes from his pipe, would rise and
go away.
Early in the second year the judge
had an accident that completely in
valided him; and after several
months decline, he quietly passed
away. Singularly enough. there was
no will found, and Lyman Sneed took
possession of everything. No Dick ap-
peared to dispute his claim. Ike
smoked away in his old, shady cor
ner and smiled queerly to himself
when he saw how diligently Lyman
.-began to improve the city lots, and
l.saleverlY he collected and invest
sr<hdlidingp@ accounts of the
In all things but one LYman's for
tune prospered-NOnas still refused all
his attentions. But as soon as the
Judge was dead he began to use
stronger means of persuasion. No
mas father owed him a large sum,
and their home was mOrtgaged for
it's payment. Lyman soon let father
and daughter see on what terms only
! the Duval place could be saved and
the father cared too much for his
own indulgence not to press with all
his power so desirable a method OF
clearing off his liabilities.
Nothing of this plan, however,
came to Ike's knowledge until one
night old Duval, in fit Of maudlIn
intoxication, revealed if. Then he
went home full of anxiety. He had
no money that would touch Nona's
needs, and he had not yet heard any
thing from Dick.
'Td give twenty of my best COWS
to know if the fellowis dead or alive,
he said, as he pushed open the latch
less door of his log-cabin. a maj
was sitting in his own chair fast a
sleep.
"Dick at lastF'
One soul awakes another, and Dicl
opened his eyes wide and answered I:
Here am, Ike!'
You tormenting youngster, wher
; have you been?'
Everywhere and precious littl
luck either. At last | went to 1ub
and Nevada, and tried hard to max
: my pile. Two months ago jim Hal
! rison strayed Up there and told IN
J uncle was dead, and Mona going t
4 i marry Lyman Sneed. | couldn
= stand that, and so | came along wit
e what | had"
= "How much?'
e "Only $4,000"
"ThaU's enough. | guess you wi
. find yourself richer than you think
n Thenext morning Mona Duvalcon
= pletely amazed Lyman Sneed by e
u tering his office accompanied by Ii
Brennan and paying in full evel
q q claim he had on the Duval place. 81
he was still more amazed by an OF
1 cial notice to meet, next day, Il
heirs of Jack BurlesOn and hear L
l@e @ will read. He found at the place a
- pointed Dick Burleson, Mona Duvi
= Ike Brennan and three of the prin
~ pal citizens of the place. The wi
y y leaving nearly everything to Die
7O was without a flaw. Lyman simp
received 500 for every month dl
'9I ing which he had taken care of t
- estate.
a, ,s "He took very good care off it, &c
'u tlemen," said Ike, ''iust as good ca
as if he thought Dick would neN
- come back. He has earned his me
o. ey, you bet. But Fm glad my wat
= is over-very. | have been kept t
III wide awake for anything, between
- pretty woman and clever lawyer
AS Plenty and Want.
Il = h.NrrN 10 8