The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1892-03-25


leaning on my crutch and resting by
turns And I've walked so far on my
way back But ! feel sick and fainv,
and ! can go no further"
"Therel' said Mrs. Tucker, trag-
ically apostrophizing her husband as
he stood at the head of the cellar stairs
| with stone bottle OF home brewed
root beer in his hand, see what you've
done.'
| 'Twarn't mer' suffered poor Gideon.
Miss Kitty II hev to give up her
school" added his wife, land all through
you!"
Kitty could not but smile, even
through the pain of her stinging limb
at Gideon fuckers rueful face.
"0h, IL isn't so bad as thatm said she.
''0r at least hope not mean to
keep my school If possibly can. And
I'll tell you what my plans are. You
know that old house under the To-
custs?"
"Whatw cried Mrs Tucker. "The
Richie Ruin?"
Kittie WINGED a little.
YES" said she, II suppose Il Is a
ruin. The grass is growing up through
the kitchen floor and the shingles have
all rotted away on the north side, and
don't suppose there's pane of
glass left in any of the windows But
the doors are sound, aud the roof
doesn't leak TO signify. Henry Wait
says IL could be made quite comfort
able with few pine boards and a
pound or so Of nails, so long as the
weather don't turn cold; aud II Mr..
Tucker would allow me TO live there
this fall"
faint ft for even foxes TO live inl'
cried Mrs. Tucker, hurriedly.
"Whv," more slowly spoke her
spouse, II was callSilatin' to store my
| pumpkins an cabbagcs there, but of
course IL you've took notion to the
place"
II was born there, Mr.. Tucker" said
Kitty, in a low voice. Long before
father and mother were obliged to sell
the old place. Long before poor old
Aunt Ruhamah wandered away and
went to her relations out west"
YES" observed Mr. Tucker, nerv-
ously scratching his head. "and until
get your Aunt Ruey's signature to
my title deeds they won't be worth
more'n SO much waste paper At least
SO Lawyer Goodrich says For she had
some sort of share in the property,
sane or crazy"
Miss Richie colored.
Father sold the farm 10 you, Mr..
Tucker" said she, land It's my bust
ness to see that the transaction is legal.
Aunt Ruey is coming back"
| "Ehw cried the farmer and his wife,
| in chorus
n had letter from her yesterday"
said Kitty. "That'a one reason | am
here to-day. The cousins in Ohio won't
have her any longer. She is getting
older and more eccentric every day,
and they say--what is quite true-that
It is my business to care for her And
the poor thing expects to come back to
the Old Richie farmhouse Just as IL
she had left it yesterday! So if Mrs.
Tucker will lend me a few articles of
furniture, ri try to make the place
| habitablc for her"
And you're kindly welcome to EN-,
my dear" said the farmers wife.
There's plenty of solid old furniture
up in the garnet that we caprub up
, with a little oil ard make dscent And
it's our business to help you all we
can, seeiu' it's Gideon's fault"
ats nobody's fault" quickly inter-
rupted Kitty Richie. And IL the
trustees raise my salary, as they talk
of doing IL that extra class of mathe-
MATES is started, | shall soon be able
TO pay little rent for the place"
~ guess we shant dun you much for
no rent Miss Ritchie," chuclxled
Tucker. AN you're welcome to the
milk of the red COW IL you an the old
aunty want it A cows dreadful
help in houselzeepin,
Miss Richie thanked them and went
on her way. hmping slowly along.
"rd a hitched up old Jack and took
her the rest of the way home" OBJ
served Tucker, as he stretched his neck
20 look after the departing figure, ''if
hadnta seen Henry Waits carpen-
ter wagon comm down the road An
! guess Amt one to spoil sport"
"'Twon't never be match il Kitty
Richie shoulders the burden o that
old crazy aunt o her'n," said Mrs.
Tucker. IA man can't be expected to
marry a whole madhouse"
II guess kitty's worth itg' declared
| Tucker
''She is a good grill" said his wife.
And there was one time folks s'posed
she was goin' TO be an heiress-when
the cid sea captain uncle came home
with the prize money that he gained in
the war"
n don't believe there ever was any
prize money! said Mr. Tucker, resum-
ing his task of denuding the plump
duck of its feathers "Therer'
II know there was;" nodded his
wife. Mrs Richie showed it to me
herself, All gold eagles, tied up in a
sharn,uy bag with a NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
The Odd captain gave n to her for
nussin' him through that fever"
whats the reason You never said
nothin' about it 6efore?' questioned
| Tucker.
Mrs Richie made me promise not
to tell She was afeard o bein'