Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1892-12-29

by a bitter eStrangement-
Once. however, after he had cooled
down and went over the business
transaction carefully, Hartley saw the
mistake. which was one of only few
dollars. He had fastened to Fowler
to right the error, but the postmaster
had obstinately refused to accept any
apology or amendment. Too proud to
sue again for reconciliation. Hartley
had walked away with an injured air.
A three years enlargement had
followed.
The postmaster of Big Elm was
watching from the window of his cabin
as the young couple rode into the yard
| and halted.
''Say. mother he cried, with sudden
excitement, ''ain't that young Tom
Hartley out there with Bess?"
Kind-faced Mrs. Fowler looked over
| her husbands shoulder from the win
dow and surveyed the handsome young
| fellow who was in the act of assisting
Bessie to dismount.
! 'sWhy, do believe it is Tom,'' she re-
| turned. ''How handsome he's grown
| to be-"
Handsome, the dicbens!' and he
strobe toward the door angrily. ''I'll
pay him for his impudence in ridin'
| with our Bess''
! Flinging the door open he faced Bes-
sizes escort with an angry flash in his
| eyes.
81 don't ask any odds of any Hart
ley,' he said, gruffiy, brushing Tom
aside 81 can help my own gal off her
| pony
''Father" mildly demonstrated Mrs.
Fowler from the doorway.
81 mean it!' he went on, rudely drag
ging Bess from her saddle Now you
go in the cabin and stay there, Bess,
and you,'' to Tom, get on your beast
and ride back to your dads ranch. L
amt goin' to have you hangin' round
here, film my gals head full O nom
| sense
Bess staggered into her mothers
arms, and hid her burning face on that
sympathetic breast. Tom Hartley's in
dignation was aroused against the old
man, but by great effort he con-
trolle6 himself to speak calmly:
s'See here, Mr. Fowler, what's the
sense in letting your old misunder-
standing with father separate Bessie
and me? L love her truly, and 1 believe
1 could make her very happy" Tom
went on, fearlessly. Its New Years
tomorrow, and I think you and father
had better bury that old fuss and be
friends again. He's willing if you are
1t would make Mrs. Fowler and
mother happy, I know. Come, begin
the New Year with all the old dis
putes and dislikes cast away, and let
Bessie and me enjoy an unclouded hap
piness."
New Years be hanged.'' replied
Fowler, admiring Tom Hartley's spirit,
although he was resolved to be unre-
lenting. You can tell your father
amt willing to make up if he is. l
amt forgot all he said, and I'd just as
lief begin my calendar of the New
Year with that old fuss as with any
thing else. Ride on, and don't come
back to Big Elm any more. You can't
have Bess, and you're not needed here, -
and, pushing his wife nd daughter into
the cabin. he shut the door almost in
Toms face.
Singing with Indignation, the young
fellow mounted his horse and rode
away. AS he passed the window he
had a brief glimpse of pretty Bess cry
ing her dark eyes red on her mothers
shoulder. The sight almost maddened
: him, and he felt disposed to ride back,
force an entrance, and carry her away
from ''that unreasonable OGRE" her
father.
But who knows?" he communed
with himself. 1.-The New Year may
bring about something for Bessie and
me. No need to make the fuss worse,
if l haven't done SO already. Mayb
the old man will cool eff a little. I'll
wait and see, - and he rode on.
Then he began calling his father and
: the postmaster at Big Elm rather I'M
pleasant names for being SO foolish as
, to allow slight mistake TO cause such
a disruption of friendship. Why
couldn't folks exercise more sense,
more dispassion in the affairs of bust
ness? 1t would save SO much trouble
if they only would.
> The sun had set Darlsness was set
Ting over the prairie, and the stars
were beginning to appear here and
there in the blue vault above him. But,
unheeding the lateuess, Tom Hartley
rode on, he cared not where. He was
in no mood to go home, and, as kind
of reaction of the condemnation he had
been showering out, his heart became
heavy, and he began to entertain APP
prehensions of his ever being a BILE to
win Bessie Fowler.
1t was growing chilly, so he spurred
his horse into reckless gallop. This
rate of travel suited him better, and he
: let the spirited animal go as fast as he
pleased.
They had just entered some low,
!, : woody bluffs along stream. when the
. horse caught one of its iorefeet in a
deep rut and stumbled, fiinging its rider
violently to the rocky ground.
Frightened at its own mishap, the
horse extricated himself and went tear
ing off across the prairie, leaving its
master where he had fallen
Tom Hartley was too stunned to
j., move for several minutes. When he
did at last attempt to rise he realized
.. that his right arm was badly sprained.
/ But congratulating himself on hav-
4 ing escaped worse injury, he started
toward the stream, resolved to refresh
himself with sup of water. then hur.
7 ry to the ranch, where he knew the re-
4 turn of his horse without its rider would
: create alarm.
He was picking his way around a
4 bluff when voices suddenly attracted
S his attention.
4 Two men we're earnestly engaged in
: conversation not ten feet from where
he halted.