Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-08-06

| picturesque style peculiarly her own. but they
were wonderfully becoming. Even as a child
she had never associated with any of the village
people. Indeed, the children stood in whole
some awe of her. ] remember once. as she WAS
passing along the street. she saw bov teasing
a forlorn-looking kitten. Some one set a pail Of
hot water down beside him for moment and he
mischievously dipped one Of the cat paws in
it. In an instant she was across the street
Like little fury she seized that boys arm and
plunged his hand in the scaiding water until he
howled with pain.
Z" 'Well. how do Won like it?' she said and
took the kitten up tenderly in her arms and
carried IL home. She never seemed TO be lonely.
although her father was saway much OF the
time. He would be gone occasionally for DAYS
at time and Ninns would reply 20 alp inquir-
les FOR HIM that he had been called away on
business and it was uncertain when he would
return. No one was bold enough to inquire
what and where this business was. but it was
I understood to be in regard 10 his horses and ex-
cited no comment, for every one knew and
good-naturedly humored his peculiarties
| Well, / think had been in the village about a
year when there were rumors coming from
Cincinnati of counterfeit money in circulation
and 1t was even limited that it came from our
county. II naturally created little gossip. but
| that suspicion was generally believed 20 be
| quite without foundation and treated "a
a great joke by the town people. But the mat
| ter gradually grew worse, the counterfeiters
were evidently becoming holder as time went
on and no clue appeared TO the guilty party.
JOE. TIE HARNESS MAKER.
''About tina. time there came TO the town a
! young man whom every one knew as Joe-a
harness maker by trade. He was a handsome,
genial fellow and was soon favorite with the
whole community.
"Of course the doctor having many horses Was
one Of his chief patrons. Joe managed 10 have
frequent errands around to the stables and
seemed to take great interest III the horses. He
was busineSslike. pleasant never inGuisitiye,
and from being very rude at first the doctor
gradually came to treat him with a certain
degree of cordially. | soon noticed that Minna
fell into a habit Of coming down to the spring
when he happened TO be there. and no matter
how saucy she was to the rest OF us she had al
WAYS bright smile for Joe. Then he began to
come every evening and often fingered TO chat
with her and say some of the pretty things he
knew well how to say.
1T was new experience for her, poor girl
1t was probably the first time she had ever been
told that her big brown eyes were beautiful.
Anyway. she began 20 train back her short hair
| which always blew about wildly over her head.
| she dressed herself neatly, and we all remarked
how pretty she becoming. That sort of
! thing went for several months Well. Of
course, the upshot of the matter was that
Minna fell dead in love with him. and really
think he cared as much for her as he could
care for any one. All this time he was beconi-
ing more intimate with the doctor. ingratiating
himself in his favor as L think no one else
could have done. What my astonishment
when saw him enter the house one evening"
After that he became a very frequent visitor
and seemed TO be at perfect liberty 10 come and
go as he pleased. He began TO take more in
terest in horses than harness. and IT the first
| opportunity he disposed Of his harness shop
and announced that he was going south to sell
some horses for the Doctor whose practice was
increasing tIr,+a oitlnusrN
te-ious absences became more frequent and
prolonged. Joe came back nicely dressed
stayed at the doctors a few DAYS and went
| away again. This occurred many times. But
will never forget the evening of his last re-
turn
JoE's LAST VISIT.
'All of the men were away and was proudly
taking care of two or three horses which had
not been sold. A usual was ioafing around
the stable, when Nina came out. have seen
some Airline in Bohemian Girl that
L swear | could ain ost believe was Minna her
self in the very same costume she wore that
evening. She was dancing and fitting around
ike FREELY and laughing and chatting with
an abandon wholly new to her.
! AT last said: 'Why Minna. what on earth is
the matter with you? Arc YOU going crazy or
L added as sudden thought struck me. or
! going TO get married.? She paused. looked
fstraight ut me. will she said. I'm going to
! tell you something. Just to show YOU how much
| l think of you. only Won mustn't breathe a
word of it TO a living soul until-well. until it
| is over with; promise me, now. dead sure. she
| demanded. OF course ] promised, only the
| promise didn't amount to much. IL WASH t long
| before it indeed all over with And she
/ told me then that her father had sold his prop
| erty. horses and everything 10 some one in Ken
lucky and as soon as this person came and the
papers were made out she and Joe. who was
| expected that very evening" were to be married
| and they were all going away to live forever
and ever and ever. she concluded like child.
''She had hardly finished when Joe appeared.
He had evidently been to the house and not
finding her there had come on. to look for her.
''She ran 30 meet him and as they came toward
me she was hanging on his arm. looking up into
his eyes adoringiy; and | never prettier
little scene. He was magniicent-looking fell
low. and he never appeared handsomer in his
life than he did az that moment. with his cap
off and his head thrown back his ewes sparkling
and his face animated as he smiled Minna.
with that rare expression which SO few men pos
sess. fascinating alike TO men and women. No
wonder the girl adored him. While we were
talking the doctor came oIs. He shock hands
kindly with Joe. and. like Minna. seemed nearer
coming ont of his chr'-salis than ever before.
More of his singularities were noticeable that
evening. but he was to ali appearances simply
courteous. well-bred. upright gentleman.
After talking while he turned to Minna and
remarked: 'Ninna, l find that [ must go away
again tonight. l wish you would pack up some
clothes foT me. for may be gone several days
These orders had ceased to be a matter of sur
prise for Minna and she betrayed no concern
whatever. Your valise is already packed.
father she sold. Bat Joe glanced keenly at
him. 1t was evidently unexpected news TO him.
The doctor tUrLed and sauntered toward the
house. Joe unconscioUSly shook Minna's hand
off his arm and his eyes never left her fathers
form. l saw the girls hand fall nerveiossly by
her side and her face paled as she gazed into
her lovers countenance with wide-open eyes.
filled with a vague terror and apprehension, as
il with womans intuition sne felt PRESENT.
ment OF coming evil.
Joe took step toward the doctor. who was
walking ieisurely away, wholly unconscious Of
the drama enacted in those few seconds behind
his back. then hesitated. wheeled suddenly
around to Minna, and. clasping both her hands.
with gesture intensely dramatic. he pressed
his lips together as If TO suppress a grcan.
'Minna, he said hoarsely. God knows L would
spare yos if could. Go to the house. child. as
quick as you can'-this almost beseechingly
You are safe. whatever happens; I will take
are Of you But she did not move.
THE DOCTOR KANDcuFFEp.
"Joe stepped up to the DOCTOR touched him
Significantly on the shoulder. With a deft
movement he snapped the irons on his wrists.
and with shrill. prolonged whistle summoned
his assistants, who came running from the hotel
with half the village loafia7-s n. thaiy baols TO