The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1892-12-30

III Is a very small IulnR WHICH NAY
plant the perverse seeds of discord in
hearts that have long been united.
Hartley was m an of quick temper
and had warmly de MED the charge. A
quarrel had followed, and the families
once so friendly were soon separated
by bitter enlargement.
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 anne ndment. Too proud to
sue again for a reconciliation, Hartley
had walked away with an injured air.
A three years estrangement 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.
''N hy, do believe it is Tom" she re-
turned "How handsome he's grown
! to be-
Handsome, the dickens 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
Il 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.
Il mean it, he went on. rudely drag
ging Bess from her saddle. Now you
go in the cabin and stay there, Bess,
/ and y0u," to Tom, get on your beast
and ride back 10 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-
trolled himself to speak calmly:
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 believe
could make her very happy" Tom
went on, fearlessly. Its New Years
tomorrow, and 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, l 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
! leuting. 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
/ nave Bess, and you're not needed here"
and, pushing his wife nj 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 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.
Blu. who knows" he communed
with himself The New Year may
/ bring about something for Bessie and
me. No need to make the fuss worse,
if | haven't done so already. Maybe
the old man will cool eff little. I'll
wait and see" and he rode on.
Then he began calling his father and
the postmaster at Big Elm rather un-
pleasant names for being SO foolish as
/ to allow a slight mistake to cause such
a disruption of friendship. Why
couldn't folks exercise more sense,
more dispersion in the affairs of bust
/ ness? IL would save so much trouble
/ if they only would.
The sun had set. Darkness was set
( Ting over the prairie, and the stars
were beginning TO appear here and
I 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
I heavy, and he began to entertain APP
prehenslons of his ever being able to
/ win Bessie Fowler.
/ II was growing chilly, so he spurred
| his horse into a 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 forefeet in
deep rut and mbled, finging 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
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 hsv-
ing escaped worse injury, he started