The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1893-01-13

had the rare accomplishment, or, rather,
faculty, of laughing well He was as hand
some as his daughter, in a more regular
way, and wore his thick riotously-curling
hair in a queue. He had broad chestnut
eyebrows, that met above his nose, which
had peanut like but ar1stocratic ripple in it,
and his mouth was set between two longish,
curving dimples. like pleasant sentence
between two brackets. He had a deep
Cleft IN his chin, which was sometimes
more or less leveled with shaving powder
and he wore knee-buckles OF brilIiants and
stock and rufies.
The Colonel was a believer in the good old
times, clamored for the retention of stage
coaches and always travelled in his private
carriage. He took snuff, and treated him
self to q pinch now, while slyly observing
the hero and heroine of the adventure just
related. He had his suspicious, had the
Colonel, that there had been a tow-row of
some kind between the two, and he also no.
ticed the blue bow, and the beads, and the
bronze shoes.
The Colonel was a closer observer than
people generally gave him credit for, and
he recollected that Judith did not generally
wear her bronze shoes to dinner, neither
the blue bow nor the beads. He was also
aware of the fact that Phil Roughton was
an extremely distinguishing youngster,
and that the damsel i'll the chimney corner
had announced her intention many years
ago of ''marrylng her Phil" This was at
the time of the missing tooth, and radish
dolls, and fishing with crooked pins, etc.
1t gave the Colonel quite a comfortable
and perfect natural glow to think that
Boughton's father was wealthy, and their
old place one of the handsomest in Virginia.
Also he recalled with satisfaction the fact
that only two years ago Master Phil him
self had graduated with hOnors at the
L'Ecole des Pont ct Chausses in Paris. A
very good thing it would be, the Colonel
told himself-and perhaps they would re-
main with him at Carylon for some years
until in fact Here the Colonel, who had
been getting sober and soberer, sighed
rather heavily.
Then Judith looked up for the first time,
but not at Boughton.
''Why do you sigh, dad, dear?" she said,
quickly.
''Oh, 1 reckon Pm hungry" said the
Colonel, with delightful provincialism: 'I'm
going to hurry 'em up.''
Exit the Colonel.
AS he left the room Boughton again res
led Judith's ball. this time from fat,
ack kitten in a Toby-collar, and handed it
her.
''Thank YOU" said she again.
Here was an excellent opportunity for
lat graceful speech, but somehow he did
OF give it voice. He asked her what she
Jas making She replied that she was
naking purse for Dick.
ooh, yes, Dick" said Boughton. 'He's
t the university now, isn't he? Do you
emember when taught you two to skate,
low you used to go sailing about and come
1own bang whang, and never mind 1t a bit,
and how poor Dick used to Wobble and yell
when he came crOpper?'
''Dick skates extremely WELL" said Miss
Page, with excessive dignity-"far better
than do" She rose after releasing her
foot from the gray web, and began winding
her silk about the long wooden skeWer with
which she had been working. 81 have
few things to attend to before dinner. Pray
excuse me,'' she said, finally, turning to
him, and then left the room without further
ceremony.
Boughton sank down into the little satin
pulled chair, which was yet warm with en-
bracing her, and began bordering many
things in his heart. He was just begin
ming to think that perhaps he had behaved
like beast after all, and owed her an apOl-
ogy, when solemn voice at the door said:
spinner am sarved, sab"
Turning, he saw that this voice proceeded
from person inextricably tangled with his
childhood's experiences, 1t was none other
than Uncle Eden, the major domo of Cary
lon-an individual as black of hide as he
was white of teeth and soul; for Uncle
Eden had "got 'igion" at the age of ten.
He was so black as to be the possessor of
bloom like that on damson, and had pale
pink scar down one cheek, which gave his
skin the appearance of black satin having
ripped oyer a rOsezcolored lining.
He hesitated moment when he saw Phil,
and then burst into a deep chuck1e as his
Whilom tormentor started forward and took
him by both hands.
WUpcle Eden" said he, "you don't look
day older than you did twelve years ago.
"Don' L, Marse Phill Bless yo' haati
'Cep fur yo' whlskerers I'd dun ben know
yuh time sot eyes on yuh. Lor'l it don't
seem a day since l was jerkin yuh out er
dat ar tub Nv soft soap whar yuh wuz a.
tiship' fur Miss Judy's shoe, she don drap
in it. Yuh sutp'y is looking peart. Hi!
dar-dat's de Cup'l-good=bye till bime by"
The dinner was a success, When is dim
ner not a success with hungry folksa There
was green goose with gooseberry sauce.
Boughton had not tasted green goose for
twelve years. He thought French dishes
fade and commonplace beside it. And after
dinner he had another glass of Colonel
Pages OWL"
The next day there was to be a fox-hunt
They were to start at six o'clock sharp,
the Colonel told them, and Phil was to ride
the Coloners favorite, Trumpeter,' as
"Hautboy" was lame and Judith pre-
f6rreQ great Sun-cOlOreQ DruJe, rejoicing
in the name of {: Eyebrows "-wny, no one
ever knew, as the gallant steed certainly
possessed none. He had p blazed face and
D sullep eye, and enough daylight under
him to have illuminated st. Peters
every eoign of disadvantage: But
Boughten found that his rider had a
way of pulling him along that told some
how, and the great raw beast jumped like
grasshopper,
It was pretty sight as they rode out the
next morning. The sun was just rising be-
hind zone of duh gray clouds, Beryl-
green and topaz yellow met with the soft
ness of kiss in mid-heaven, and the moon,
wan, as though with much watching, crept
down behind the naked acacia trees to the
left. Over the brown lawn there was a
light powdering of snow, and there was a
keen wind abroad, together with much
rustlng of wlthered grass and trees.
They had some hot coffee, which Judith
poured out for them, and the remains Of
the green goose, and then they set out at q
huntsman's jog for the meet:
Judith had plenty to do in attending 80
Eyebrows, who was disposed to coquette
with every dead leaf that blew across his
way, and Trumpeter was sufficient OF
handful to keep Boughton's mind complete
" upon himself.
ssAh, there's the musicl" called the
Colonel, at last, over his shoulder. Keep
his head. judy He'd bolt in q minute if !