The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1893-09-22

when l came in sight of the house, ana
l plucled up my courage and knocked
at the door.
don't mind telling you that while L
was waiting for somebody to come felt
kind of weak about the knees, and when
the door opened and there stood Molly
holding the lamp up high and looking
out into the darkness with her cheeks
as pretty as a peach, well then l was
clean gone.
managed to stammer out the speech
I'd made about being out walking aud
being tired, and might rest and have
drink of water. Goodness knows |
needed both, for I was that shaky Twas
fit to drop.
Molly told me to walk in, and called
her grandfather. I told him who l
was. Sam Thorpe, engineer on 47-the
best engine on the road, too, strand
he made me welcome and treated me
hearty.
This is my WIFE says he, land this
is my granddaughter Molly" he added.
as she came in carrying a pitcher OF
cider and some glasses, and with a
pretty flush on her cheeks.
sat down and had real pleasant
evening, and it wasn't the last l spent
there. either, for in course OF time
whenever l spent the night in Chew
boro. which was every other night. you
remember, l spent the evening with
Molly.
One evening we got talking about
names, and says l:
Your names 4 queer one-Stack-
pole-I never met with it before eN-
cept when I was boy. Down in Maine
where l lived there were two boys
who had been left on the poorhouse
steps one night aud who were brought
up there. Tom and Bile their names
was. remember. and we boys used to
call them 'haystack' for fun"
Molly had given little cry of SYM
patty for the orphans, / supposed, but
ceased abruptly as her grandfather
glanced at her severely. He was stern
man and d1sliked all display of soft
heartedness.
The name isn't uncommon in some
parts" said he, and that was all Do
you know. after that evening the old
man would hardly speak to me and
gave me to understand by his manner
that 1 wasn't as welcome as 1 used to
be. 1t made me mad So at last l says
to Molly;
Il tell you. Molly, I can't stand this.
l must see you as much as l have done,
and can't do it with your grandfather
acting as if he owed me money. Now,
1 don't want to do anything under
hand, and l know your honest little
heart wouldn't let you. either, so the
only thing for US to do is to get married
right off, and I'll go and ask your
grandfather now"
You see. we'd made it all up between
Us some time before, but we'd agreed to
wait a year, because Molly was SO
young.
Molly said Yes" and off 1 went 10
interview the old man. didn't expect
a very cordial reception, but I didn't
expect anything nearly so warm as
got
I was consigned to a spot not fit to be
mentioned before ladies the minute l
made my proposition, and the old gen
tleman used language that certainly
didn't belong to deacon Then got
mad, and, says I;
Have you anything against my char
acter, Deacon Stackpole," says l, ''or
my prospects,"
No" says he, I've looked them up
pretty carefully when l guessed what
you were hanging round here fol-"
Then what is your objection?" says
L
But he wouldn't have anything to say
to me but no, no, no" and wouldn't
listen to anything said, so / went off
to find Molly crying under an apple
tree, for she'd heard our angry voices
I didn't see her the next evening but
one, for I found at nv boarding house
a long letter from her.
San dear grandfather Is very determined,
and you'd better not come over this week.
Its AL about those two little boys you knew
in Maine il the poorhoUse You see. had an
Uncle Ton. who was granGtather's Oldest son
He turned ont 70 be very wild and great trial
10 grandfather. and he nearly broke grand
fathers heart After awhile he married an
actress, and they went away and never were
heard Of for years.
he was mortified 20 death IT the way Uncle
Tom had acted he had been expelled from
the church and that was great blow and,
finally. when he brought home his wife, that
was the finishing touch
she was ulack-haired and she redeemed her
cheeks and was rather handsome, but loud
talking and rot ike grandmother
Grandmother tried 70 bear with her. but ore
dsv she was impudent. and Uncle Tom stood
I'd for her against his mother and grandfather
got z-gry and turned them both out Of doors.
IN three or four years = letter came 10 grand
mother from Uncle Tom written from Maine,
saving that his wife had died and that he was
very IL himself and didn't expect to live long.
and thar he had two little boys whom he had
called Tom and Abiiah, after himself and
grandfather. and that they'd have 10 20 10 the
poorhouse Il something wasn't done for them
soon and would grandmother tel gra1dfsther
how matters stood and how Uncle Ton re-
pented CT what he rad done
aGrandnother actually didn't dare 70 tell
grandfather, though her heart ached for her
boz so she copied II al down and sent il 70
him ANONYMOUSLY He was angry as could be,
and cursed Uncle Toms wife for bringing the
name Of StacEpoIe 70 the poorhouse, and Uncle
Ton for being not only bad, but weakspirltec-
81 olsowned him when sent hin from the
house" he said. and his children and he may
Gle IN the poor house before I'll raise finger 10
help theu-'
In about week she saw il the newspaper
/ The account Of MAI found dead. and his name,
| Thomas Stackpole, was found il his pocket
| Grandmother pluckec up courage, and
pleaded 70 have the children brought home. but
| grandfather wouldn't listen 10 her and forbade
| s1yone's mentioning the subject 70 him again
He seems 10 grow worse as time goes on, so
! When you spoke Of your knowing two boys
| named Staekpole in the poorhouse be began 10
hate you, and he's hated you ever since. That's
tie only reason he has for not letting Us marry
Il exclaimed when you told their names Be
| cause knew had somewhere two cousins,