The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-10-07

happier Lildu sue A@0 oSSA ASA 1890 -
| long years.
A year passed, and the people OF
Possum Ridge began to wonder II the
| cross-fence trouble Wa to be revived IN
| court again. The time Tor which stay
of proceedings had been granted had
nearly expired, and at the next sitting
of the court the case would be called up
for further action. Isaac and Mrs. Mar
tin had become neighborly, but neither
of them had ever mentioned the cross
fence, and the matter stood just as 1t
had before Lindy's death. People had
talked a great deal about 1t, some con-
occurring that old Isaac would dismiss
the case after Mrs. Martins kindness
to his wife, some maintaining that he
would not, and some going SO far as
to predict that Mrs. Martin, in the for
giving disposition OF her heart, would
dismiss the case herself. Sam Gross
heard all that was said. watched pro-
ceedings quietly, and even ventured to
speak to each OF the parties separately,
in the hope of having the affair settled
anaicably. But still everything re-
manned in doubt, and but week must
elapse before the coming on OF court.
Sam shook his head sadly, feeling that,
after all, his efforts had fallen far short
of his cherished desired.
Late one afternoon old Isaac donned
his best clothing, and, taking down his
cane, walked up the road to Mrs Mar
tins The widow received him gra-
ciously, inviting him to seat on the
long, rambling porch, and exerting her
self to the utmost to make him feel
welcome.
mis- Martin" Isaac said, after they
had exchanged few commonplace re-
marks, you know, of course. that the
cross-fence suit is to come up in court
next week?"
Eyes; 1 know it." the widow
answered, sadly. land I wish with all
my heart that it wasn't. I'm tired of
it,
$50 am I, Mis- Martin" Isaac said,
with a slow shaking of his head II
wish now that cross fence had never ex-
listed. It's been source of sorrer to all
of us, an many's the time I've regretted
deeply that the suit was ever brought,
an I've regretted it thousan' times
more than ever durin' the last year"
80 have l." the widow replied. ''It
we had only been friends an neigh bors
while Martin and Indy lived. We've
missed great deal, Mr., Burton, by our
contentious, an now that t'other two
is gone we ought to try to live better
an happier lives. We ought to drop
the old suit an bury our differences.
Don't you feel SOP"
II do. I've felt it for long time,
Mis- Martin, an come here this even.
in to talk the matter over an see if we
couldn't agree to plan of settlement.
have a plan to offer, Jane, which, il
twas agreeable to you, would settle the
trouble forever"
Mrs. Martin arched her eyebrows in
surprise when Isaac spoke her first
name, for that was the first time in his
life that he had shown such Familiarity.
Yet she did not seem offended at ali,
nor DID she appear displeased when he
drew his chair nearer hers and looked
into her face with an unmistakable
tenderness.
Jane" he went on, in low soft tones,
"we are gittin' old, an we're all alone
in the world. For thirty years we've
been as strangers, an we've each
helped to sadden the life of the other.
We can blot out the old trouble, an
the line-fence with it, an l feel that
we ought to do it It's our duty to
forgit the past, an in the future try to
make up to each .other the happiness
we've missed. We can make the farms
one, Jane, an then there'll be no need
of no cross fence an we kin make our
lives an interests one, an then there II
be no need for no more contentious.
Isaac paused, but, as the widow di d
not raise her eyes nor attempt to speak,
he went on:
I'm lonely old man, Jane" hesaid,
'an' want somebody to keep me compa-
ny through my few remaining years,
an nobody would suit ne like you. ]
love You, Jane, for your kindness to
Indy, an / want you to forgive me fO.
all of the past an be my wife. We can
be comfortable an we can cheer each
other in our declining days. Jane, will
you do ito"
The widow lifted her face, beautiful
in spite of its age, and. looking into
lsaac's eyes with an answering tender
ness, laid her hand in his.
Yes. Isaac" she said. II will be your
wife, an viii faithfully try to fill Lin
dy's place in your home
A few days later the old couple were
married. and Sam Gross, who was pres
ent at the ceremony, took to himself
much Of the credit for the happy terni-
nation OF affairs, and not unjustly, |
either
Isaac Immediately threw the old suit |
out of court, then put men to work to
tear down the ola line fence and turn /
the two farms into one. Just as the own /
ers had turned their lives and interests I
into one. Thus the last vestige Of the 4
old trouble was removed. and the two
surviving Etigants entered on quiet,
happy existence. at peace with all the (
world E Montfort, in Les /
lies Weekly.
Truly good young men" said Mrs.
Errordite, ARE as scarce as angels I
teeth ''Why. rrau'mai What an ex-