The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-12-24


trading. and was the only man in the town
ship who pale the storekeeprr with a check
on the county bank. All Little Indian re-
carried AbsalOm with wholesome awe, hu.
little liking He for the Legislature
once. but was defeated through the efforts
OF men TO whom he had loaned money ami
afterwards bankrupted by the simple legal
process OF claiming his own as soon as II
was due. Four times year he dropped a
silver dollar into the plate at church. and
four times n year the little congregation
was impressed by the magnihceuce OF his
contribution. AS the case was put BY
Jim Whitley, whose annual contribution
amounted 10 more tran twice that OF Absa-
Iom but who gave frequent raites. instead
OF infrequent respectable SUMS. and who did
not know himself the amount of his years
givings "Old Ab. he is little slow about
lettin' 60 but when he do conclude 10 chuck
her in. she goes. Throws whole dollar in
to-wunst." How that big bright dollar did
shine among the nickeis and dimesi 1t per-
fectly typed its giver's position in the COM
munity.
The only child Of Absalom was a son.
named Elisha, after Absalom's father.
There had been baby sister. who lived but
few months, and the neighbors at the
funeral noticed that Mrs Baker stopped her
her as the minister began the final words.
Elisha was twenty-five years old but
never had he been known other than as
''Ab Bakers boy" TIE old man had kept
him we'll IN hand. Occasionally some man
who did not owe Absalom money suggested
that the boy was old enough 10 be allowed
q little liberty, but the old man was wont
10 reply: LAS long as the boy stays on the
farm he'll have TO knuckle, and that's all
there is to it," And Elisha, not knowing
otherwise. "knuckled."
So when. Christmas eve. Elisha told
his father that he was going TO get married,
and TO Eliza Perry at that, the daughter
OF a widow who lived on rented forty"
and bought new dress but once a year.
AbsaIom turned red and white and choked
for two minutes before he could find his
tongue. IL was at the supper table that
Elisha gave out the news. Mrs. Baker
who had never dared express opinion of
her own since Absalom had bodily carried
her off from her aunts kitchen to become
his wife. ran out OF the combined kitchen
and dining and stood on the back
porch. covering her face with her apron
and sobbing softly TO herself.
Coin TO marry, air ye?" began the old
man. Coin TO marry, air we? Coin TO
marry porper. and bring her and her
porper mother for me TO support, Ell?
Strikes me you air gittin' little too big
CITY for boy that hasn't a cent Of his own,
that amt earnt more than his board and
keep, an that from his daddy. You been
a dead loss TO me all your life. an now you
want to pile in a few more fer to feed.
Nice thing that girls fixed up fer herself.
Reckon you know what her daddy was? A
low-down, drinkin'. ornery swhelp, without
the sense 70 pervide for his own and his
daughter is got the same blood. 1 want to
tell you right now." and Absalom shouted
in tones so fierce that the wife and mother
who had ventured back. shuddered, "T want
10 tell you right now, that either you give
her up. or you give up me-and what's more
when you give up me you give up your
chances fer my farm. Understand? Go an
tell her that, and 1 bet you come back
mighty quick to be took in agin. When she
finds that the farm don't go long with you.
she'll drop you like a hot shovel That's
ali. Now git out, ana wien you air starvin'
to death send word-and I'll see you
buried decent, and that's all will do fer
ye"
Elisha slowly arose from the table, put
on his hat and started for. the door. He
took a few steps forward. then paused and
held out his hand. Old Absalom wedged his
fists in his pockets and looked at his son.
mo. don't shake hands with you," said
he. "You amt neither friend ner kin I'm
done with ye."
Elisha smiled grim sort OF smile. and
let his hand fall to his side.
Il guess you forget We are brethren in
the same church, said he. but L won't
press the point. Good night"
With that he strobe out of the room and
he n hat led to he
had just laid his hand on the latch of the
gate when he felt his arm clasped. There
was no installing that clasp. Even when
Eliza had chung TO his arm in the transport
OF affection that woman feels when the
man she loves has asked her to be his own,
the touch had not shown so true so inn
mutable a love.
Goodbye. mother" was all he could say.
Eloquence by any other than the head OF
the family had always been discouraged in
the Baker household.
He has always been a hard man." sob
bed the mother. "And TO none harder than
to his own. And when he says that 'Liza's
father was drinkin' he Is tellin' the
truth. but not all of it. Jake Perry never
drank a drop before his crops failed one year
and your pa forecIosed on him. He'll never
fergiv you fer falln' in love with Jake
Pe-ry's daughter an he'll never take back
what he said 10 you, no matter how bad
he wants to-
Her sobs stopped her utterance, and
Elisha. speeches. folded her in his arms
There was "a long. long hug, the young man
kissed his mother again and again. then
blindIy strobe down the road. The
turned. tottered into the house and through
the kitchen. never looking at Absalom who
in silence. smoking his pipe and staring
flxedly at the wall
The sIeet had formed u brittle crust on
the snow. and steady, depressing down.
pour of half-frozen rain beat into Elisha's
face 5 he pIodded doggedly along. His
mind was daZed by the sudden turn in his
affairs. vet withal he had a sense of free
dom that he had never felt before-a sense
OF being his own man" Ahead of him n
light cleaned from the windows OF the lit
tie church. where, at that moment, little
Sammy Trueblood was rehearsins Casa
blanca" for the Christmas exhibition
with much woodenness of gesture and
throaty monotonOusness of voice. For the
third time Sammy was essaying his piece
ana a storm OF Infantile giggles was greet
ing his accidental Interpolation OF his
fleece was white as snow" as Elisha
reached the church door. Elisha little
knew nor cared whether the boy who
stood on the burning deck was covered
with a snowy white fleece or not. His ears
and his eyes were for Eliza who had been
impressed into service by the schoolma'am
10 help in drilling the young histrions.