Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1893-06-10

the morning he was gone with his horse
and clothes, leaving no word.
Jack and Joe, the other brother, were
much worried, but, as Jack for the first
time acknowledged, "the boy could take
care of himself"
Jack aud | talked it over during the
day, and he expressed great deal of re.
greet, thinking, however, that Nettie had
decided for herself, and that Shorty had
no one to blame for his failure. IF it
had been different" he went on, land
Percy had persevered and won, would
have given IN, and | think Parker would,
too, for next year Percy will come into
about fifteen thousand.
'You see, I've never told him of it be-
cause wanted him to grow up on his
own merits and be self-reliant l think
it has been for the best. Joe never
knew, until he was of age, that he had
anything, and we didn't tell Percy of it
then, because he was only seventeen. Joe
put his money into the ranch here and
kept quiet about it.
He sat silent for minute, then con-
tinued, "Of, course, this is between our
selves. But do you know, | wish the
boy had won. He's good deal of man,
and, now come to think of it, the affair
has hit him hard. They could have
waited a couple of years, you know"
And Jack walked off slowly, taking long
whiffs at his pipe.
Several weeks passed, during which l
saw Nettie Parker several times She
seemed different. Her laugh was not
the jolly laugh had been accustomed to
hear, and she seemed pensive at times.
Was it her approaching wedding, or
Shortly hoped it was Shorty. But
somehow when people pine they seem to
lose color and get thin, and Nettie
Parker did neither. And still no word
from Shorty, and the day for the we'd
ding only week away.
1t was Wednesday of Thanksgiving
week and there had been great prepara-
tions at Parker's The people for miles
around were invited to the wedding,
which old Sam lowed would be 9Th
bang uppist thing they ever had in tn
kentry." | rode to town on behalf of
Jack and myself for something to pre-
sent to the brideelect. In the post Of
fee some one tapped me on the shoulder.
| turned. 1t was Shorty Fleming
Shorty, with handsome moustache and
smiling quite happily.
How long before you're going outr,'
he said.
"Rightnow.
"Bully! Faber, go and borrow horse
until to morrow-tell 'em yours is lame,
and you'll have to lead him. Nobody has
recognized me back of this overcoat col
lar and the hirsute adornment, and
don't want 'em to. I'll walk out and
head up the road Hurry up with the
horses"
Ia about twenty minutes | was follow
ing him, riding horse | had borrowed
from my friend, the doctor, and leading
my own. soon caught up with Shorty
and we hurried on. Shorty showed me
letter signed "Nettie, and proceeded tt
unfold a plan he had in mind, which, fo
the quality of pure nerve" had neve
heard surpassed.
There was nobody at the house Blu
Manuel, the cook, and Shorty soon haC
him sworn to silence, after which he pro
ceeded to camp in the cold, little up
stairs storeroom off my den. where no
body could find him. Jack was not +
know of his presence, he said, becaus
, Jack is so laundering honest and per
, snickety, and would squeal or spoil thu
) job"
| The half-hundred guests at Parker
| had been enjoying Thanksgiving Day
e the full. All of Mrs Parker's goo
D things had been stored away where the
l would do the most good. The ministe
| from town was getting ready for tn
c ceremony, and the guests were bustlin
j about, amid some confusion, trying t
l find the best points for observation
t Nettie Parker, pale for once, stood nea
the front door, pulling her fingers mel
S viously, waiting, supposedly, for he
S father.
c Some one knocked at the door. Net
It tie pulled it open, gave little cry
h grabbed mans hat from the back Of
IS chair and an overcoat from a peg near b
:, and rushed out, slamming the dool
G Everybody who saw the performanc
d stood still, dazed. Then, as we hear
l.. horses hoofs Gathering up the road ther
n was a rush for the outside. Up the road
disappearing fast, were two horses
= whose riders were evidently in hurry
. There was another rush-this time fc
c the stables-led by old Sam Parke
S But, somehow, the doors would nc
d open. They had been nailed up yer
c securely by a person who was at tina
y moment making hypocritical efforts t
IS get one of them open.
J. When they finally succeeded in noun
b ing two or three men for pursuit, th
runaways had three or four miles star
n At this juncture, Cottrell, as cool as if h
n had never thought of attending hi3 ow
d wedding, came up and spoke quietly
9 old Parker, who was so dazed that b
s had not opened his mouth SO far.
j The old man started. by CORY
i Morris, mcbbe thet's erect. No US
!, yowln' over split milk. Come on, boys.
And they rode of, but not very rapidly
I O. told the old gentlemen remarkc
i Cottrell to me; as we turned towards tn
v house, " that it was no use trying to hea
them off They'll be married inside q
+. an hour Then, in tone that betraye
II no trace Of bitterness, he continued
y 1t is far batter to have happened no
& than than later And-asitis isl thin