The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1894-12-01

Tucker. AN you're welcome to the
milk Of the red cow II you an the old
aunty want It. A cows q dreadful
help In housekeepin'.
Miss Ritchie thanked them and went
on her way, limping slowly along.
'I'd a. hitohcd up old Jack and took
her the rest Of the way .home." observ-
ed Tucker, as he stretched his neck
look after the departing figure, "if
hadn't a. seen Harry Waits carpenter
wagon comm down the road. An
guess I amt one to spoil sport"
Twon't never be q match II Kitty
Richie shoulders the burden o. that
old crazy aunt o. her'n," said Mrs.
Tucker. IA man can't be expected to
marry whole madhcuse."
II guess Kitty's worth it! declared
Tucker.
''She is a good girll' said his wife.
"Andsthere was one time folks s'posed
| she was going to be an heiress-when
the old sea captain uncle came home
with the prize money that he gained
in the war"
II don't believe there ever was any
prize money!" said Mr.. Tucker, resum-
Ing his task Of denuding the plump
duck Of its feathers. "Therei''
II know there WASH nodded his
wife. "Mrs. Richie showed 1t to me
herself. All gold eagles, tied UP in a
shammy bag with a leather shoestring.
The old captain gave 1t to her for nus
sin him. through that fever"
What's the reason you never said
nothin' about It before?" questioned
Tucker.
MRS. Ritchie made me promise not
to tell. She was afeard O. bein' rob-
bed"
"And what ever came Of it?"
That's what nobody knows. Jest's
likes not old Eben Richie put It into
the iron-mining consarn that honeY-
combed Blue Mountain and never done
no good. Or p'r'aps he invested It in
lottery tickets. He never had no judg-
ment. Now, don't you go to chatterin'
about this, Gid Tucker. Mind, I'm
under a promise to the poor old creetur
that's dead and buried"
Some promises is better broken
than kept" said Gideon.
But Mrs. Tucker knew that the se-
cret was safe with her uncommunica-
tive spouse.
Meanwhile the builders wagon had
stopped before the old one-storied
ruin Of the Ritchie house, strongly
silhouted by the red smolder of the
September sunset.
"Kitty," said young Wait, stealing
his arm coaxingly around her waist,
you can't live in an old she'll like
this! Give up your false pride, love!
Let me make home for you"
Kitty bit her lip.
"And have 1t said," said she, that
Henry Wait was the only one Of the
Wait family that made a bad match!"
II don't care what people say"
II do"
''Kitty, let's go to the parson TO-
night. Let's be marriedy'
Kitty shook her head.
"Not until I've saved up enough t.
buy decent outfit" said she. "Not
until I've paid the last debt that poor
father owed"
"I'll pay 'em, kitty"
"No, Harry, you won't. can be ss
unselflsh as you are!" cried the girl.
"Oh, hush! Who is thatf"
A board in the old floor had creak-
ed softly. shadowy little figure had
come forward with a sliding motion
into the light.
"Be you Kitty" asked soft, high
pitched little voice. "Is this home?
I've come good ways and I'm sort O.
turned round"
cts Aunt Ruhamahr' cried Kitty.
"Why. how came she here7 And all
by herself!'
''1Es good ways!' repeated the old
woman, shifting her fat travelling
basket, "and I'm sort o. turned round.
But I followed Sister Sarah all the
way. She went before, and she beck
.4ned. followed her here. And she's
gone out to the old we'll. I'm sort o.
feared to follow her into the high wet
grass. but she keeps a-beckoning,' and
I guess I'll have to go!'
She started for the door, passing her
hand in confused fashion over her
forehead.
"what does she mean?" asked Harry
Wait.
"She means mother" said kitty
mother, that has been dead and
buried these fifteen years"
Don't you see her a-beckonin'?"
,piped the little old woman, "just there
by the old wellf We never could get
Eben to put curb there, and Sister
Sarah was always afeared something
would happen"
II see the tall grass waving" said
Kitty, "and a cloud coming over the
surface Of the rising moon. and that
ls ALL"
'It's Sister sarak;" said Aunt Ruey,
pushing resolutely ahead, "ahd she
wants me. Why, Kitty, do you mean
to tell me that you don't know your
own motherf"
|! Kitty sent for Harry Wait the next
day.
! Harry" said she, "do you want To
do something for met"
y want to do everything Tor you.
That's nonsensew (But she laugh
ed and colored nevertheless.) II want
'you to put o curb around that old
|sunken we'll. Aunt Ruey keeps wan
dering out there. She declares that
mother stands beckoning her and
and leaning over to look in. And it's
as near to bring out water from there
as to go to Hemlock springs"
y thought the old we'll was dried
up long ago." said young Wait.
There's water there. I see II shine
and sparkle. And Mr.. Tucker says he
will dig 1t out anew and stone It up if
you'll build curb. It will be handy
Tor the cattle. too"
Very WE'LL" nodded Wait. ANY
time Gid fuckers ready ann"
Mrs. Tucker came few days later
to the dtst husking bee OF the season.
full Of excitement.