The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-01-17
A WILL OF IRON.

5hlS mere place ne was when i come here,
for he had whopped every chap that dared
put 'em up agin him, and heavy was his
hand on the man that thwarted him. But
by and by he must so and get in love,
which he certainly showed the best of
TASTE for never have / seen such cheeks
and such eyes as Polly Savorys was, and
her fgure-weIl, it's grown bit since
then, but don't see any one about here,
young or old, with figure as will bear
compare with hern now, while, as for man
ners, she'd have taught duchess how to
receive company, for 1 never see young
lady, even in diapers shop, as had Pol
ly's style.
Well, one evening she was walking
across the ten acre meadow yonder, when
Dick Stubs meets her and turns round at
once and says arter few polite words, I
love you
with that he stops short, as if he ex-
pected her to fall straight into his arms,
but Polly just holds out her hand and says
very polite, Then I'll wish you good even
ing, Mr.. Stubs.
"'But that won't do, Polly, says he. Il
want you to tell me that you love me, too,
for you do, don't you, Polly, dear?'
No. says she, I'm blessed if dop
"tAh, we'll, you will in time, after
you've walked out with me bit.
Never, says she. Besides there's an
other gentleman prefer
THAT made him show his teeth. Now,
look here, Polly he says, I'm one of the
sort, I am, who always has his own way.
/ mean to haveayou for my wife. and VOC
betide the man that comes between me
and my girl!'
He looked so big and threatening that
many a girl would have been frightened
and might perhaps have taken him out of
fear, but Polly didn't know what fear
was, SO she just tossed her dainty head,
she did, and with a Don't you never dare
to speak to me again, Dick Stubbsl' she
walked off like hempress.
Next day the news was all over the
| stock, though he swore to break any chaps
head who made fun. But even he could
| not thrash whole village.
g. AS for Polly, he treated her shameful,
meeting her whenever he could and threat
ening murder against her gentleman as
soon as ever he found him out and telling
her day after day that he'd make her his
wife by fair means or foul. I was down in
! the dumps dreadful, for 1 knew this gen.
tleman, as Polly said she had fancy for,
couldn't be me.
well, what I'm coming to is this:
Polly went to see a married sister living
! at Amblecote. Instead of going by the
| bridge, which is nigh a mile away, she
! borrowed old Garstons boat and sculled
| herself across. She started back just as it
! was getting dusk, for there wasn't any
moon that night, and down she comes to
| the bank where she had moored the boat
She got in, unhitched the painter and was
! just a-shoving of when, all on a sudden,
| Stubs was standing on the bank above
her. He takes off his hat, and says he:
''eSusan is that bad that I've been over
| to Marpleton to get her some doctors stuff.
/ It'll save sight of time and be a real
blessing to her if you'n let me cross in the
boat with you
''Polly hadn't the heart to say NO. SO
she says very short:
g If it's to do Susan good, you can
come
And she sat down in the stern and let
him shove off and take the SOULS. Then
she see that he was a-pulling hard down
| stream.
:" What are you a-doingP' she cries out.
"'I know what I'm ADDING right
enough, says he.
below Polly could hear the splashing
and roaring of the weir, and right ahead she
could see where the river divided, and she
knew one fork of it would lead them on to
certain death Which was he going?
POLLY, he says. you're going to mar
ry me-
" 'Neverl' she answered him. Never,
you poor thingP
linen We IL OA0 UOS0O0eE Ills nlgnb,
| he says, scoWling at her like the black
devil he was over the weir Well CO.
| He pulled sharp around with his left as he
spoke. She looked behind, and he gave
| laugh.
- The rudder's in the bows, he says.
I put it there out of harm 8 way. Well
let her drift now, and in just about three
minutes we shall be in kingdom come.
Polly, will you have me?'
g 'NeverI' she tells him again.
g Then it's deathP he cries out, ship
ping his sculls, and long kiss, sweet
heart, before it comes
He jumped up and moved toward her,
with his arms out, when, quicker than
I'm a-telling you, Polly swings herself
| with big jerk over to port, and with her
| right hand she reaches and gives him a
push to help him, and, slap! over he went
| into the river. The boat righted, and Pol
ly was in his seat and had the SOULS out in
less than a quarter of minute. She was
only just in time, for the boat weren't so
| yards from the weir, and hard work it was
pulling round against stream, but some
how she managed it, and back she come
safe to old Garston's All of a-trenble she
was with rage when she landed, for hap
| pened to be there quite promiscuous, and
she tod us all about it.
II hope he's drowned, says old Gar
ston.
g No fear o. that says his wife. He
swims too well and amt meant for drown
ing. You have the law on him, my dear,
she says to Polly.
No, says Polly, just a-looking at me,
that amt the sort of punishment want
him to have
So says I. If youth kindly excuse
me, must be a-going.
''And with that goes straight off to
| call on Dick StI1hhS He Was a home Init
exchanging his things his sister said. go
I waited till he come down, and then
says, very polite, Gould l have little
word with you outside, Mr.. Stubbs2' He
come out, and give him clump on the
head that just astonished him. With Miss
Savory's compliments, says I, and will
you come round TO the Bull yards There s