New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-02-02


If she meant to cut him to the heart by TINS
allyson TO her nuptal inery. she failed lie
only looked at her in a curious way and then
asked in the quietest of voices
What did Bob do?' H..
"NothIn only Jest larfed. o. Alec, why
won't yer go? She's er comm. -
Alec went, seeing that the danger was I'M
minent. ..,. ,,i,.
ma" and Miss DEFY FASTENED
'.Whas air you er foolin' away your time ioT
down thar an here's jim Wilson been ter zen
ver that Bob's took powerful bad an the doctor
aint NJ hopes on him hardly Er pretty plece
or work thet is, an you'll git talked about me
An We got yer weddin' dress an all, Jeered the
old woman. ,.
Miss DEFY grew sick all over. Was there
then no escape from tIis Ire!
Jim wanted yer ter so over thar but teiIed
him | wouldn't hey sich work as thet-ihy
da'ter running after man tibet away. .,no
Thcy had reached the house now, and there
in the Mvirg-room was the wedding gown DEFY
had been proud OF.
She began to weep.
you shet up DEFY Townshend"' cried her
mother Eff yer don't III bang my head all to
pieces ergin the WALL. and she gave it hard
"Oh. ma don't. don't" shrieFed DEFY. Il
won't cry won't do nothn.
The old woman sat down in her spiht rocN'''
'Yerd better not them,
The menace in her black eyes meant business
and DEFY. choking down her sobs Went about
getting dinner
Poor Bob Wilson never recovered from his
sudden illness He begged tC see Miss DEFY, ana
once in the dead midnight she stole out trem-
bling and went and stayed an hour by his SIGN
bed. -
II hate ter leave ye" said Bob kindly. But
thar's Alec thinks heap on We. Twas
mighty squar' thing his givin' we up ter me IKE
he did"
oh Bob. don't talk tibet away" cried Miss
DEFY
Hers was a sincere soul and here was Bob
diving but she absolutely poWerl"ss 10 tel
him the whole truth.
wei. well. It's all right. l suppose" said
Bob weakly.
He was SO nearly done with this life that its
loves and hopes did not matter much.
Deys wedding gown was presently put away
in the old family chest and DEFY went about her
duties with sadder face.
"A wilder 'thout ever bein' married.. sne"red
her mother. and the kind neighbors added that
1t "'peared like Dey Tcwnshend was pintedly
meant fer old maid"
In the few weeks that followed Bob Wilson'S
death. Alec Penland did deal of thinking and
Ga y-dreaming. Pleasant thoughts and pleas
ant dreams they were. too one would guess by
the serene expression OF his strong. KIND race.
He worked some at "fixin' things" around home.
Alec had lived alone, keeping house for him
self ten years or more and 1t Is putting ii mildly
to say that the appearance of the house. both
inside and out. indicated that such had been
the
But this did not trouble Alec. He apt
to sit after supper. smoking his pipe. on the
front stoop. without thought Of the unwashed
dishes, and watch the smoke curling up from
the Widow Townshend's chimney.
She's a good ga. n s neat s pin he
unused one night. Bob was a better man then
me. ways He'd done it an I'll do ii.
an l won't wait no longer. blessed Of do
He knocked the astes out of his pipe. put out
the cat. and went to bed and slept soundly all
night.
The mex, day found him az Mrs. Townshends
door.
The bees were humming in the lilacs and the
March winds were soft and warm. The house
was wide open. Mrs. Townshend was carding
cotton. She gave him but curt welcome.
Il hope you air well enough, mann" said
Alec. with Difference
I'm only jest torable" was the cold reply
where is Miss Dely?" ventured Alec pres
entity.
shes down ter the springplace. but I don't
reckon tibet consarns you"
Alecs heart beat hard. but he answered
boldly:
Yes ct do maam. bekase me an DEFY air
gon ter git married"
mo, YOU amt" snapped the old woman. Il
amt goin' ter hey YOU Aangin' round here tryn
ter steal my da':er."
Aecs face lighted. II he had known Shakes
peare he might have said
Il thank thee. Jew, for teaching NE that
word
Pvt nqt he 70. only l repeated
Il say you shant hev 'er. Alec Penlan'. you
git out O my house"
Alec sat immovable
EFF you git her you'll wish yer hadn't" said
Mrs. Townshend
Alecs face hardened.
"Dely's good gal an you amt call to talk
that away about Yer da'ter. | don't ever want
ter hear no more o that"
She stared at him dumfounded then starting
up, hurried 10 the side wall and beat her head
against it till the partitions creaked.
Alec glanced around. \ long wool scarf hung
over hook On another hook were suspended
two three saddle girths
In another second Mrs. Townshend suddenly
felt herself Frasped around the waist and borne
fOrc.bly to the old splint rocker.
She screamed. struggled, kicked and bit. and
though a church member. said awful
words.
1t was OF no use Deity and quickly. though
as gently as possible, Alec bound her firmly in
the chair and bound the chair to the tall four
poster bedsteao, and confined her hands and
feet.
Use RELY afeard We might hurt yerself MS
Townshend." he said kindly.
Alec Penlan. how dare We, Turn me loose.
turn me loose, I'll put yer in the penitentary"
yelled the victim.
"Sho now. wouldn't. There Don't fret, VIII
is er comm back afore shutdown. yer know an
he'll unite yer. l wish yer good day, Mis- Town
shend"
he backed out of her presence like a courtier,
carefully shut all the doorc, and hurried to the
spring place.
Poor old woman She gave one or two dis
cordant cries. and then astonishment got the
better OF anger. BY this simple cxpedient Of
beating her head against the wall. she had all
her life ruled with an iron rod her whole fam
lily. Was It possible IT going to fail now?
Alec found Miss DEFY sitting on the steps az
the sprnghouse. churning She a clean.
dark-blue gown, and the cream which foamcd
up around the dasher not whittier than her
cape bonnet. she looked. Alec ted himself. as
pretty n pOsey.
She smiled at him and bade him "Howdy."
Alec thought of Bob Wilson.
Thar shan't nobody say he war better man
than me- he muttered.
He went boldly UP to Miss DEFY and kissed
her Then he laid his shaggy head close and
whispered some hing IN her ear.
"Oh, no. no. Alec Mad beat her head off"
! NO. she won't. She caynt"
! DEFY looked scared.
you amt killed her. Alec"
"Oh Lordy no. She's-gone a-vistin'."
Miss DEFY got up quickly.
"Alec. what you been er-don?'
"Nothin But I'm going ter kerry yer off"
NO. you ANT, | cayn't go.
"Now Dey." coaXingly. "Be a good gal.
! Come
q caynt. Alec what you done with Map"