The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1897-01-20

1.-THE spotted heifer. see. But how
came you to have that valuable animal?"
Rob asked, her eyes twinkling Her ia
Their gently pinohed her ear as he went
on:
"Why, she was my pet. / had raised
her back in Virginia and had refused to
sell her with the rest of the cattle. She
was broken to the halter, so l led her
over the mountains into Tennessee. Mrs.
Pickins tried first to buy her through
somebody else. She was aisharp old la
dy, but not too sharp for ihe. Ilet it be
known to her that my may Blossom
was not for sale, but that was ready
to make her a present of the animal
the minute she would sign quitclaim
deed to the land Even then she hung
back a day and night, but ended by
coming round. And so. Miss Rob, you
will one day have Roscoe"
81 think--yes, must look up that
quitclaim," Rob said saucily. Her ia
theirs face clouded.
"You will not find it," he said.
"Twenty years after it was given my
father sent it to lawyer in Illinois,
who wanted it TO help the old woman
children in some legal matter. He prom
Used faithfully to return it, but never
did. That does not matter if it is re-
corded. 1t was, / know. But so many
books were burned in that fire at the
courthouse. Benjamin Topnlark spoke
of that and said he would find out for
me. He was going to search the books
on his own account and would be glad
to look for me-"
"Mr. Topmark is-too kind" Rob
said, with the faintest curl Of the lip ;
then, with IA quick change Of mood:
"Jack, do you want to be useful? Then
come help me feed my chickens. They
are spoiled, almost as badly as this dad
of mine They eat nearly their own
weight in meal every day, yet to hear
them quawk and complain you would
think they were starving"
"They are deceitful, like their mis-
tress," Jack said as he followed her to
the feed coop, tent shaped affair of
rough Stats, which was set some 80
yards from the back steps. Rob had a
big basin Of wet meal. She flung it by
generous handfuls within the coop, then
leaned upon it, watching her pets at
their greedy feeding. One Of them, a
pretty, tame, ash blue creature, flew
upon her outstretched hand and perched
there, preening herself and giving out
soft little sounds as she pecked daintily
at remnants Of dough in the basin.
"Poor Bluebirdl" Rob said, stroking
the soft feathers. 81 am afraid, sweet
heart, next winter you will be hungry
unless l can bring myself to kill you or
give you away. Do you know, Jack, 1
have come to wish, almost, that every
thing love may be dead when winter
comes?
"Hushp" Jack began imperatively,
but she went on recklessly:
at is the only way out. You see how
things are-the crop going to destruction
and not hand raised to stop it. Uncle
Ned's wife's brothers. mother-in-law is
dead. To show respectful sympathy with
him every soul here quit work and went
to the burying. 1t was bad enough be-
fore. Now l have quite lost heart. Pap
py has lacked nothing so far. l had
rather die hundred times than let him
know the truth. How could even hint
to him that we must sell part of the land
we both love so well9 Yet that seems
the only way in which I can save him
from actual want unless-unless God
were good enough to let us die together.
"Ah, there is another way. almost as
bad maybe.-still way" Jack said,
marry me, Rob. though l am not half
SO good chance as you deserve"
Rob flushed lovelier scarlet. Take
that back. You must" she cried. "Oh,
but am ashamed of you-myself-ev
erything! did not think you would
misunderstood. was blue and misera-
BILE and began to whine-yes, actually
to whine. So you offer toto help me
in the only way you can! My name
ought to be Winfield. did not think
could behave so. Do, please, take back
everything and forget all i said. II you
do not, shall never be able to look my
self in the face, not for a whole year. "
Jack caught her hands, not roughly,
but in firm, masterful grasp. You
are the one 20 take back things" he
said in her ear "Rob, it hurts-rath-
er-to-to say what said aud find
yourself laughed at for your pains. "
The tremulous little fingers ought to
have told him how brave fight she
was making for pride and love. But
Jack was too full of feeling himself for
judicial consideration His face famed
and his brows drew together when Rob
said fficultly:
"Jack, it is not wise. hardly right
indeed, for you toto speak so when
you have your mother, ell of theml Oh,
don't you, won't you, see how impossi-
Bile it all is?'
jack LET her hands fall and swung up.
on his heel, saying, with freezing cour-
tesy Pardon me. did forget could
offer you nothing beyond poor mans
heart TWAS presumption. l take il all
back. see you want rich husband.
No doubt you will get him. Accept my
fluctuations in advance. You have spo-
ken of Miss Winfield. Let me add that,
cold blooded as she VIGOROUSLY is, /
think she would scarcely trample upon
fellows heart as you delight to do"
Certainly not. IL you were the fell
low" Rob said. beginning to laugh.
"Oh, Jack, my one friend. you are not
going to take yourself away from me
with all these heroics? Let's both forget
for year. Then am sure you will
think back and sec how much your
friend am showing mrself to be-"