The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1897-01-13


Roscoe, the McGregor plantation, lay
up stream from Topmark's in the valley
Of Walnut creek. There were q thou
sand acres of it, more by half than the
storekeeper's area Luray in tho table,
!. lands above abutted about equally upon
both the water front places Luray was
not for sale nor likely ever to be. 1t
was the same with lands upon the
streams farther side. Hence for any
broadening of his borders Mr.. Topmark
could look only toward Roscoe.
Everybody knew he wanted the place,
and nearly all said he would get it when
Mr.. McGregor died, or earlier il there
were not some miraculous change in the
McGregor affairs. But no thought of
that came to Rob as she rode home at
speed. For more than a mile her way
was over her own domain, along mill
road that ran through Roscoe's ram
shackle gates. So it did not surprise her
to encounter by the roadside three riders,
who stared hard at her as she came up
with them. But she was all taken aback
when, in answer to her civil good day,
she got only a stony and hostile silence
And she was still more amazed to hear,
as she rode on, the elder of two women
say stridently: That's her Magnolyer!
The proud piece wouldn't wipe her feet
on the likes of us. But mayby"-
Distance cut short her listening. She
had purposely set the old mare at her
best pace. "Ah, If only had my dear
Lightladyr' Rob murmured. "Bonny-
bel, know you do your best, but your
daughter was ten years younger and as
wild as her mistress"
BY this she had come in sight of the
house. 1t was wide and square, with
tall, red outer chimneys. Once the walls
had been white, the blinds a vivid
green. Now both had weathered to deli
ciously soft tones Of gray and drab. Tall
Lombardy poplars stood sentinel either
side the yard gate. Nearer the house
there were thick spreading trees
elms, naples, tulip poplars and oaks
The shade Of themwa so thick and cool
there was still hint of dew ON the
sparse grass at their roots.
One hand lay the garden, gay with
all manner Of flowers. Upon the other
wide tangled orchard space overran
with fruit trees in full bearing. They
spread, indeed, all down the side of the
sunny lawn and on to the road.
1--WE shall begin to have heaps of
company. Early peaches are getting
ripe" Rob said to herself, with little
whimsical smile, as she unsaddled
Bonnybel and set her Mt Craze. Then she
ran OH to the shady front porch, saying,
with a perfect negro accent, "Marse
Robert, you don't want nobody ter do
nothin, does your"
The man she spoke to was blind,
with Scared, mobile face and thin
hands almost as translucent as old por-
celain. His hair was like silver floss
and lay carefully brushed upon the col
lar of his fine black coat His linen,
too, was spotless, his neckerchief care
fully neat and his soft, low shoes of
fiawless new gloss. He sat among soft
cushions in wicker chair, his head
thrown back, his eyes closed, his whole
frame drinking in the scented softness
of the summer morning
81 want some one very much-that
mischievous daughter of mine, " he said,
affecting not TO recognize her voice.
'There are just the two of us, and /
miss her dreadfully, though she is so
full of pranks. You see. we have not
been much apart ever since she was
born.
Nor ever will be, daddy" Rob said,
dropping kiss upon either eyelid.
Then she stood back pace, clasped her
hands behind her, closed one eye and
looked him critically over, saying:
Upon my word, daddy. you are simply
stunning this morning I've been haunt
ed by the fear that l had not got the
part of your hair quite where it should
be nor the bows Of your neckoloth math-
ematically under your chin. You know
you hurried me bit at my work as
valet. But find you without spot or
blemish, and, as You always are, so very
much the best looking man l know
wonder the rest don't hate you out
right.
Mr.. McGregor laughed oheerily. In
the isolation of his darkness there had
grown up delicious small vanity over
his appearance He was not only blind,
but helpless There were nervous twitoh.
ings in the fine. thin hands. and when
he walked it was bowed. hating prog
ress, painful to look upon.
Over the sight Mrs. Winfield shook
her head. saying: eyes; 1t is q real
pity; but. then, mayby. too. it was we'll
folks should see what comes OF fool
hardness. / remember Mr. McGregor
strong man, good looking, too. but
nobody could ever make me believe he
had any call ter go an dash In that
burnin cabin jest ter git out poor ole
Niger that had nursed him when he
was baby. She didn't live but year
after all. An look at him-blind an
crippled, that beam fallin ON his back.
besides the burns he got. He ought ter
of thought of his own family. 1t would
be really his fault whatever happened
ter that girl Of his"
Rob's mother had died at her birth.
and there were FIVE little mounds beside
the long one in the graveyard back Of
the orchard. All the other children had
gone before. With her latest breath the
dying woman had whispered. "Call her
by your name, Robert, darling, and
bring herewith you-safe-across the
river"
So from the beginning Rob had been
her fathers comfort, companion. coun-
selor. She had come to = years old when
he was stricken and took her place "a
a a 49, a