The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1898-08-06
HOW SARAH GOT A HUaBAHD.

Jackson Smith had hoOOy. he
would stand at the foot of his table,
carving knife in hand. while he
enlarged upon the "devilieh repub-
lican times" emphasizing his sem
fences by brandishing the carver
in air.
His next aversion to q republican
was an old maid. Indeed, the old
maid was even more odious to him.
The republican he could forgive as
being fool, but the old maid was
beyond pardon on any grounds.
And yet, as in very mockery of his
pet antipathy, his only child, Sarah,
had developed into the hated OBJ
ject, right in his own household.
Sarah was tall and angular, like
her father. but her face was pleas
ing, and her disposition mild and
amiable. She had never revolied
against anything in her life-not
even against the injustice of spend
ing her youth in making preserves,
apple butter or piecing quilts, while
other girls were making merry.
Sometimes Sarah wondered where
her youth had gone, but, while she
was 80, she could not recall having
been young.
One day Jackson Smith received
a.hurt, and when DR.. Brown was
called in be told Jackson his days
we're numbered. Then it was that
his hatred for old maids proved
itself.
"I'll never leave this place to Q
woman that can't get husband,
he said fiercely.
But, father, Sarah's never had
no chance-we've always kept bel
down." demonstrated his weeping
wife.
He waved his hand to silence her
"Woman, no old maid shall inheri
my place. I've sent by the doctor
for Lawyer Clarke, and he'll come
tomorrow. There's money enough
in bank for you, but I'll fix it sc
that at your death it will 60 with
the farm. Jackson Goggan, my
namesake, shall get it all"
Tearfully, Mrs. Smith impaired
the facts to Sarah.
"Mother. would he turn you out o
the old place just because he hates
me?" and Sarah looked incredulous
The elder woman nodded; ther
Sarah kissed the round, sunburn
face and said: Mother, I never hav'
revol,ed against father, but I'm 60
ing to save the place for you.
wouldn't mind so much, but yo,
shall never leave your home. In
going out now to think it over.
And putting on her pink sunbonne
she went out the back door. Whel
soma distance from the house sh
sat down in the shade of tree, and
while her heart beat loudly over he
fathers contemplated injustice, sh
resolved to outwit him.
There's Josh Mullin; he nigh
but l can't bear Josh; he chew
tobacco and his mouth always look
dirty. Henry Hodge is home, bu
he drinks so that there's no depend
ence to be put in him." She cas-
her eyes over the landscape, and OF
the next farm she saw the figure o
man in the field. ''Yes, there
John Howard, but'-and her fac
grew pink hate somehow to asI
it of him." Then the tear-staine'
face of her mother passed befor
her mental vision, and giving a jerl
to her sunbonnet, she started dow
the path across the meadow.
John Howard was hoeing corn
When he saw Sarah approaching b
stopped and leaned on his hoe,
look of concern in his face.
lis the old man worse, Sarah?
he asked.
Eyes; DR.. Brown says he can
live more'n two or three days, and
Oh. John, it's awful the way he is.
Eyes; but you've been a gooc
sacrificing daughter, Sarah, an
you can't blame yourself for any
thing, you"
"Oh, you don't understand, John
he's going to leave everything to-
to Jackson Goggan, and mother
have to leave the place." she ha
sobbed.
"You can't mean it, Sarah? VIII
why that would be outrageou,
What makes him talk of such
thing?"
"Because-because-Ia am an oil
maid he hates all old maids" an
her face grew pinker than the sur
bonnet. John Howard shifted til
hoe to the other arm and locke
down.
John, I've come to ask you'll
John, don't think me brazen; it
for mothers sake. l can't stand {
see her put out, and for my faul
and if you will only help me and
and-come up to the house and pr,
tend that we are to be married.
just until after the will is made
wouldn't be so very wrong, John
not so bad as letting mother be pl
out of her home" she cauvht III
breath In short gasps, but whe
Holm uac cilopt bos .,:.l, E.