The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-11-30
THE RUNAWAYS.

running both ways as far the eye could
reach, while on either side the ranks of
corn toed the line, seemingly afraid to en-
croach one inch beyond their mark.
"Oh, Sim, you never mean fer US to run
away Why, 'twould kill nav an Aunt
Susan an Aunt EIizaP' gasped Tiny
=" 'TWouldn'6 kill EN- he responded.
''Think of me, danglin on a string nigh
on to two year a ready It's a wonder it
amt killed me, that's what There amt
no other way but fer us jest TO go before
the preacher, an when we're man an wife
both our folks can kick all they're mind
to. THERE'S no use In Waitin, neither, is
there, Tiny9
"Pa'u never forgive your nav, nor she
him. You an mes a-tremblin here on the
ragged edge Of diskivery every minute, an
I tell you won't stand it a great while
more There, there, Tinyi I amt mean
In to be cross, but eff you've got women
folks to leave I've got men folks. There's
father. He's the Obstinatist old man you
ever sec, an know it. It's jest him TO
see a pretty little dotter right within
reach an him to refuse her because it's
you. It's a comfort to feel eff you re mar
ryin into sech an obstinate family, you re
margin outen one about as bad. All the
same I hate to leave pa an Uncle Sim, an
old John, thet's ben our hired man an fed
hogs with us sence before I was born.
nBut I'm a-goin to leave 'em, Tiny, an
Won an NELL start off into the world an
find place fer ourselves. Then the Sauls-
burys thetis left can fight it out with the
Taylors thet's left, an welcome. Say you'u
come, little girl, say you'll comet"
Tiny looked up at Sim then with the
look a woman gives u man only once in
her life and that when she herself goes
with it, and then the tears slowly welled
into her eyes.
ooh, SIM" she consented, "but Wen
come back an bid 'em goodbyi"
YES he replied, Strengthening him
self to his feet 2, Eyes, after the we'd
din"
Hardly had the two parted-indeed the
shaking tassels of the corn yet betrayed
the opposite path each had taken-when
an old man stepped grimly into the clear
strip the stubbly beard on his set, square
jaw showing a sandy gray in the sun.
A scant skirted calico dress and slat
sunbonnet, with long pointed noise and
an obstinate chin appearing within it,
glided from the stalks on the other side
as if to meet him.
When too late to retreat they spied each
other-old Tom Salisbury and the widow
Taylor.
"Heml" he said grufay.
''M -m-mP' she said at the same mo-
ment, with little screech in her voice.
81 never s'posed-I never thought
she stammered.
fNo, you never s'picioned was nigh;
nuther did I you-but do s'picion, now,
you've BEN about yere long enough to see
what's goin on between my boy an your
girl give you my word, Mis- Taylor,
never drumpt of it before, an stumbled
on it today"
at couldn't "a believed it of my Tiny
unless I'd follered her a-purpose an seen
it. I'd BEN wonderin this long time
what tuck her SO often in this direction"
the woman half sobbed.
"NIis' Taylor, we've BEN engaged in
upholdin principle nigh on to 20 year,
now, an I don't know but what we've
about wore it out. Still eff there hahn It but
a rag left of the old flag I'm bound to
grip the flagstaff, an I s'pose you're the
same9"
IT hain't changed noner' she returned
vtndictiveIy.
"But bein SO we'll pleased with Sim fer
his goin ahead as he please, spite of the
parents on both sides, also seein with my
own eyes what modest an sensible girl
you've raised, an idee occurs to me by
which we can git shet of the whole thing
in a self respectin manner. Mis- Taylor,
do you still hold your patent from the gov
eminent, embFacin this here strip OF
1and9'' he inquired.
The slat bonnet nodded violently.
"And ruther'n go to law about it you
will consent to leave it a sorter neutral
strip as long as you live?'
Again the bonnet agitated.
"Well, I still hold my patent, too, clear
~ defnin it as a part of my domains,
plainly betrayin the mistake In surveyin
which our government has made. I'll
never go back of my promise, nuther,
about leavin it in the material perarie while
I keep my claim. Now, when in the
course of natur' you become an angel,
would it be proper to suppose-ths old
sae hofv r,%E 3o1 TIx5o
always heard-to suppose thet you'd leave
your farm here in 1oway to your sole
issue9"
ut would" Mrs. Taylor replied won
deringly.
my farm bein ekally good an produo-
tive land, 1 should, in like case, an givin
fer once employment to a lawyer, leave it
to the only child have in the world, an
thet's my Sim. Then, as understand it,
these two farms could be attached as
wings to this here strip of 100 yards wide
an $50 acres long. Now, while them two
young things are stealth their weddin
trip, there might be log raisin on this
spot, me to do the haulin with the help of
Uncle Sim an my hired man, john
AN me to furnish two webs of cloth of
my own an Susan an Eliza's spinnin, an
the quilts an a set of pewter dishesl" said
Mrs. Taylor, rising to the enthusiasm due
the subject.
bu5 mum bn0 WOfus mOInl Leu en-
run away an welcome an when they come
home we'n give 'em a weddin party on
their own farm.
1t was indeed an odd elopement, and,
in the bundle fastened to her saddlehorn,
Tiny later found a white shawl that had
been part of her mothers wedding dnery,
and the side combs she had forgotten to
put in the package hidden under the roots
of a tree that morning.
The bridal couple were gone the week
they had planned, and on their return
gracious sight met their vieW--for, dur
ing their absence, their own house had
risen as if by enchantment; smoke curled
from its chimney, corn bread was on the