The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-07-14
AN ARkANsAw EPISODE.

It was the evening before Hazel Elem
| ing's bridal day. Jack Fleming had come
home from the country village with sun
dry little wedding presents. and while hs
was stabling and feeding his horses his
stout, healthy. good natured wife. 10
mana, was busy about the farm wager
making ar equitable division OF a pound
Of candy between her brown faced chill
dren, Patsy and Tom.
Well, little girl, said Jack Fleming, as
ne scraped his shoes on the edge Of tbs
door step and handed a little brown jug
10 girl with eyes as blue as an autumn
sky.
by this time tomorrow. if the train
/ doesn't jump the track with Father Gre
gan, your name viii be Hazel Kelly
Hazel's bright face turned crimson for q
! moment and a smile played on her straw
/ berry lips.
Patrick Fleming, the venerable ruin
Of once powerful man, was leaning on
a staff on the crest OF a little hill, look
/ ing intently into the woods Sixty years
before ne was one of the most daring OF
/ the gallant young men who followed the
/ fortunes % the Inflated Lord Edward.
Jack Fleming was surprised that he had
! not returned to the house, as was his
] custom upon the arrival Of himself and
( wife
Patsy" he said. Go down and lead
/ your grandfather home. Tell him 1 have
something in the little brown jug that
win remind him of the days Of Lord
Edward
Patsy was nimbIe of foot, but before he
had reached his grandfather the old man
yelled like a demon. jumped like with
cred giant who had accidentally trod upon
a serpent or a live battery, fourished his
staff over his head and bounded like a
lion into the woods.
There was great commOtion in the lit
tie family group. Jack Fleming ran with
all his might in the direction taken by
his father and soon returned with the old
man in his arms He was apparently
lifeIess. but was soon restored TO con-
seriousness through the influence Of the
little brown jug.
''Avic 8lacree," he whispered to his
son, Il am old, 1 am old. 1 am not the
man that I was when I followed Lord Ed
ward, but 1 couldn't let him shoot poor
little Hazel-poor little suileen dhuv."
Glory be 20 God! Glory be TO His holy
name. isn't that awful said johanna
Fleming as she repeated the sign of the
cross.
Hazel, pale and trembling, knelt beside
her grandfather. who had lost the rem
nant Of his strength and had fallen into
deep slumber.
Jack Fleming was troubled He was an
Irishman, and fully believed in the super
stition of his race that aged Celts have
the gift of second sight.
When David Kelly entered Jack Flem-
ing's home that night he had a heavy
heart. A drop from the little brown jug
temporarily excited it, but his buoyancy
did not last long After he had heard the
strange story OF Grandpa Fleming a dark
shadow passed over his face and he gazed
long and silently at the burning embers.
her good night, slowly walked down the
crooked path and knelt by the spring
where he first met Miss Fleming.
God in heaven, he prayed, Thou Who
made this pure spring bubble from the
earth; Thou Who planted these tail pines
before the foot of man throd this land;
Thou alone Who knows the mystery of
life and death and love. spare my sweet
heart-my almost welded wife-from the
bullet Of Harry Perkins"
The little stream that ran down from
the spring seemed to answer: Il will, I
Will"
Harry Perkins was the handsomest
young man in that section of Arkansas.
He was a young cavalier of immense pop
ularty but inclined TO be rakish. His
father had been killed two years before,
leading a confederate regiment into bat
lie. The war caused him to lose his slaves |
cAAAA 4AluLii u MS out 1eI-
kinS was still a wealthy young man. he |
had fallen in love with the blue eyed Ha-
eel and asked rugged Jack Fleming for |
her hand. Mr.. Fleming was a hard head |
ed, honest man, whose chief trait was /
frankness. He loved his daughter and be- /
iieved that her happiness depended upon /
marrying young man of her own sta /
ton, race and religion.
Harry Perkins he said II knew your
= hon ND 81 i'm 7 l,Fe
side that May morning at Wilson's farm I
when the Yankee bullet pierced his brave
heart. He died in my arms as I was tax
ng him to the rear. BY the spirit of 1
your heroic sire, Harry Perkins ] love
you too, but I cannot give you my daugh-
er's hand You would make a mistake to
marry her and she would make a mistake
n marrying YOU. She would not be at
sase among the great ladies down al Lit
le Rock when the governor is inaugu-
'ated and you would be ashamed of the
ooor little thing. Besides. her hand is
pledged TO Davy Kelly and I think her
leart approves it."
After this refusal Harry Perkins In
lulged much in liquor and became more
al1ish than before. one day previous 10
he wedding he met David Kelly in the
-illage and whispered or rather Kissed a
earful threat into his ear.
David thought nothing Of the threat
i'll he had heard related the story OF
Grandpa Fleming. He was a courageous
Dung Christian. who believed in the eff
acy OF Divine invocation. He had heard
he spring stream murmur the response
{ God TO has prayers, and he believed
When he entered the village church next
ay and led his bride 10 the altar where
TODD Father Cregan in the simple tunic
sed at matrimonial ceremonies. among
he guests was Harry Perkins. The arm
hat held his brides trembled for mo-
lent and again he prayed that God would ]
rotect her. As the ceremony proceeded
, the point where David Kelly was re-
eating after the priest the words And I
his ring TO thee 1.-THE world seemed
, collapse Under his feet A pistol
raczed III the little church and Hazel {
leming fell upon the floor. With a wild
lare in his eye ne bounded in the direc- y
on of Harry Perkins, found him down +
atween the pews, clutched at his throat I
I'D was about 10 strike when the priest 7
lught his raised arm and with gentle
,Iemn voice said; Have respect for the q
sad''
Harry Perkins had committed suicide r
azel had only tainted from the shock
the pistol report.-Dave Leahy- p
VVfrston's Work