The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-08-26
MARRIED At A GALLOP.
EBy J. F. Cowsn in Peoples Home

by J. F. Cowan in Peoples Home
Journal
sfWell2' in q decidedly testy tone
was the greeting old Joel Gfrtnger gave
the tall young schoOlmaster who stood
fumbling the latch Of the front gate
and clearing his throat more for the
sake OF attracting attention than to re-
move any obstruction from his wind
pipe. 'Well2"
But II wasn't well. That wasn't the
right way 10 encourage the young man,
and shreWd old Joel Gringer knew It.
He wanted to make him go through the
torture of telling him plainly that he
had come to see his daughter SO that
he could put an end to the thing then
and there
ssWeu2"
I'm; I-I-just wanted to know #
Miss - HIM, h'n-is at home2' and
the young fellow relieved his nervous
ness by digging up the gravel walk
with his left toe at a rate that threat
eued to damage It worse than ten years
wear and tear.
i thought your business was to teach
the children to speak the English lan-
guage, and here you cant do anything
but hum and hawk. I'm at home. and
SO IS Grower there Anything elset
and the steely eyes looked through the
young man like ferret's.
NO, sir" with a loud ahem; 7 was
just going up the road to MI Msson's,
all well-thats ALL And the bashfuI
young fellow seemed to have found his
wits somewhere for he turned cOolly
away, raising his cane as ne did 50,
and striking the maple foliage over his
head three sharp clips that made the
leaves crack like pistol
And the old farmers eyes were not so
sharp as he prided himself they were,
or he might have seen the hutter of
something white. three distinct times,
from the narrowest opening in the
blinds above. and have guessed why the
young man was 50 easily satisfied.
Maybe love is blind to its own OBJ
iects, but for duliness of vision give
me. all the time, the eyes that are ever
SO sharp after q bargain, but have not
the qulckening Of the divine passion
to make them vigilant guards against
the dangers that threaten to thwart
loves plans That's a long way of
spelling Joel Gringer, but true one.
he watched the straight. 1.-THE young
form until it seemed only shadow
against Neighbor Mason's barn. and
then began banging to the shutters
with a. vehemence that said to all.
DEL Gringer can take care OF his own
every time-leaVe him alone for that
Gone on TO Mason's.' was his gruf
answer to his wife's questioning look
health Of the family S'pone he thinks
the deesrrick' is assessed TO pay him
for gOin' round an dom that-ha hat
What would the funerals of two-thirds
Of this family count with him2 Good at
fractions. they say. Wen see how his
fractions viii work in this house Much
good it VIII do him TO talk it over with
John Mason, the old"
"Sh"l" Kissed cautiously into his
ear, and a warning finger told him to
leave uncomplimentary references to
the neighbOr-wfth whom he had been
embroiled in a bitter lawsuit and be
tween whose farms a devils lane
prevented any joining of line fences
unsaid. There's Mason's hired man
again
'.Wen?' about twenty per cent more
peppery than a moment ago..
The old man sent me over to saw
them there hogs O yourn's been into thu.
back cornfield agin. an he won't turn
en- cut till doOmsday nor let me.
They're there yit, an ma king the in
tersst on Ave thousand dollars fiv IKE
sixty-that's what the old man lows
the field II fetch him. Better not take
that there pup along. had ye2 Hi wait
till 7 can get Quit"
The last exclamation was caused Nv
preparations for Enchanting the huge
bulldog Growler; and Ben Stone r1ade
enc leap over the fence. and was onf
OF hearing before Joel GrinEer could
dnish sosnsthing about going for wit
nesses''
"Seid my say out Hen the DOES
Nzitnesses enough. reckon. to The
soFaEnage thars'u be. I'm engaged IN