The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-03-15


with that she went all on her feet and
cried behind her handkerchief.
swell. Of course. couldn't help but see
what she was driving at. and 50 came In
with a rush and did the proper thing. My
home-our home-was to be hers, too; she
must be with us always. and so on. After
that she came to herself beautifully, folded
her hands and sighed like a dying saint
and kissed me on the cheek.
''well. Sam. wasn't quite prepared for
what followed. Why. say, we hadn't got
fair start before the old lady was right
in the running with US, and there was
where found out that it was one thing to
make a promise and another 10 keep II.
We started fair enough, as I said, but 1t
wasn't long before mother acted as IL she
wanted to crowd me off the track. When
she had to pass me she would do IL with
her skirts pulled aside and her head set as
hard aback as If she was refined up too
high.
1T didn't say anything to Virginia about
IT, for had no desire to draw her into
the pocket with us. But by and by could
notice her, too, looking me all over with a
critical eye when she thought I wasn't
watching. She was hunting for the weak
spots her mother had pointed out in me.
Sometimes, too, she would speak sharp and
impatient to me and cry afterward, like
heart-broken child, and tell me that was
too good to her. Say. she acted just like
a colt with sharp bit in its mouth. and
yet I could have handled her all right, L
think, IL the old lady hadn't been In the
way the whole time.
well, 1 stood it all without a word until
the old lady commenced TO fill up the house
with guests that didn't know and didn't
care to Knoxville kind that sit at your
table and eat your food and shy at you on
the street like a two-year-old at q piece OF
white paper. Say. don't that get man.
though?
There was one fellow in particular that
I couldn't endure. He always stuck in a
sir after everything he said to me, but
he seemed to take a shine to Virginia from
the first. tell you, there was enough in
his looks to teach me all wanted to know
about him. He was too old to have so much
white in his eye. And, say, when he
laughed and showed his teeth. swear 1t,
Sam, he laid his ears back! Now I'm not
afraid Of any horse, let me be on his back
or behind him with a tight line, but I'd
rather face lion In his den than bitin'
horse turned loose. and that's what he was.
II spoke to Virginia about it, and she
laughed little uneasy-like. and said that
he was an old friend Of the family. Then
I went to her mother, told her that had
been keeping an eye on the gentleman,
that didn't fancy his actions. that he was
tricky and not fit for any lady.
ct wish you could have heard the way she
came back at me; 1t sounded like two cats
fighting under the house. why, he was a
somebody, he was from somewhere, and
akin TO all the somebodies from every
where But that didn't phaze me any, be-
cause have seen some mighty bad strains
in some mighty good blood in my time, and
told her so and added some more state
ments that ia no business to make. for
was tired of taking her dust.
Its true enough, Sam, that I'm not well
up in education, and I may be trifie heavy
when it comes to prancing around in So
ciety, but it's my own fault. I always
stuck to horses instead OF books and 80
did my father before me. reckon IL must
have run in the breed. But my mother
never knew her. but I've heard father
style and education and family-say. she
like two-year-oldsl That's the kind Of a
woman my mother was.
LAS for the Changers. we were true to
our idea of a gentleman, anyway. We
never threw a race. lied about a man, nor
fiirted with a married woman. told her
all that. and said I'd thousand times
rather be an honest. Woodworking. sore
shouldered farmhouse than vicious, brok-
en-down old skate Of a Thoroughbred! I
guess that must have gone pretty well
home, for the old lady kind Of ohoked up
and went pale and threw up her hands. and
1 turned around-and there was Virginia!
well, the trick was done. had said it
and IL was the truth, and wouldn't take
it back The next evening, when
got back from Lexington, they were gone.
Virginia had left note which said that 1t
was for good and all: that she had been
unhappy, that our marriage was failure.
Lord how empty the house seemed without
her!
"well, Sam, it's been a month, and I'm
sick of it all and I want her back even If
her mother must come along. But to think
of the two together is to think of a good
dinner and dose Of codliver oil after
ward.
But come what may, I'll have Virginia
or no other man SHALL"
Bob" said I. reaching out for his hand
In the darkness, take my advice; don't
promise too much again. You've been right
all along. 1t seems to me, and there Is no
occasion for your going down on your
knees to anybody. Stand firm and don't
lose your head, and you'll bring her down
after a while. Women have a great fashion
of shying at knothole and taking fence
when they've got to-"
While we had been talking the clouds had
drawn near, the air was damp and smelled
of the coming rain, and an ominous hush
brooded over all, as If everything might
be holding it's breath. Suddenly, from far
down the line. there came a resounding
whistle, quickly followed by two short
blasts, and the limited poked her nose
around the bend and bore down upon us.
''She's going to STOP" I said to Bob.
Must have a through passenger on board"
The ouiyering headlight grew brighter