Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1903-01-22
The Cl0verburg
y Comedy. "

IN very respectable old gentlemen.
They owned contiguous bluegrass
farms, each of generous acreage.
Both men were descended from good
cid Kentucky stock, and both were
extremely proud of their u%pstained
and honorable lineage.
Esquire Israel Longacre, who got
his title from having been at one time
a country magistrate, was about 60
years Of age, of rotund figure and
strong constitution.
He carried his years well, and al
though possessed of a naturally kind
heart, was at times subject to violent
attacks OF choler, during which pc
RODS Of temporary insanity he would
neither reason himself nor listen to
the reasoning of others.
He married, late in life, a very es-
Unable lady, and had n daughter
a beautiful and accomplished girl
who, at the time of which l write,
was just budding into womanhood.
The squirrels wife mad died four
years previous, and since that time
his household affairs had been man
aged by his only unmarried sister, a
lady Of uncertain age, spare figure
and ,inegary temper.
The squire-albeit all people and
all things were usually subservient to
his will--had a mortal dread of his
spinster sister, and a wholesome re-
spect for her sharp tongue.
She had absolute control of house
hold matters" and as the squire
never interfered with her arrange
ments, the pair got along very nicely
together.
Both loved the beautiful girl who
had grown up to womanhood under
their eyes, and the heart of the old
squire could always be approached
through Nellie, who was the image of
her dead mother.
The daughter and her aunt-who
rejoiced in the name of Dorothea
Longacre-never quarreled, and taken
altogether the Lopgacre household
machine moved smoothly.
The Longacres' nearest neighbor
was Col. Arson Shortrood, who at
one period of his life rode at the head
of a valiant regiment of militia.
The colonel was a widower OF long
standing, his excellent spouse having
departed this life several years ago,
leaving to him, as a legacy, q boy, now
grown into manhood, who was named
Anson, Junior, after his father, and
who was a model of industry and
sobriety.
The coloneTs household goddess
was a buxom widow, Mrs. Abigail
Sloan, who was related to the head OF
the household by marriage. being the
only sister of his late consort.
The colonel was IS or t~hereabouts
was tall, angular and bony, and dis
posed to be ~unrelenting and unyield'
ing in disposition.
The colonel and the squire had lived
neighbors for 30 years, and up tc
about six months previous to the oc'
currence I am about to describe, were
warm friends.
They fell out over a trifing matter
The colonel owned a. fine flock Of
,nerino sheep, Of which he was very
proud. The squire was the possessoi
Of a large mastiff dog, Of whose In.
telligence and good qualities he was
always Boosting.
One night an animal, supposed tt
be q. sheep-killing dog, broke intt
the ~colonel's fold, killed a valuable
buck and mangled several ewes
When the doughty military chief
tain discovered his loss be was flu
rious, and stormed in true soldierly
style.
What dog could have done it?" in
qnired the son, who had been attract
ed to the spot by his fathers storm
Of words.
"Why, that cur of Squire Long
acre's," bawled his father. HE shall
pay me heavy damages, or I'll hav,
the INV ON him"
II don't think" began the son.
"Well, don't think, thenl" believe,
his father. "I'Il do the thinking"
But
"Shut upl' roared the colonel
frothing at the mouth.
And young Arson was silent.
The colonel hurried back to tn
house for his cane, and in q FEY
minutes was striding across the fiel'
in the. direction Of Squire Longacre'
mansion.
"What's the matter with your ia
ther2r asked buxom Mrs. Sloan, a
young Arson entered the kitchen
where she was at work, shortly afte
the departure Of his sire.