The Tomahawk., 1904-02-05
TheTau-l / n&
of Hirana <
By EEBER WILLS IN
= o . . . q % Q CD Q I


"a r you girls ain't keerful Hiram
Perkins will carry one of ye OIL
fust thing We know" and Dame Will
kins gave vent to a series OF chuckles
more or less pleasant and hcbbled.
away fro1n the group of fresh young
girls, nursing her rheumatic legs most
carefully.
"Not me, not mel" rose a chorus of
girlish voices.
"Why not?' asked baby-faced
damsel, innocently. I'm sure he looks
likely enough, and they tell me he's
got no end of money"
Then great chattering of explana-
ton ensued as the home girls told this
stranger maiden with the pink cheeks
and the big, round blue eyes about
Hiram Perkins, his history and his
character.
Hiram Perkins was the son of "old
Sam Perkins, and had inherited all
the cussedness of the old pioneer, to-
gether, it seemed, with the meanness
and smallness of "Aunt Phoebe" his
wife. Hiram had assumed charge of
the family at an early age Gold Sam
having been abruptly removed from
further responsibility in saloon
brawl). He had completed the crush
ing Of his mother, spoiled the lives OF
his sisters and drove his brothers, both
older and younger, into the world, all
of them being glad to get away from
him at any price. Then he had pro-
ceeded to marry the likeliest and most
competent girl in town and had bullied
and harassed her into the green ceme-
terry on the hill in just three years.
In the meantime he had managed his
financial affairs with consummate skill
and had become the richest man in the
parts. Before his wife died he had
moved from the farm into town, where
he had built big house, still uncom-
pleted when his wife died. He had
gone ahead and completed this house,
furnished it grimly and sparsely and
had lived there alone ever since. He
had gone on increasing his holdings
until he owned more land than any
other man in the county. He owned
plenty of mortgages, too, but his favor
ran to land. 1T can't get away was
his favorite motto. He was now about
40, not i'll favored excepting for his
heavy jaw and the general air of un-
compromising overbearance and grim
ness which hung over him.
"I'd as soon marry old Bluebeard
himself" remarked Ann, finishing the
story.
"rd as soon go to jail for life," put
In Susie.
"And II" "And II" chorused the
rest.
All excepting Sally Johnson, the girl
whose query had started the story.
-"I don't believe he's SO bad as he's
painted" said she, demurely, "and he's
quite handsome"
"But you wouldn't dare marry him."
said Ann, scornfully. You'd last
about three weeks"
"Oh, don't know" replied Sally.
"I've notion to do it. He don't look
so dangerous to me-"
And do it she did. She was an or
phan recently come 10 town and living
on the bounty of maiden aunt of un-
certain temper. And Hiram was rich
and had big house. And, as Dame
Wilkins suggested, Hiram was looking
for a wife-and young one.
Pinville gasped at the nuptials and
then settled down to await the inevi-
table result. like a greedy vulture.
Hiram Perkins took his young wife
home in great glee. She was only 1S,
as fresh as daisy and perfect child,
as anybody could see from her baby
face and wide, blue eyes.
'I'll just train her into my ways
without any trouble" chuckled Hiram
So Sally became installed in the
Perkins home, and right good start
she made, and Hiram grew better
pleased with his bargain every day. To
be sure, she shivered little when she
first saw the great barn-like house,
with it's bare rooms; but she took hold
at once. and the toothsome breakfasts
she prepared for her liege lord and the
dainty dinners, quite warmed his heart.
Hiram was very fond of good living.
The best of it was she did it all on the
most economical plan. And she con-
trived that Hiram should get the ten
derest parts of the meat, and OWNED
his likes so readily that she really was
jewel. Then, too, she was so entirely
pliable to his slightest desire that life
assumed a new joy to him. Of course
he iawed more or less, but she took it
as meekly as he could wish.
This was during the first fortnight.
Then a slight cloud arose. Hiram
was in the habit of arising at very
early hour, eating his breakfast, doing
chores for an hour or so, then reading
his paper and going to his office about
the time other men did.
Sally was expected to rise long
before him to get breakfast ready by
the time he was dressed. One day she
suggested that he do his chores first
and read his paper while she prepared
breakfast. The expression on his face
would have frightened one less guile