The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-04-14
TIE EVENING STORY
Old Birds.

| ing her fat pony with a preach tree
switch, and settling herself afresh in
saddle. THE idea of tellin' Nicholas
Joe she wouldn't say neither yes ner
no to him until 1 had come and talked
things over with her. She's bround to
know I'm tickled clear to my tiptoes
at the thought of her in the family.
Who wouldn't be?-blood and breedin'
and all sorts Of pretty ways. not to
name bein' her pap's OILY child, and
| him the richest man in the district
nor all that china and silver she got
| from her grandmammy. I say-and I'd
| say If it was somebody else jest same
Nicholas-Joe might hunt the world
| over, and not find nobody to match
Mildred Heath
| By this time she was at the Heath
horse block Mildred stood upon it in
eager welcome, her pretty arms out
stretched to go round Miss Patsy's
,, neck, her eyes dancing, her red lips
a trice she had Miss Patsy established
| in the big rocker, a footstool at her
feet, a fan in her hand, a plate of cake
| and pitcher of lemonade on the stand
| beside her.
When Squire Heath looked in on
| them in passing through the hall she
| shook dainty fist at him, bidding him
go along. Miss Patsy felt the least
bit aggrieved at that-she had counted
on a bit Of talk with hfm-as the only
farmer better than herself in the ranks
of her acquaintance He loved land
the same as she did-and used it even
better Therefore, he commanded not
| only her respect, but her warm friend
illness. Still, she reflected there would
be other Aforementioned, if things
went as they should, there would soon
be an approach to a united family
Mildred wasn't one to neglect her dear
daddy-Nicholas Joe wouldn't let her,
even if she had the mind
Now, 1 want to get the straight Of
all this Miss Patsy said, trying to
speak severely after her third slice of
cake. 1t was mighty fine cake-as
though Mildred had modestly demurred
when she had said So
The girl was motherless and appeal
ing. She pushed Ia cushion to Miss
Patsy's feet, sunk down on it and laid
her head upon a cushiony knee. For
minute she was silent, as though
gathering courage, then in a faint voice
piped:
st love Nicfolas-Joe-best of all the
world
You darlin'w Nicholas-Joe's aunt
cried, hugging the bowed figure. 80
you're goin' to marry him after all
and make me happy enough to shout"
"I want to- Mildred piped, still in
that faint voice, "but-but lit will
have to be as you say
Then it will surely be-" Miss Patsy
interrupted. beaming. why, honey, 1
couldn't ask the good Lord for nothin'
better than jest to sit back and watch
you two together-happier'n birds"
I'VE would be-O, so happy" Mil
dred breathed. Only, you see, it is
this way: Nichola. is everything
nice a man can be-only he's a cow
ard"
"Whatp' Miss Patsy sat up stiff1y,
lifting ,Hildred's head so that she could
look in her face. Coward Why, thar
amt a drop of towards blood in him
not in any Lindsay that ever I heard
of. Never one but was ready to fight
at the drap of a haiti only thar was
anything worth fightin' for. Look at
the revolutionary sword, at the COM
mission from 1872. at the gun from
Mexico-and the empty gray COASTAL
we got back of five that went out in
'61-'
Il KNOW KNOW didn't mean it
that way" Mildred said, rising and
putting her arms about Miss Patsy's
neck. Butt told the truth-Nicholas-
Joe just can't tell you the truth-he
knows it would hurt you SO to hear he
don't want to stay here on the farm
but to go and practice law in town
You know how he loves it, and what
mark he made at school,
MY soulp' Miss Patsy calculated.
But what has that got to do with me?
shan't go?''
''No-rather that he mayo with
your blessing. But 1 know he won't
do tiff you are to be left lonesome.
Not any more than I'd go and leave
daddy-now-don't you begin to see
what you must do?"
Indeed, I don't" Miss Patsy said,
with, however suspicious heighten-
ing of color.
Mildred laid a soft cheek to hers,
whispering: 'I can't bear the thought
of leaving him-with nobody but
RUDE to look after him think some
times they are more bother than
help"
"And you're right" Miss Patsy
broke in. My patience! I wonder
ed often how you stood the pack of
way-and each waitin' on the other 10
do the least thing"
But daddy has to have somebody
you don't know how helpless he is,
Mildred purred. He never puts away
thing-and, if he does, always for
gets where and has to hunt the house
over. And he likes nice things to eat
the sort you always have and-and I
he likes you ever so much. That's
why he's willing ADMINISTRATION |
have me-told me only last night you |
had raised him better than any other |
boy in the county
you hush,' Miss Patsy cried, her |
cheeks by this time being scarlet. |
You know I can't take the squire to |
come here and house
would maket"
But you can come here and-and |
marry him-and by my very own dear |
aunty motheB' Mildred cooed.
Miss Patsy sank back almost faint |
ing. "He-he'd never think to ask
me- she WHISPERED. half to herself,