The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-12-17

A Relic.

A Relic.
| (By Martha McCulloch-W illiams.)
II am not your Baby Bunting, but
do wish, Dad, you'd catch me a lit
tie rabbit skim Prue coaxed. Sew
eral rabbit skins, indeed. Mrs. Jessy
tans them beautifully-and says she'll
show me how"
What are they good for?" Dad
questioned, wonderingly. Nobody
wears skin caps any more. doubt
if you could even give away your
grandpaps coonskin, though it's per-
fectly good. I've kept it packed in
tobacco because he wore it through
| the log cabin campaign back in 184O."
"Oh! Please give it to me! Then
1 won't bother you about the rabbit
SKINS" Prue cried, excitedly.
Her father looked at her over the
| tops of his glasses, smiling shrewdly.
Il hardly think you'll try to wear it
when you see it," he said. Even
though it has three mighty fine tails
at the back and is lined with cop
peras homespun."
"Get it! I'm wild for it, Prue all
but commanded.
| Squire Haze1 g4t up sighing-he
had settled himsel( for half hours
e: e with the weekly paper. while the
men and teams rested. NOW, where
1
Or the big chest? Or some of them
plunder-barrels out i'm the lumber
house? Blamed if recollect. But 1t
certainly is somewhere. I don't be-
lieve, though, you'll find it worth the
trouble of hunting up"
| II know I shan't-nOt for me my
SELF" P-ue admitted. But say, Dad
dy-do you know about antiques? And
heirlooms? Some folks are wild for
them. Oh, do make hasty haste! I
| can hardly stand it-waiting to see.'
! "Oh, 1 remember now-it's In the
new hatbox-the last one got-with
the bell-crowned hat. you know-the
year your mother died." the squire
said brislxly.
He mounted the stairs alertly, and
after a bit o; rummaging came down
with a shapeless clump Of something
in loaf-sugar purple paper that gave
out a scent of tobacco, red pepper
and camphor so pungent it made him
| sneeze violently.
Indeed won't sun it, she protest
ed; won't even air it. after one good
look. The smell is a certificate of
character-proving we've had the cap
since the year one
NO! Only 1910. 1 thought told
you." the squire explained carefully.
Prue did not answer-she was too
busy mining for the cap, as she mined
noting each fold Of the enveloping pa
pers, SO she could put them back just
as she found them. Presently she
drew out something splendidly clum-
sy, a home-sewn fur cap, with, sure
enough. three ringed tails pendant be-
hind. The lining was as brilliant as
ever, marked family in the center
with the bear grease which had SUBJ
dued the too abundant locks Of the
original wearer. There was no visor
only a roll of rich fur for brow
-, I>nl
the skin beneath was fiinty. Prue
danced about, the cap high on her
right hand. crying between steps:
Don't say I'm an extortioner,
Daddy-but it is going to cost the
Dunton family just 800 to take back
home with them this relic of revo-
lutiOnary ancestor You know they're
here specially to hunt relics. Can't
you remember. please, that this went
to some of those tiresome Indian
wars?"
1T might the -quire admitted.
But 1 don't know any further back
than the og-cabin-and-h ard-cider
time. Still, you surely are Joking
about the price. Why two dollars
would Re little short OF highway rob-
berry.
Your commercial education is very
deficient. sir" Prue said. pursuing her
lips. Where God goes and gives
money like wool, at least feel it my
duty to do a little shearing"
You and the Duntons for it; they
ought to know what things are worth
to Them" the squire said going to the
lot where the men were getting the
mules.
Prue ran to the phone the minute
the door shut on him. did some very
diplomatic but energetic talking, then
rushed upstairs, flung on her fall suit
looked at her image with sparkling
eyes. seeing in Imagination how she
would look when the cap had been
transmitted into stole and muff: Their
ran down, picked up the hatbox in
which she had carefully replaced the
cap. loaded it into the blackboard
which stood ready at the stile and
drove triumphantly away, sitting very
straight, chin in air.
Day Molly, fat. fresh and speedy,
was pining for exercise. She had had
only one scant Jog in two days. Sc
when another vehicle whfrred up be-
hind she lay down to her work like a
good fellow When she chose nothing
on four legs In the county could give
her its dust. This was one Of her times
for choosing not to take it.
Before Prue realized ft she was rae
ing over the dirt road at a rate that
made the blackboard jounce wildly al
in rounding turns The other vehicle
had not come quite abreast-Prue
would not be SO underbred as to turn
and stare at it
Presently she heard it stop short.
then come on faster than ever. AZ II
n approached her there was shouting
Just what she did not make out Nolly
took It evidently for . further cha1-