The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-07-16
The Euening Story

Her husband was just dismounting |
from his big bay horse, while a stable
man was leading a beautiful black
mare around the house.
Soon afterward Col. Lines came into |
the sunny parlor, his face wreathed in
smiles.
We'll, my DEAR he said rubbing
his hands gleefully, I've been to the !
KenwOrth SALE.
And you've bought a horse, Dan
iel?" she asked with curiosity, for the
Kenworths and the Illnesses had
waged a bitter quarrel for many years
and the failing fortunes of the Ken |
worths, eliminating in this sale of
their stables, was a matter of much
interest to Col. Lines and his wife.
Yes, Martha, I've got a saddle
horse for Alice-nothing less than Rod
Kenworth's mare, Black Betty"
Once upon a time the Illnesses and
the Kenworths had been close friends
and neighbors. 1t was a matter of
boundary lines that brought about the
first bitterness between the families,
and now the i'll feeling had spread
over two generations. The third gen
Grafton recognized and respected the
feud, although it never understood
Just why it was worth while to make
a lifelong fuss over twelve inches of
running brook.
On the Kenworth side there was
only Rod 1eft-Rod, who had taken
the mortgaged homestead as his in
heritance. while his brothers had
chosen negotia BILE securities and gone
to the West to make fortunes for
themselves. Rod had tried farming,
but the heavily mortgaged acres need
ed expensive fertilizers and a thor
ough rest to bring yield of paying
crops. Then Rod had to give up his
stables. He was bound to rejuVenate
these family acres and some day to
bring the Kenworth estate up to its
old prestige. So the red flag swung
above the stone gateway and Rod saw
his favorite horses led away by his
richer neighbors.
And Black Betty had to go too, for
five hundred dollars was not to be re-
fused at this critical time Pernaps
Rod experienced an additional bitter
ness that his mare went into the
hands of his traditional enemy, but he
was courtesy itself to the colonel.
Around at the Lines stable Alice
was caressing Black Betty's pretty
head.
ut was dear of you, Uncle Daniel
to buy her for me- cried the. girl.
you and Aunt Martha nave been
lovely in every way since L came 10
| live with you. Why, I've only been
here two weeks and you have shower
/ ed blessings of every description upon
me-"
The colonel laughed grimiy.
! when a lonely old couple have a
| chance TO entertain a niece whom they
have never seen before-why, there's
! a mighty likely prospect that she's
going to have q good time"
ct am sorry for the unfortunate
| neighbor who had to part with Black
| Betty" she said.
| Poor Master Rod am all cut up"
| began Henry, the stableman, eagerly
when a warning gesture from Col.
Lines Silenced him.
! ssWho is Master Rod? asked Alice,
interested in all her neighbors in this
new home. But her uncle evaded the
question and the girl Immediately for
got everything except Black Betty.
! The next morning Alice went Tor
her first ride on the mare. The girl
was a skillful horseWoman and Black
Betty responded perfectly to her light
est touch. Quite unaware that she
was turning toward Kenworth farm,
| Alice took a narrow bride path in the
beech woods and gave Black Betty
| loose rein.
Suddenly the mare stopped short
and whinnied. Then, with shrln cry.
she sprang forward and tore along the
bride path toward her old home.
Vainly Alice tried to restrain the ex-
cited animal. Black Betty put her
head down and shot like an arrow to
its mark At the end of the bride
path was a barred gate. At the gate
! Black Betty rose like a bird and sailed
over the barrier, almost riding down a
broad-shouldered young man in the
garb of a farm hand.
whoa, Betty Whoa, girl!' he
shouted.
Alice. pale but composed, with her
fair hair flying in the breeze, re-
garded the scene with amazement
81 am sorry" said the man cour-
teously. 81 hope that Black Betty
hasn't frightened you
Not at ALL" protested Alice Then
she added: You have seen her be-
fore?"
arm slipped around Black Betty's
meek and the animal playfully nibbled
his ear.
"Oh, How you must have hated to
]part with her!" Alice flashed a look
of sympathy at the young man.
4 "She mustn't play this trick upon
you again. said Rod. severely. Per
haps you were riding in the bride
path?"
.Yes-and she bo1ted at once"
Rod led the mare to an inner gate.
stroked her glossy flank and with a
grave inclination of his head watched
the girl riding down the avenue.
When Alice reached home she went
at once to Aunt Martha's room, where
she related the story of her ride. The
priety stimulated the girls curiosity
and she asked questions until Aunt
Martha told her the story of the
nes-Kenworth feud.
"Au that fuss over twelve inches OF
WORKOUT meadow land?" echoed Alice.
why, how absurd!
| Aunt Martha flushed. My dear
: you do not understand she protest
ed. 1T is the principle of the thing
: that counts, not the land. In fact
that twelve inches is not Land at all
but water. 1t really is that little brook
that runs along the dividing line
5 fence"
But why not settle it in Legal
r MY dear child, there have beer
: several lawsuits over the brook, anc
4 hn las RF1e, ga