The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1874-04-30

| 70 tnOSe Outlees anu less general In her
! attentions; il was at this time that the
equality OF the invalid's diet improved,
and she consultea him less frequently
about it. 1t was about this time that
she began to see more company. that the
house was greatly frequented by her
| former admirers, with whom she rode,
walked, and danced. 1t was about
this time, also, and when Kidgeway was
able 10 be brought out on the veranda
ia a chair, that, with great archness OF
manner, she introduced to him Mics
Lucy Ashe, the sister of her betrOthed-
q flsshy brunette and terrible heart
breaker of Four Forks. And in the
midst of this gsyety she concluded that
she would spend q week with the Robin
sons-tO whom she owed q visit. She
enjoyed herself greatly there, so much
indeed that she became quite hol-
low-eyed, the result, as she explained
to her father, of a TO, frequent indul-
geuce in festivity. -"You zee, father,
l won't have many changes after John
aud are married-you know how queer
he is-snd make the most of my time"
and she laughed an Odd little laugh,
which lately had became habitual to her.
"And how is Mr.. Dent getting on?"
Her father replied that he was getting
along very we'll indeed, 90 well, in fact,
that he was able to leave for San Fran
CISCO two days ago. "He wanted to be
remembered to you, Jinny-'remember
he used" said Mr.. McClusky, looking
down and consulting one OF his large
shoes for corroboration. Miss Jenny
Il. L. HI.ok H.
letter. Miss Jenny could not imagine
anything that pleased her more than TO
know that he was so strong as 10 be
abe to rejoin his friends again, who
must love him so much and be so anx-
ious about him. Her father thought she
would be pleased, and now that he was
gone there was really no necessity for
her TO hurry back. Miss Jenny, IN q
high metallic voice, did not know that
she had expressed any desire TO stay
till il her presence had become distasteful
at home-if her own father was disirCus
of getting rid of her-if, when she was
so soon 10 leave his roof forever, he still
begrudged her those few days remaining
-it-''My God, Jimmy, so kelp me-"
said Mr.. McClOsky, cluiching despair
ingly at his beard, II didn't go for to
say anything of the kind. l thought
that you" ''Never mind, father" in
terrupted Jenny, magnanimously, ''yOu
misunderstood me; of course you did,
you couldn't help i;-yOur're MAN"
Mr.. McClb'ky sorely crushed, would have
vaguely prot but his daughter, having
relieved herself after the manner OF her sex,
with a mental personal application Of an alb
siract statement, forgsve him with kiss.
Nevertheless, for two or three days after
her return, Mr.. McClosky followed his
daughter about the house with yearning eyes
and occasionally with timid, 6ifident feet.
Sometimes he came upon her suddenly at
her household tasks with an excuse 80 pal
pably false, and careless manner 80 out
rageously studied, that she WAS fain to be
embarrassed for him. Later he took TO ram
bling about the house at night, and was often
seen noiseessly passing and repas-ing through
the hall after she had retired. On one coca
sion he was surprised frs. by sleep and then
by the early rising of Jenny a. he lay on the
rug outside of her door. ''Iou treat me
like child father" said Jenny. II thought
Jinney," -aid the father, alphabetically, II
thought heard you takin' on Inside. and
lis,enin' fell asleep" You dear old baby"
said Jenny, looking past her fathers eyes,
and lifting his grizzl, locks one by one with
mejita.ive fingers, what should be takin'
on for? am much taller than you," she
said, suddenly lifting hersrlf up to the ex-
treme of her superb figure. Then rubbing
his head rapidly with both hands, as If she
were amounting his hair with some rare
unguent, she patted him on the back and
returned TO her room. The result of this
and one or two other equally sympathetic
interviews was to produce change in Mr..
McClosky's manner, which was, if possible,
still more discomposing. He grew unjus,if.
ably hilarious, cracked jokes with the SER
wants, and repeated to Jenny humorous
stories, with the attitude of faceiiousness
carefully preserved Throughout, the entire
narration, and the point utterly ignored and
| forgotten. Certain incidents reminded him
of 1unny things, which invariably turned out
| to have net the slightest relevancy or ap.
plication. lie occasionally brought home
practical humoris's, with sanguine hope OF
setting them going, like the mu-ic-box, fol
his daughters ediiication. He essayed TIE
singing Of melodies with great freedom o.
style md singular Limitation Of note. HI
sang, "Come, Hate to the Wedding, VI
Lasses and Maidens." of which he knew
single line, and that incorrectly, 90 being pc
cuiiarly apt and appropriate. Yet away
from tie house and his daughters presenc,
be was silent and disiraught. His ahsenc,
Of mind was particularly noted by his work
men at the Empire Quariz Mill" "E
the old man don't look cut and wake up,
said his foreman, she'll hev them feet o
his vet under the stamps. when he aim
| L., nj ff,' sta sha
too promiskuss."
A few nights later, Miss Jenny recognized
her fathers hand in timid tap at the door
She opened it, and he stood before her, will
valise in his hand, equipped as for {
journey. 81 takes the stage tonight, jimmy
dear, from -Four Forks to Frisco Maybe
may drop in on Jack atore | go. P.l be bach
in a week. Good-by."
'Good-by" He still held her hand
Presently he drew her back into the room
clcsiDg the door carefully, and glancins
around. There was look of profound Gun
ming In his eye as he said slowly:
"Bear up and keep dark, jimmy dear, and
trust to the old man. Various men have
various ways. Thar is ways IA Is common
and ways as ia uncommon, ways a Is easy
and ways as is oneasy. Bear up and keel
dark" With this Delphic u,terancs he pu
his finger to his lips and vanished.
Ii was ten o'clock when he reached Foul
| Forks. A few minutes later he stood Cd The
theshold of that dwelling described by the
-Four Forks Sentinel a. ''the palatisl resid
ence OF John Ashe," and known to the loca
s.tiris, as the "ash-box." sUevin' TO lay by
two hours, John" he said to his prospective
son-in- law, as be took his hand al the door
ga few words OF social converse, no. on bus
iness, but strictly private, seems TO be abon
as nairal a thing as man can do Ihi-
introduction evidently the re-llt OF some
study and plainly Committed to memory,
seemed so satisfactory u Mr.. McC!oEsv tia
he repeated it again. after John Ashe la,
led him into his private Office, where, de-
posting his valise in the middle of the foo
and sitting down before il, lie began carefully
to avoid the eyes of his host. John Ashe,
tall, dark, handsome Kentuckian-witl
whom even the trifles of life were evidentl,
full OF serious Impoverished with kind o
chivalrous respect the further speech OF hi
guest. Being utterly devoid of any sense o
the ridiculous, he always accepted MIR. Nc
Closky as grave fact, singular only from
his own want Of experience Of the class.
'Ores is running light now" said Mr.
McC!oskv, with easy indifference.
John Ashe returned that he had notice.
the same fact in the receipts OF tie mill a
Four Forks.
Mr.. McClosky rubbed his beard and locke
at his valise, a. If for sympathy and sug
gestion.
"You don't reckon on having any troubl
with any OF them chaps ez you cut ont wit