The Red Cloud chief., 1880-07-01
TWO CANDIDATES.

STEPHEN HACKETT was, for the third
time in his life, looking out for a pair of
black cotton gloves To wear Ia his dc
parted partners funeral. He did not
mourn To the extent of a weed, as the
old hat he had worn so long, through
storm and shine, would hardly support
such dignity. But it was necessary to
draw the line somewhere, and he drew
il at gloves.
: His horn like hands looked unused To
such pomps and vanities of life, but he
considered them respectful To the MEM
Ory of his wife, and so went into the
extravaganza. If he could have fore
cast matters, he might have bought all
three pairs at nee at a reduced rate;
and no doubt he would, us he was a say
ing man. But there are limits to ev-
eryonc'S ability to make and save.
The neighbors, sitting about the
store, asked the customary mortuary
questions, partly from sympathy, but
much more from the curiosity always
fAt In such details.
Mss Hackctt had been ailing quite
a SPELL" he said, but she wasn't
thought in the least dangerous. Maybe
she WAS weaker than anybody knew of,
for she dropped a whole trimming pan
of new milk, one night. when she went
10 set il on the buttry shelf. 1 thought
likely she had stumbled over that
plaguy old cat of hers, and said as
much. | often have to kick that cat
out of my way; but nay wife set such
store by il, | thought | wouldn't have il
l D,ae a.. n. -- al.
cat wasn't about, and like as not. Mss
Hackett was feeling poorly before she
began TO complain. But she did her
own washing on Monday, and now she
is gone! IL is such a sudden, mysteri-
Gus dispcnsation To mel" And he took
out his yellow bandanna with much emo
ton.
IL certainly was sudden for him.
Number one, who had shaved her six
teen hours a day for fifteen wears. had
brought up at the insane asylum for
five years longer. Number two soon
broke down, and was long a helpless
and unwelcome burden. Uncle
Stephen" rs people called him, had
seen trouble. and his wives had not been
exempt.
Stephen feelingly remarked that he
"would rather have lost the best cow
he had and a neighbor replied that
he hadn't a doubt of it."
Stephen drove around 10 see the man
who dug graves, and asked his price. He
was a new hand, and Stephen felt that
his charge was eXorbitant, as the
ground was in such a good condition for
<lirr ~. till ,rh.t L.. hal alu-,,c
been in the habit of paying. and finally
they compromised. The funeral made
the customary dccorous stir in the rural
community, where there is little to
break in upon the even tenor of ones
way, and then the world settled back
into its old grooves again.
But poor Stephen could not settle. 1t
seemed quite the other way with him
rs long rs Miranda Jones was 10 be the
head of his house. Miranda was an
old maid. of a very uncertain age, who
wore S~pectacleS. sported the most as
tonishing caps, and talked of the "wick.
edness of men" continually But she
was the only housekeeper that could be
had for money. And that grim, wiry
woman nus have white sugar in her
tea three times a day. and plenty of ii.
Stephen could not perceive that it
sweetened her any, but a dim vision of
the poor-house doomed up before him,
and not in the far perspective either.
There was one sure remedy
for his ills; he could marry again.
He smiled grimly as he thought
of Miranda's surprise at seeing
new head of the house walk in, when
she doubtless expected that she had a
life tenure as h~ousekeeper, and might
even be looking forward TO becoming
his fourth wife. Who the favored
woman would be. he had not yet de-
cided. But after a delay of passable
responsibility, Stephen brushed up,
drew on his funeral gloves, and went
candidating, S o TO speak.
Squire Tucker said "he was the
most impartial nan he ever saw; he
took the younger widows by house
row." Certainly no n could feel
sighted. Yet no II seemed to catch
at the dazzling bait. Stephen was not
discouraged. A widower for the third
time is a good deal like a b~ook-agent,
not easily daunted.
He turned his thoughts, however,
away from the ungrateful widows, who
stood so in their own light, and deter
mined 20 take a young wife. who would
last out his lifetime. His bows had
followed Horace Greeley's advice. the
day they came of age, and gone West;
and money wouldn't tempt Them
they said, Ito come back, and live with
the old man" So there was nobody
near to say him a about this business
of taking a young girl for wife. May
be they wouldn't get so big a slice out of
the old place, as they looked for" he
thought, with a chuckle.
Stephen foddered the cattle, and
stuck the pitchfork up under the barn
stairs, and then he paused for a minute
in the barn door, picking his few re-
manning teeth with 4 stem of herds
grass. 1t was merely 4 habit he had
when m a meditative mood. His
minds eye swept the field of his &C
quaintance far and near. and finally
paused with a suddenness which he
considered almost an inspiration. A
smile, such as it was, lighted his with
cred face and cleaned out from under
his shaggy brows.
If pretty Rosanna Morris could have
seen that smile, SO flattering to her. as
she came in singing from the milking.
shed. I wonder if it would have quick.
ened her pulses by q beat. But she
strained her milk in happyunconscious.
ness of the golden chance opening be-
fore her.
If..Aunt Lura's'' consent could first be
gained. Stephen felt he should have as
good as nine points of the case on his
side. He knew such a stirring woman
generally carried things her W way,
in doors and out. If she was willing tc
spare the girl, he was more than will.
ing to take her off her Uncle Andrew
hands for better or worse. OF course.
he knew there was a risk. She might
be a little Eighty and extravagant al
first, but the good man had unlimited
faith Ia the mower of nrccent ding.