Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1882-07-05
ELK 1ssa. q "

July B, 1892
was hopelessly drained dry BY this time.
He said nothing moro, bat stared hard
1t the starched female.
~ wish to see Miss Smith" said she.
abruptly.
"Eh ?" said the landlord.
The lecturer on--Women's Rights"
with little grimaoe at the words, a. il
they had bitter taste.
"She ain's arriv' yet" said the land
lord.
II do not intend 10 allow this outrage
on public taste I" said the lady, vens.
mently.
Marin :" said the landlord.
i am Miss Smiths mother r.
= be your gnsped mine host
"And here set until she presen.s
herself" said Mrs. Smith, depositing
herself on the nearest chair, and c'asping
ss;a esss asR's y q nv 'es sssss:'s; ",
The landlord looked isebly a he-. aaa
almost within the same second in hurried
. short. over dressed la,ty, with curls,
jewelry, bangles and scarlet shawl,
while shabby black-silk skir. trailed
it's flounces over the dusty floor.
Landlord said she. "take down
those posters ut once
"What for, marm?" cried the poor
man.
It's swindling said the curly fair
one; downright swindlingi We are
partners. and Miss Smith is to lecture
nowhere unless l sing ballads in the in.
termissions. It's share and SHARE alike
in the profits and the expenses, and /
won't be cheatedi And SO you may tell
her, landlord /"
The landlord smote his forehead in
despair.
"Be l goin' crazy ?" he said, "or is
the whole 'varsal world agee2 Miss
Smith amt here, nor Mary Smith amt,
nor Mrs. Smith, nor none Of the Smiths.
- know OIL"
Landlord" said the curly lady,
screwing up her thin lips, "you are in
the conspiracy against mel"
The landlord uttered groan.
g. wish to goodness I'd never heard
OF the whole thing" said he.
But if there's law and Justice in the
land, I'll have my rights!" screamed
the excited lady. "1'l telegraph to
Boston to lawyer. I'll have up the
constable. III"
The landlord was vaguely considering
In his own mind whether il was best to
60 under the counter, escape by the
back window or seize his grandiathers
rusty musket from the iron hook where
It hung above the chimney piece, and
defy the whole party than and there,
when merciful Providence interfered
in his behalf. The depot hack rumbled
up to the door, and out stepped tall.
pretty young woman with deep blue eyes
aud bronze-brown hair, French gray
travelling dress and marvelously CON-
posed manner.
"Mary Smith l" said she to the land
lord. "Are my rooms readyi Ilecturs
here tonight in the lyceum."
"Never was 80 glad to see nobody in
my born days." croaked the landlord.
"Yes. the rooms is ready but your hus-
band, he's ont on the green, and your
mothers here a-waitin' to forbid the
banses, and your pardner a-vowin' and
a-swearin' she's been swindled, and"
Its some mistake, T" said Miss Smith,
in her clear, incisive voice. ~ have NO
husband. My mother has been dead
seven years. and partner is . luxury
in which I have never INDUCED my,
self"
"This amt my daughter |" said tbs
atarthsd female. my Mary Smith has
red hair, and she stutters."
"Quite different sort Of person from
my partner" said the lady with the red
shawl.
"And my wife weighs 200 pounds,
and shc wears the Bloomcr costume. !"
unwil!ingly confessed the stout person,
who had by this time come in from the
green, and was standing staring in the
doorway.
The landlord heaved mighty sigh Of
relief.
"Wal," said he, II don't see but
that the lectur' may 60 on. after all. !"
The three discontented spirits van.
ishei. Miss Smith rctreated to her
room, and the landlord bresthed freely
again.
But in the afternoon train from Bos-
ton . young man in the undress uniform
Of naval officer, came Unexpectedly
upon the scene.
''Is this the place where Mary Smith
lectures to-night?" he asked Of the land
lord.
II believe So" said that worthy,
secretly wondering II there were any
more relations to object. "N you want
10 speak to her. there she i ont in tho
back gurding. reading poetry under the
pear trees."
"Polly." said the young o4Bcer, lean
ing over the pretty. French gray shcul-
der.
~ hear you," said Miss Smith, turn
ing over leaf and pretending mot TO be
aware Of the pink flush which Wa over