The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1883-06-15
CHAPTER VIII.
MR.. ELEPHANTS NIECE.

! Ii was five O'Clock of a May morning
May. though you might have thought
it March. There was a dreary rain fall
/ ing. drizzle that had lasted off and OF
for week. and the sodden ground, ana
the dripping leaves, and the gray blu
hanging over the landscape, were
enough. one would think, to damp the
spirits of any being Obliged to turn out
at that unearthly hour.
So. evidently. thoughts shock-headed
boy of fifteen who sat perched upon the
top rail of high fence, quarter of 4
| mile away from any human habitation.
So. - evidently. did not think the young
lady who stood by shabby little trunk
deposited by the roadside. and cast
longing looks down the straight yellow
track. whose full ruts and standing
pools only gave a hint of the muddy
depths below.
Al around were hills. Hills rising
up behind a stretch of woodland back
of them: hills rising again beyond 4
strip of narrow valley in front: hills
rounding up at the right and the left.
and dotting the hillsides. occasional
farm buildings, with stony. stump-dis-
figured fields. and long lines of .'staked
and ridered fences-not an enlivening
picture at any time, doubly dreary in
the late gray dawn of this dismal MAY
morning.
The mere fact of leaving it is enough
to make any one happy thought the
young lady aforesaid. with swift
glance comrrehending it all.
Don't you see the stage coming,
Peter??' she asked. for the tenth time.
"Oh. pray look again, Sister Anne.
I'll be in a pretty pickle if | have to
stand much longer in the rain. And
the road" with a shudder, "the road is
too horrible to be thought of. de-
clare I've 4 notion to start off and
walk"
You walk" said Peter. in disdain.
Its ten miles if it's step. | dunno
but you'd get to JunctiOnville Just
about as soon. though he added. de
spairingly. '',jim's off horse is gener-
ally lame in one leg. and it's about
time for that other wheel to break down.
noticed that the axle was kinder weak
last time | see him 90 past. Mebbe
you'll make the 'leven train ut juno
tionville. school-ma' am. but wouldn' t
like to bet on it,
"Oh, Peter, don't be grumpy. You
ought to be glad to see me off.
"Ought to be?' demanded Peter.
with an injured air. "She's comm. =
he announced in another moment, and
scrambled from his perch" Reckon
you won't ever think of comm back to
these parts again, Miss Braxton.' in
the shame-faced manner of one who
would rather die than betray any emo
ton.
mot if 1 can help myself" said Miss
Braxton, decidedly. Here. Peter-I
boxed Your ears once, didn't I?-take
this to remember me by
But Peter resolutely declined the sill
yer dollar she would have pressed into
his grimy hand. He wore the face of a
Spartan youth; not for this wide world
would he have given utterance to a
blubber; yet shock-headed youths of
fifteen have their feelings, for all that
Goodbye, Peter" cried Miss Brax-
ton from the stage door I'm vour
first love, know, but l won't be your
last: let that thought comfort YOU
The door was shut; the Numbering
vehicle started, and AleNia Braxton
turned an inquiring glance upon the soli-
tary fellow-passenger which it con-
tanned. He had settled himself for a
nap, and only the tip of his nose was
visible between the turned-up coat col
lar and drawn-down hat. But with the
advent of rosy and charming young
lady he reconsidered his intention. and
sat up TO reveal himself, man of thirty
odd years who evidently had some
struggling memory of having seen her
before.
lis it Miss Thomass" he hazarded:
cor Miss Deane. perhaps? The name
has escaped me, but l believe we had
an Introduction last evening"
Its Miss neither, and we had no
introduction at all"
"Oh. l beg pardon, but 1 certainly
thought"
THAT YOU saw me at the lecture, as
you certainly did, aid don't believe L
know anything more about Esthetic
Culture than / did before"
eOh, daresay." said the lecturer,
with perfect good-humor. '.You see,
after trying my hand at about every
thing else, without very much success.
l am just trying myself at that. I
didn't imagine would find a critical
audience down here I've tried the law.
both sides of it, and I don't know but /
find my forte in that"
both sides of it?'' queried Miss
Rraxton in q nrlzzlad xay