West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1884-01-04
YIK KEE.

1lh NEE.
After father died some ten years ago.
I found that for three wears we had
been living on credit / was eighteen.
strong and well, but did not know how
70 work. In the little back room of the
New York tenement house (by the way.
the landlady seized my clothes for our
renD considered my future. had
inherited a great faith i'm relatives. from
my father, SO | wrote TO seven. | re-
celVed six polite notes, telling me TO 90
to work, and the following letter:
JoNEsRQRo, oLORADo-JACKS.N's RANCH.
O., DIM IN. NELL;;-i m your cousin Jack. Your
n ucr once give mo money TO come ont West.
We TOOK up land. got a comfortable home no
slNlc or iriils, hut goo folks to live with ami
healthy grub. I've got the best wife you ever
see aud seven fine youngstcB Tine city amt
no place for tricndlcSs girl Wife Wants YOU
70 come. Shcu be- "A mother To Won Come
right OF. I'll meet you nc Denver. JACK
Enclosed was check sufficient to de-
Tray expenses; so | started Denver
was then only large town and the de-
pot n barn-like structure. got out of
the cars and stood bewildered among
all the emigrants and their bundles.
Some one touched me on the shoulder
a roughly-drcSScd, broad-shoudered
man with long, blonde beard and bic,
blue eyes
Are YOU Nell?n he said.
" 1as; and you're Cousin Jack"
" knew you, he said. rs he led the
way, "by Your black clothes an sorrer
iul look, an them big, blue eyes. like
yer fathers as two peas. Wen cit the
shader outer EN- when we git home
Ter father was mighty good man
Bless yer dear heart, don't let them
tears come. This ere n dry country:
we don waste no water
Comforting me in mis- kind, ROUGH
way, he reached his team, a big. green
wagon, drawn by two wild-lo0kinp
steeds which | atterward knew to be
hronchos. \ fat, blonde boy, about
twelve, held the reins
That's Ted, said Cousin Jack
"Ted, this is Miss Nell. Yer cousin: rive
her a hug The fat boy solemnly
Sbeyed
After this he seemed to have a special
claim ON my affections because he met
me first Jacks wife was Jolly.
plump woman, with brown ewes and
curly hair. She always had a baby i'm
her arms and another at her heels. She
sdored Jack. | never knew them to
nave q quarrel. / ,oon grew To love the
lie az the ranch. 1 liked the big. half
nnishcd house, its untidyness and com
t'rt-its pleasant. healthy atmosphere.
loved the children, the household pets
-Shep, the SagaciOus dog; Thad, the
clever cat; the hens and sheep: the
horses Dolly, Dot and Daisy. that did
the blowing and the marketing at Den
yer, twelve miles away, and were so
gentle and kind we used TO ride them
without saddle or bride / learned
that cattle grew fat ON the dry-looking
grass and gave the best of milk. I
learned to love the broad plains and the
glorious sunsets, and to watch the dis
tant bands Of Indians with half fear.
half interest / helped Cousin Mary.
sewed and cooked, kept the house and
children neat and lifted many burdens
from her weary shoulders. We we're so
happy. The children and took long
walks over the plains, and Ted and I
took many rides ON Dolly and Dot, and
IN the long winter evenings ! told the
children stories. Occasionally Harry
White came over 10 visit us from his
ranch five miles away. He lived with
Dds old mother. he and Jack were dear
friends. Harry needed "a wife. Jack
used 10 say, winking 20 me.
One day Jack went 10 Denver for
supplies. lie went alone. and COMING
nome later than usual. Ted and ! and
baby Name went out To- meet him
Jack looked sober aud guilty.. and
seemed iIl at ease. n he ever drank. I
should have thought him intoxicated.
lu the wagon was q quecr-.hapcd hcnp
under 20 horse blanket ] was sure IT
moved When we gO' behind the barn
JACK said, shecpisIly. avoiding my eve.
Wen, Ted, ! ca.Ecrl4te I've got
$40 thing lu That there wayriu that fuf