Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1884-05-09
A westerner's wooing.

the denizens of the wild West, and
wearing q suit of ready-made clothes
with the shelf marks of an Omaha
store plainly visible, got off the train as
it reached the Northwestern Depot, at
Chicago, and had his gripsack checked
for safe keeping in the waiting-room.
"I'm goin' to take in the town, p,ard-
ner." he confided to the man behind the
counter, land the grip might be on
handy, like"
"Say, mister" said he Of the checks,
"mcbbe you'd better leave that thar
gum" pointing to q 44-calibre re.
volver, the down-pointiAg muzzle OF
which hung some inches G lDw the tail
| of his short sack coat. "The perlice
might takeyou in, and then you'd be
fined $50, besides c~onfrskatin' the
shooter"
.P'raps you're right, pardner," said
the Westerner. after a moments hest
tation. 81 never been in a big town
before, and amt exactly fly on the
ways OF the people. You're sure 1 won't
need lt?"
mo, YOU won't need it," said the
checkman, .lcastways if you don't
drink too much"
81 never drink" said the newcomer,
unstrapping the formidable weapon n
handing it over.
Then he stepped out Of the depot and
walked east on Kinzie street, looking
curiously at the buildings and the Pc
culiar merchandise OF that thoroughfare.
and making up his mind that the trade
in hides m~onopolized the energies of
Chicago people. When he reached the
corner of Clark street he glanced up and
down admiringly at the c DIVIDED street,
throlged with wagons, street cars and
people. Setting his hat firmly on his
head the stranger stopped a hurrying
man! and asked:
"Say, stranger!"
"Well, SIR said the other, stopping
impat emily.
Say, a you tell where the business
part of town tsp I'm a stranger"
But the man had gone before the sen
tence had concluded.
"lPears like they didn't tumble to in
neroent jokes" he said to himself. Then
he looked acI oss the street and saw the
signs OF the Chicago Museum. ga
show, hey? Well, I'lltake that insure"
He bought a ticket and passed in; and
was soon contemplating the pretty girls
in the costumes of all nations. Round
and roundhe walked, and all the time
his wonder grew. He glanced furtlvely
and bashfu1ly at the beauties in their
gorgeous and becoming costumes.
acknowledgements United States?"
he thought. Finally he found q post
against which he could stand, and, thus
braced, he pushed his hat-brim up out
of the way and stared long and earnest
ly at one of the young ladies, who seemed
to take his eye. The girl was fully con-
4scious of this admiring look, but like
q well-behaved girl took no notice
of it until after a space of some
minutes, when the steady gaze brought
the color to her cheek and a
half smile to her face, which she at
tempted to hide by quickly turning
about. This was not lost to the keen
eye Of the Western man, and several
times he moved forward as if to speak
to the girl, but each time he shrank
back bashfully and resumed his first
position. The girl became somewhat
nervous. She attempted to dust off the
front of her booth with a feather brush,
but it flew from her fingers upon the
floor. The Western man sprang quickly
forward and handed it to her with un-
taught grace. 4.
'Thank you, SIR" she said, with a
smile and a blush.
"Oh, can you talk Americana" he
asked.
eyes, sir" she replied. "Why not?"
ooh, 1 dunno; your wearing a fur
rim RIG, YOU know"
eyes, 1 am American" she said.
'It's a mighty purity rig, anyhow"
he said.
"Do you think SOP"
eyes. Do you stay here all the
time?"
emo; live at home. I'm only here
for a couple of weeks"
.:Tm a stranger in town." said he.
'.Indeed." -
"Yes. I live in Arizony."
ssIs that far away?"
eyes; it's lonesome for me out there
sometimes"
..Whv don't you live in a city?"
"'Cause I've got a ranch and a lot of
CATTLE"
She looked at him with sudden re-
spect, for she had heard Of the Western
cattle kings.
II was going East to see a gall" he
said, after a pause. '.But l don't think
I'll 90 now"
.lNhy not?"
",cause I've found one that suits me-
in Chicago
"You're lucky" said the girl smiling
at the simplicity of the a ''Who is
| she?n I'D II
"You."
."Oh, go on with your foolishness.
You never saw me before"
"No,' said he, :sbut I'm going to
stay in Chicago and see you again.
Fact is ! want y wife. I'm q plain man.
If you'll marry me, say So"
This is SO sudden, and I don't know
you, and
':Nevcr mind that Where do you
live?"
"No.-- street."
''Father and mother living?"
''Father is dead. l live with mother"
"And you come here to make q little
money toward paying the rent:?"
"How did you know?"
'Never mind. I'm coming up to see
you tonight. I can convince Your