Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1885-12-26

Iectlv welcome to the simple hospitality
her plain house afforded, but regret'eo
hat although the rude stable was larry
there was not q particle OF
feed of sny character for the horse, not
even whisp of straw, the drou ghg mao
been SO complete in its blasting enects.
He begged her not to let that concern
her in the least, as he had some oats III
q sack on his saddle, which he had taken
tie precaution to bring on his trip, fully
aware thst portion of the state was I'M
cropless. He then leo nls
horse to the stone shed, which was
pointed out to him, few rods from Inc
house.
During his absence of few minutes,
Mrs. Sohmer placed some fresh CHUNKS
IN the fire. while Annie busted herself
in ureparinp a necessarily, simple repast
for their guest.
Presently the stranger returned, and
as he entered the cheerful room, ne was
wonderfully impressed with the air OF
culture and refinement that seemed olf,
fused through the whole interior ana
annointments of the simple home.
He was charmed with the delicacy and
unaffected grace of his hostess, and par
ticularly with the dignity purity and In
comparable beauty CT Annie:
Hesaw with feelings of profound regre'
the povrty that was apparently encioacn'
ing upon their modest home, and no"
to dissipate it without offending the
honorable pride which he plainly OILS
covered in The noble mother, occupied
his thoughts at intervals as he partook O.
the excellently prepared meal.
Of course his first duty to his hostess
REQUIRED such information Of himself 81
related to his forced presence there, ant
after the table had been cleared he un
pretendingly explained:
His name WAS Spencer-Hugh Spen
cer-he was the owner of large cattle
ranch in Ellsworth county. Was an ONLY
son whose education completed a
Yale few years before, he persuaded
his father to establish him In the stool
business, which was not only financially
successful but tongenial, because 1t CAV,
him ample leisure to pursue his lnvestl
cations of the natural sciences IN TIT
domain of the great plains.
This present trip was the examination
of some prehistoric mounds he had learn
ed were located somewhere on Big creek
and he was then on his way to For
Hays where he expected to meet som
companions in the same pursuit, bu
when the blizzard overlook him 1t ha'
grown dark, and no longer able to rea'
his compass he was soor lost and Woul
have undoubtedly persisted but for tn
friendly light of their fire which he say
shining through the window like mer
spark, miles off.
AS the acquaintance gradually diyest
ed itself from the restraint which was q
first perfectly natural, the sad story
the prolonged absence Of father and so
was told, and Mr.. Spencer sought tn
opportunity to offer what hope he poi
sibly could, that they were alive, an
not dead as Mrs. Sohmers and Annie be
gan to fear, and almost believed.
He told them that rumors were cur
rent in the eastern portion OF the stat
that several parties had been capture
by the Indians and forced north anon
the Sioux where they were held in expe'
tation of large reward from the gov
eminent for their ransom, and that
commission had already been sent trol
Washington TO the upper Missouri I
negotiate for their release.
This news inspired our friends wit
new hope, and a halo Of faith and ei
enlargement like CLEAN of clear SIX
suddenly entered the room, and ANN
was induced to play and sing some OF ht
glad songs before the now friendly lit
party retired for the night.
AS she sat at the organ and her ric
soprano filled the place with sweet must
Hugh became more infatuated than eve
and he determined then and there,
the thing were within the possible,
, win this beautiful child Of nature for b
wife.
At last the old fashioned clock, on
shelf over the fireplace indicated tt
hour of ten, and Annie closing the o
gan brought her mother the large Bib
from it's accustomed place on sma
table, who after reading short chaptt
! in the book of Job, offered upa simp
prayer, and then conducted her guest
, his room. Annie and herself retiring III
mediately after ward.
The morning came bright and clout
less, with the sun shining softly throug
the golden mist of the prolonged India
summer, perfectly characteristic OF tt
lovely days which usually succeed
"norther" on the plains. :,
The little household was early aWak
and when the plain but elegant y cooke
breakfast was out of the way Hugh fe
That he must leave, although his hea
told him he would prefer to rena'
forever.
Desperate as the chances seemed
: him, be had made up his mind to speea
to the mother of Annie upon the shb]e'
which was stirring him so deeply.
He had noticed that Annie seemed Sc
iously depressed, when she appeared at d
breakfast table, her color had gone an
her eyes showed marks that locke
strangely like tears. He of course attrlbr
ted it to the sad and respondent chara
ter of the circumstances surrounding &c
inmates of the now, to him, 'doubly Of
loved little home.
Had he suspected the truth, he wou
not have sto d upon the order OF q
speaking but would have spoken at ont
in earnest, honest pleading for tx
heart that was now beating rhy thmical
with his own.
The fact was, that Annie was touche
, az profoundly as himself. She saw
this educated and cultivated young ma
a reflex of her fathers gentlemanly bea
ing, and the intuitive attributes OF N
: own good breeding responded to tho'
which were mirrored in Hugh. 1t WI
a case of love at first sight, rare 1t is tru
but when based upon the philosophy.
affiinities, fruitful of that felicity whlc
, nature, when her laws are strictly TO
lowed intended as the portion In tn
life, of her most intelligent creation.
While Annie had temporarily gor
, into one of the other apartments ape
t some domestic mission, Hugh seized II
{ opportune moment her absence attorde
and inviting Mrs. Sohmer to be seate
he took another chair and in eloque1