The Red Cloud chief., 1885-06-19

unanimous vote" as his father said,
and he kissed his boy goodnight and
went ont and bought the ducks and
chickens. and arranged to have them
put On the steamer in the morning. II
the girls had been allowed q voice in
determining the going home of their
parents the vote might not have been
50 unanimous" for they dreaded be-
ing left alone in the great city: but
knowing they could not detain their
parents many days longer anyhow. and
that their mother. As she said. was tired
and wanted 10 get home and see to
things, they interposed but few objec-
'tions. ~ the next morning good-byes
were said. with many injunctions on the
part of the mother, and with kisses, and
hugs. and tears, and promises TO write
often.
The girls did not 60 down 10 the
wharf to see them off. for they feared
the getting back to their rooms; and
besides II was better TO say goodbye
where no strangers eye could see the
tears which they knew would come at
the parting; and SO chose TO part at
their lodging where they could have a
good cry all to themselves Just As soon
as ihsir parents and Johnny were out
OF sight.
MIR. Parsons left them all together ut
the last moment and went down to say
goodbye to the professor in whose
house they We're. and toward whom he
felt kindly, a. he was to be in some de-
gree the protector of his daughters dur
ing their stay at school. He found him
in The sitting room and shook his hand
heartily.
Goodbye. professor. goodbye" he
said. Take good care of the girls;
mother and l think a heap of EN-.
You'll find 'em good girls, too. profess
or. and smart; take after their mother
the girls do; both Of EN-. Well. good
bye; let us know If anything goes
wrong with 'em anyway. and don't be
afraid that their bills won't be paid. I'm
good for anything l contract for. l
reckon.
Come mother. goodbye girls.
Come Johnny. We must hurry or we'll
miss the boat" he called from the foot
of the stairs, and 4 moment later they
were gone and Jennie and Lucy were
alone and having their cry out all by
themselves.
Il don't know how we are to get
home from own when We get there"
said John Parsons as they nearcd the
landing that afternoon. "Erastus
wasn'ttO come for us until tomorrow
night"
MAY be some of the neighbors will
DE in" returned Mrs. Parsons. Most
likely they will; if not We will manage
some way. Ii appears 10 me rs if l
had bcen gone an age and ] must get
home tom CHIT 4 / have to walk. How
do you suppose Erastus is getting along
all alone?'
"Oh 'Ras is all right" replied her
husband. Don't you never fear for
MIN. If he amt capable of takin'
care of himself ther amt no young
teller around these diggms as is.
Likely he's a little lonesome but he's
Cettin' on well enough. new you fear;
and home'n seem all the cheerfuler
for u havin' been gone. Thet's a
pint | Kin speak from experience on.
fer l kept bach myself fer bet,er'n six
years. while you and the babies WAS
back in the States; and l don't never
want to do it again"
As our friends had hoped. a neigh
bor was in town with his team. and
gladly offered them q ride out He
could not carry the ducks and chickens.
however. and they were left with other
purchases for Mr.. Parsons or Erastus
to return for on the morrow.
1t was nearly dark when. coming
over the last rise. they looked down
and vineyard and the rosebush that
-clambcred over the wide porch. fairly
covering il with wrcaths Of bloom. and
gave 8 sigh Of relief ut their journey
ended.
JOHNNY wa already asleep in his
fathers lap when the wagon drew up
At the front gate, and Enstus. sur
priscd At their unexpected return. came
s0ut to meet them.
Il Am awfully glad you have got
back" he said. - they entered the
house; ''but I had rather you had de-
1aycd another day. y u least until
morning. ! had promised myself to
wash up al the dirty dishes i. the house
tonight Il Il took al night to do it and
now you Aa~e come and caught No
with il undone and the house in . ter
Eihlo D."
MrA Parsons laughed. Didn't I
stsll you. John. that I ought to come
home end SO 70 thinRx." she said. "A
man dee't know anything about keep
ing house"
But you can't guess what I've got"
broke IN Johnny. now fully awakened
and conscious Of where he WAS Three
big white ducks and two little hanty
chickens, n I'll bet my banty rooster
can whip your big Shanghai
'Oh. no! 90 you are . sporting man
from the city. are your" returned
Erssnna. taking the lad up and hugHing
IN We'll YOU wait until you GET
your chickens home. and Il they amt
o awfully ferce-looking I'll put up
my old bob-tailed Shanghai agains.
your bantam rooster. and 4 the banta
6cks. you shall have them both and I'll
get you . jack-knite in the bargain. and
& the Shanghai whips I'll have the
bansa and the white ducks! What do
you say; viii you do it?'
This was . poser to Johnny. He had
been very certain that his bantam could
whip the big. clumsy Shanghai. whose
-~cowardice WAS pr0verbiaI among the
members of the family, and Who vas
only kept for the ridiculous appearance
which he cut with his long kxs and
aaiiiess body. Tor which l.ttsr Old Bose
was generally held accountable, but the
ready assurance with which Er>stus