Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1885-12-05

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"Coachy's lips twitched 80 convulsive
ly at this that Jimmy felt afraid he hae
offended him, and fastened to add
frankly:
"Not much loss, either, I'll bet. II
hate to have to sit up 80 solemn will
tnat old prig and mince and bow ant
chew an hour on every mouthful. M
stree! Give me plate chuck full, plenty
of elbow room, and five minutes for
the train starts, and don't ask no odd
of any duke-do your"
"No, I don't think l do, as hungry as
am now" was the spirited reply, anG
they passed into the house. Jimmy'i
introductions were original, at least, but
he made the family understand who his
new friend was, though upon asking fol
his name the latter had said, hastily.
ooh, call me Coachy, asyou began; It'll
as good name as any" and Coachy he
was for the rest of the day.
They sat to dinuer-"pa" and the
hired man in shirt sleeves, and redolent
of that honest but moist accompaniment
to toll promised to sinful man in the be.
ginning, "ma" and Sallie in curl-papers
and calico, but in spite of these the lat.
ter elicted more than one glance from
the new conner.
Her curl-papers were not obtrusive
but her dark, soft eyes, pale, oval cheeks
and sweet, grave lips, parting too seldom
over the dainty teeth, like new corr in
the ear, most assuredly were.
Her sad, listless manner and sober
loneliness excited feeling of tender cur.
iosity in her vis-a-vis, who was, how.
ever, hungry enough after his ride in
the sharp, salt air to enjoy his dinner
despite his sympathetic heart twinges
and bravely attacked the baked pork
and beans, boiled potatoes and cabbage
pie, johnnycake, doughnuts, and cheese
which jostled each other on his capa-
cious plate.
"spose tibet juke O. your'n hes q
sep'rate dish fer every one of his vict-
uals," interpolated "Pa," giving his knife
an instant rest; "'t least I've heerd cay
so. Wonder eff them big burgs really
thinks they hes compartments in their
stummicks? Pears So" he added, with
fine scorn at the folly of this whim, and
Coachy only smiled meekly, eating the
round of his trencher, and enjoying
every mouthful with zest that surprised
him into silence.
In fact, no one said much--all were
too busy-and in a remarkably short
time the table was cleared, and each
left for his next affair without excuse OF
apology.
lis your cousin Malvina prettier than
your sister," asked the visitor, in care
less tone as the new friends strolled to-
ward the stables little later.
"Prettief? You bet! She's got no end
of fun in her, and the snappingest eyes
you ever see. Saliie used to be pretty,
too, but she's no good any more since
Joe's gone away"
"Who's Joe?" asked Coachy, selecting
a superb cigar from case whose craven
crest immediately caught Jimmy's quick
eye.
"Hullo! What's that?" he asked, Gu.
riously.
ooh, it's the DUKES" was the immedi-
ate answer. 81 sometimes carry it for
him, and take cigar for my trouble; it's
heavy you see."
"Knowed he was lazy, the old COON"
came the contemptuous answer. "Who's
Joe?' oh?' oh, her sweetheart-and a
fellow, too, 1 vow! But he didn't hev a
red copper to bless himself with, and pa
shipped him in short order. He's gone
west now-gone to the mines to make
bis fortin', and SAILS waitin' for him. Pa
and ma don't know it. They think she'll
marry that old widower Peters, tibet
owns the next farm, and he's got two of
the hatefulest, red-headed youngsters
you ever see, but la! Sal won't look at
him, know. My cricky! howgood that
cigar smells!"
An hour later found them at the big
new barn, looking in through the wide
open doorway, the guest taking in the
scene with the enjoyment both of a nov
ice and an artist. The clean, white, pine
floor, the high-ceiled walls gayly draped
with festoons of arbor vitae, caught up
the huge, glowing masses of blood.red
or rose.pink peonies, formed novel
stage, while the musicians stand was
improved from the walls of the horse
stalls, with few loose boards laid across
upon which sat the two fiddlers and the
Gordon man, the latter calling off the
swift changes of "money-musk," which
a half-doZen sets of rustic swains and
maidens, led of by the blushing bride
and groom, were gaily dancing below.
All this, with the gapeing, laughing
crowd of lookers-on without, their long,
slant afternoon shadows blotting out the
hazy September sunshine on the grass,
Lorraine. Coachy looked on eagerly,
of Jimmy's impatient nudges
and whispers, to the effect that "a bar'l
OF new sweet cider was bein' ladled out
just round the corner" and at length,
spying Sallie, sweeter than ever, in a
simple white dress, he broke away with
scant excuses and hurried to the spot
where she stood alone and self-absorbed,
looking on with big, wistful eyes.
Surely no duke of them all could have
made q courtlier bow than did Coschy,
doing ready homage to the everlasting
of beauty as he begged the
honor of her hand for the next dance. |
while she, starting from her reverie,
smiled, and frankly met her eyes as he |
led her to their place upon the smooth |
floor.
The afternoon passed rapidly away, a |
scene of careless merry.making and CAV !
good humor to the uninstructed eye, but |
pregnant with dramatic situations to the
initiated. What else was the meaning
of Peters grim frown and flashing ewes
as he looked gloomily on while Sallie
and her new friend danced, or talked in
corners, apparently engaged in most
desperate Irritation; or the evident agi-
tation of pa and ma" who vainly tried
to recall her to duty by two transparent
hints and innuendoes? Even Jimmy.
having had all the cider he could swal.
low, was sick and sulky, and thought it
real mean o'Sal" to take up his com.
pany like. As for the girl she had. for
once, thrown of all restraint and given