Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1885-03-26

''And he had such . passion fof raw
onions" she said, plaintively, meeting
the eyes of her guest, lit was awful.
He ate them every day, and you will
certainly admit that it was very incon-
siderate in him, when l tell you that /,
under no circumstance, ever touch an
onion"
..Inconsiderate? 1t was brutal"
''But the worst of it was" she went
on, ''that he wanted me to invest my
money in building houses--tenements
in Indianapolis, and made up my
mind that he was dangerous schemer;
and although it was hard for woman
who had buried two husbands to set
herself square against third, l did it,
and | have never been sorry"
Sorry? 1t was the noblest act of
your life, ma am. He didn't appreciate
you. 1t fires me all up to think of your
living with such a-such a-smelling-
sGheming reprobate as be was. Why,
if it had been me. Mrs. Peabody. l
wouldn't have eaten anything if you'd
said So" Emboldened by his indigna-
tioD Mr.. Kennedy placed his chair
close by Mrs. Peabody's side and sat
dOw,i upon it.
II hardly think would treat You as
badly as that" she said, cO9ueItisbly.
Mr.. Kennedy's heart began to beat very
fast, and dull red burned in his cheeks,
but his courage had deserted him as I'M
expectedly as it came, and he quite re-
GREETED changing his seat. as he could
not think of word more to say. The
late partner of Drewgood was equal to
the emergency, however, and again re-
vert;ng to the spot in the carpet and the
pensive gaze, she said, so softly and
sympathetically Il have often thought
how lonely you must be with only that
child Katie to be society for YOU" Mr..
Kennedy sighed so enthusiastically that
the newspapers on the table at Mrs.
Peabody's elbow rustled. She hap
pened, quite accidentally, to lay her
well-shaped hand on the chair-arm next
to him, ard, after an instant's hes;ta-
ton, he covered it with his own palm.
She did not repulse his action and
waited a moment for him to speak; but
language was further out of Mr.. Ken
nedy's reach than ever.
Il know the grief of losing a loved
companion" No one could accuse her
of exaggeration in that statement Il
know the grief of loneliness "a grow
ing tremor in her voice; Il know the
grief of being alone in the world" A
sob completed the testimony. and her
disengaged hand covered her face with
a handkerchief.
Don't" said Mr. Kennedy, with
husky sympathy. Il know you've had
a hard time-a good many of EN-; but
you should never say fail; you-may
be happy yet. Faint heart never won
fair lady" He realized that in his
efforts to BE- POLITICALLY comforting he
was wandering somewhat from the
point. Mrs. Peabody realized it also.
''How can ! be happy:9' she in
quired from behind the handkerchief.
mo one cares for me-" The reflection
was so overwhelming that her whole
frame shook with sobs. Mr.. Kennedy s
love and sympathy mastered his hesita-
ton. He put his arm about her waist
and drew her head upon his shoulder.
''Now, see here; can't we fix this up,
Mrs. Drewgood nc, Mrs. Higley-nO,
l mean Mrs Peabody"
Call me Miranda" murmured the
handkerchief
''Wcll now, Miranda, you're alone
over here and I'm alone over there; and
l say we'd better hitch up and make a
team"
Gould you be happy with me,
Jason?" She had removed the hand
kerchief and her lips were very near
his face.
Gould l? Well l reckon I'm will
ing to trv," emphasizing his answer
with reSounding kiss. How SUPERIOR
she was to the Widow Garrison, and
what mercIul Providence had kept
him from marrying that hateful woman.
This idea brought Kate to his mind and
he did not feel quite so happy.
''Well, Miranda" he said, II thank
my stars for bringing me over here to-
night, but it's pretty late and I'll have
to 60, but I'll be over tomorrow.
He started home with variety of
emotions dubious when he thought of
Katie but jubilant when his mind
turned on Mrs. Peabody. "Jehosiphat!'
he exclaimed aloud, ''She' a-she's a"
feeling about in his rather limited vo-
cabulary for a sufficiently glowing eX-
preston. she's glorious female!' If
Katie would only not make any fuss
she might marry Mark rs soon as she
liked, and Mr.. Kennedy would gladly
give him situation in his store; he
knew that in his wild rage he had been
unjust to them both; there was nothing
bad about the young fellow-he was
merely poor and out of employment
There were very few business openings
for young men in the little Hoosier VII
lage, and the fascination of Katie's face
had kept him from trying his fortunes
elsewhere. But his name had never
been mentioned between Mr.. Kennedy
and his daughter since that memorable
evening, and the old gentleman's habit
ual INDIGESTION and evasiveness made
him shrink from recurring 10 the SUBJ
ject.
DO you suppose Katie will object?"
asked Mrs. Peabody the next evening,
after Mr.. Kennedy had succeeded in
overcoming some other faint objections
on her part to speedy marriage.
''Well-Mr. Kennedy looked troubled
II am afraid-that is, am rather in
clined to think that she will. Whist do
YOU think we had better do?''