Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1885-10-31
Fox"
BY CLARA DIXON DAVIDSON.

chester Ellen, there's tramp in the
ward: do 90 down and feed him! I'd 20
myself, only it's dreadful getting up and
down stairs with my rheumatism.
There's some cold corn bread in the COW
cred jar in the buttery, and there's some
scraps O. fried bacon in tin plate in the
cupboard; you know where things are,
you put them away yourself" said Mrs.
Marks.
"Why, mother" said Hester, with sur
prise, Il never knew you to offer a man
such fare"
at is no man, my child, bat four.
footed tramp. Come and look. He's as
pretty Pomeranian dog as l ever saw,
only he's lean as dried Goldfish or as a
purse after Christmas"
Hester drew near to the window from
which her mother surveyed the back
yard, and bestowed look of compassion
on the "poor brute" as she called him.
A few moments later found Hester in
the back yard, bearing about with her a
plate piled high with such things as are
properly supposed to tempt the appetite
of starving dog. Besides the corn bread
and bacon, there were bits of fish and
cheese and small slice of cake. The
latter was covered, for Hester felt little
timid about the scrutiny,-kindly though
it was-bent upon her actions from that
upper window. Her mother might
think the cake piece of extravagant
and unnecessary generosity. Armed
with such an array of eatables, Hester
conducted her negotiations with the
stranger dog. He looked upon the food
wistfully enough, and would no doubt
have demolished it without ceremony
had the plate been left with him alone,
but Hester was determined that he
should approach her and show his graft
tude after the manner of his kind. He
gazed at her with mournful, unbelieviDg
eyes. 1t was evident that his expert
ences with the human kind had not
led him to extravagant trust.
Hester threw him piece of meat. de
retreated in terror, but advanced, when
he saw that Hester came no nearer,
and swallowed the morsel. BY throwing
bits so that they fell in judicious grada-
tons of the distance between them, the
dog was finally brought near. Hester
put out her hand to touch him; he fell
back pace or two, tramping quickly up
and down with that nervous, pleased
movement Of his fore legs. Under the
influence of her sweet, coaxing voice, he
was persuaded to draw near again, and
in q half hour he had eaten his fill and
was receiving Hester's csresses with
great dccllity and with an appreciative-
~ wagging tail. At the end of the half
hour Mrs. Marks put her head out of the
window and said.
"Hester Ellen, how can you like to pet
q strange creature like that? Mr.. Rydill
awaits you in the parlor."
A flush passed over Testers face, and,
rising hastily, she went to the parlor
without SO much as glance in her mir
ror or q touch of the brush to her brown
hair.
Mr.. Rydill arose with an eager greet
ing of outstretched hands and pleading
eyes.
"Hester," he said in thrilling whis.
per, when she was near enough to hear
it, "Save you decided? Shall I some
time call you 'wife?' I grow impatient
to know my fate"
Yes, you are impatient; you have
known me but five weeks.".
"But lifetime of passion-love, hope,
fear-may be compressed into five short
we s-iveeternal weeks if they are
drawn out by suspense. Surely I may
hxve my answer to-day"
How could Hester meet such fervor
with sustained and increasing calmness?
She could not have told why it was q
surprise to herself. Perhaps, because he
had not kept his word with her, but had
pressed her for an answer in two DAYS
after promising to wait two weeks. But
was not impotence excusable in q lover?
Yes, impotence, but not an unmanly
surrender to it.
81 did not premise to answer you to-
day." she said at last.
''But why not today? Should not
your heart decidef Do you not know
whether you love me or not?"
81 am young, only Is, remember. and