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

had something 70 tell n0f, loI WAACn POI
mission had already been granted by
her mother, to whom he now locke az.
pealingly, who gracefully bowed and
then retired.
Il was the same old etory-frst an
svered when the angels sung in Eden,
repeated through the ages and forever
will be-that Hugh told-the sweet be-
witching monograph of "love's young
dream" .,
Annie's womanly soul is moved with
the calm and pathos of quiet Joy, and
tears lie under her deep eyelashes as she
gives Hugh her troth-p.ight. A kiss i'm
printed upon her innocent brow registers
the covenant, and the sunlight steals IL
to their hearts like bird.
The gentle mother was soon made &C
ouainted with the result Of the happy
interview, and she blessed the decree
| which destiny seemed to have ordained.
The innovation which the circum-
stance of Hugh's strange coming had IL
truded into the monOtony of the lives OF
these two exemplary women, changed
the days programme as far IS regarded
himself materially. Instead of hasty
departure as contemplated, he fingered
until the next day to talk of theplans he
proposed, and to fix the date of the mar
rage which he declared and proved
irresistibly, should be celebrated at the
earliest moment.
At last, Christras-Annie' eighteenth
birth day-but five weeks distant, was
mutually agreed upon. The ceremony
was to be pronounced by the chaplain
from Ft. Hays, and the place, the same
little room in which they now all were,
where both mother aud daughter had
suffered so much, yet where such signal
Joy had come to Annie's young heart.
Early the next morning, after many
tender interviews with his affianced
wife, Hugh took his departure and the
promise of Mrs. Sohmer that she would
receive such substantial help he would
send, and which they needed SO sorely
The next afternoon brought large
wagon, filled with supplies, from Hays
City, sufficient to last until the wedding
after which they were to leave the his
toric homestead forever and 60 to Hugh's
MAGNIFICENT ranch a hundred miles
east.
The night before Christmas soon rolled
around, the shortly to be abandoned lit
tie sod-house is brilliantly lighted, g
roaring fire crackles and sputtels on the
.. hearth. on the walls are fastened great
!, lunches Of "Bitter-sTeet," whose contra
! position of terms is emblematical Of the
! SORROWS and joys Of Annle's own life
.. and from the center of the ceiling is sus
: pended branch of the mistletoe, which
and the red-berried clusters on the sides
of the room, Hugh had brought FROM his
own groves of timber.
Annie is at her favorite place-the or
{ gan-Hugh stands fondly near, turning
Il the leaves OF her music, while the moth
D er in her accustomed chair by the fire
9 is contemplating the probabilities OF the
J, future of her darling child.
d Outside the night is clear and cold; OF
= the crisp still air, from the rocky reces
ses of the river comes the sharp shril
yelping of the wolf, Stimulating nearly al
e his lupine nature will permit, the bay
d ing of the hound at the moon, which nov
g at tstull rises like a globe of polished
: gold on the scintillating celestial vault
: Every sound is intensified on the serene
a wintry atmosphere, and. far off on thu
q hard sonorous ground is heard the rattle
o of wheels-a strange sound in the silence
of that solitude.
b The music ceases as the rumblin.
l. reaches the ears of those in the bright.
y lighted room, and Annie simultaneous
e ly rising with her mother, goes to tn
II window and looks out into the brigh
Q frosty night-Dearer the creakiDg of
heavy wagon comes and she sees it stol
b in front of the entrance to the ittl
c. stone wall-two closely wrapped figure
r, get out and after fastening the team t.
if the hitching-post come to the door, q
% which Hugh already stands, and knock
is GuardedIy Hugh opens the door, an
Mrs. Sohmers recognizing the belove'
forms of husband and son, rushe
q franticslly into the arms of tn
:. former. Alternately, mother, father, sol
"a and daughter are clasped in the embrac
II of their deep love, while Hugh reaiizln
r. in moment the delicate situation, wit
o the Instincts of the true gentleman
n walked out on the porch that Their
:. might be no disturbing element to ma
the holy scene.
l. Presently Annie came for him, an
b with his hand in hers, she led him t
r her father and brother.
q Mr.. Sohmer greeted him earnestly AM
said that the course of affairs during hi
prolonged absence had been explained
o by his wife, and that nothing now re
i NAMED but bis consent which he freel
1t gave.
# The now doubly happy group sat VI
n late that eventful night, listening to tn
recital of the father and sons capture b.
o the Sioux, so trlthfully .prophesied g
among the possibilities, by Hugh, an
+ their ultimate ransom by the govern
ment, after innumerable hardships, an
r the little clock rang in the advent 9
q Christmas before sleep threw its mantl
4 of oblivion over the inmates OF that re
4 stored and cultured home.
: Sunny and calm came the morning
= and although there were no "glad bells
q to usher the era of "Peace and good
= will" the matchless beauty of the glori
GUS winter day filled the hearts of gu
4 Young friends with sweet auspices. A
10 ten the chaplain having already arrived
20 under the mjstletoe, the simple weddin
% was consumated in the impressive word
~ of the English service, Immediately afte
which, everything having been prepared
4 the party were driven to Hays, and too
y the cars-the first ever seen by Annie
" to their new home, where that evenln
:. a merry crowd of guests celebrated tn
~ young wife's first happy Christmas.
70 Seven years have passed since tn
~ events related in this hurried sketch OF
q curred-all the characters are still aliv
II their real nemes of course have nc
h given-but their sorrows have foreve
departed.
is Now among the huge vines of viii
grape that hang in graceful festoons fror
10 the giant black walnut trees skirting On
n of the sequestered creeks of Ellsworth
e county, Armies fair childrenmay be see
/. from the roadside in the sunny days {
/, summer, swinging in the coo
It shade, or lying on To