Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1885-10-31

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"Ross Pearson,-I could kill him.,
said Rydill fercely. :,
"Not in equal combat, THINK, sa'u
Hester, coldly.
20. the-,"Rydill checked the ungen-
tlemanly exclamation, and, after pause
said:
The idea of you owning this love analr 10
meP
eyes, suppose I am candid. l think
we ought to be honest with each otner,
and look into each others hearts all We
can when We are thinking of go serious I. e
thing as marriage. Are you displeased!
"Not with the candor, butt cannot say
it is pleasant to hear of this love. were
. YOU engaged to this Pearson?"
"No," said Hester, blushing hotly, The
never mentioned such q thing"
80! if he had mentioned it, you would
have been engaged, suppose"
"Very Likely, but there's no use specu-
lating about that. The question now is
of another sort. Ifyou VII call again,
after twelve days, 1 will give you def
mite answer"
There is nothing for to-day but re-
treat, then. Shall have kiss-one
little goodbye kiss" asked he, approach
ing Hester. But she shook her head.
at would be like pledge" she eajd
81 save my lips for the man who is to be
my husband"
'Then goodbye, little Puritan; you
are the queerest girl know"
Hester accompanied Rydill to the hall
door and closed itsafter him, but, under
some unaccountable impulse, opened it
again and looked after him. This acct
dent gave her pitiful and unique drama
to gaze upon. On the walk near the
gate sat the tramp dog on his launches
with his short forelegs hanging in limp
graceful fashion before him. His al,
most human eyes were fixed imploringly
upon Rydill. The man aimed kick at
him, saying with an oath:
'Out Of my sight, Fox. ] hate dogs.
How did the cursed brute find me, 1
wouder?" The dog, apparently knowing
what to expect, made judicious leap in
time to save himself from injury, and in
another moment Rydill had passed
through the gate and was gone.
Hester ran. down the steps, and, call.
ing the dog to her side, caressed him
theoretically while comparing this new
phase of her lovers character with the
gentle kindness Of Ross Pearson. "Wby,
I've seen him turn aside from an ant-hili!
I've seen him rescue drowning kitten !
I've seen him wrap chilled young
bird, that had fallen from its nest, in his
handkerchief and rekindle it's vital fires
from the warmth of his own hands. He
would never meet the overtures Of dog
with brutal kick"
Some movement at the gate sent
Hester's glance in that direction. An
old man stood outside the fence leaning
his elbows on the railing.
"Good afternoon, Miss. Know of any
hereabouts wantin' a hand?"
"N-no, am sorry to say, 1 do not,
but if you are hungry I think mother
will let me give you dinner"
Thanks, amt no begger yet" re-
PHI piled tt the ,. man, g'ufy. "where'd you
"He does not belong to us. I do not
know where he came FROM"
"Old man Rydill, the Teller I worked
for last year, had just such dog. He
called him Fox [ heerd he tried to
foller the young Rydill off. It's quare
though; Fox never got nothin' but cussin'
an kickin' from that teller, an yit the
simple brute'd a-gone on bis hind feet or
broke his neck to q served him."
"Do you think this is the same dog?"
asked Hester in q rather sharpened
staccato.
Il could soon tell for certain. vi Fox,
vi Fox, come, Teller, come, poor Fox, and
leap once for old SAM" called the man,
opening the gate, and holding his arms
in circle through which the dog jumped,
after a predatory recognition of the
mans face.
Now set up. Set ye UT, pretty, old
Fox"
The man gave his hand an upward
wave and the dog obediently sat up in
much the same position he had assumed
while trying to obtain word of friend
ly recognition from young Rydill, then,
without waiting for further bidding, he
gravely walked up in front of the old
man and held up his right fore-paw, ap-
parently desiring ito shake hands," and
afterward he treated the man to a |
rowdyish round of friskings and caper-
ings, that made it difficult for him to
stand firmly upon his feet.
Eyes, girl, its the very same old Fox
that young Albert Rydill used to kick,
and cuff, and torment-the Lord knows
why, for Fox was splendid good dawg;
old man Rydill wouldn't trade him for |
no mans 500. He's the best, bidablest,
smartest dawg that ever struck that |
I'll write to old man
Rydill tomorrow, an tell him where Fox |
is"
"Come again tomorrow, if you have
not yet found work, and may be able |
to help you," said Hester, turning alb
ruptly toward the house.
That q man should abuse his dog, his |
fathers dog, q friendly dog. good dog,
seemed to Hester incompatible with |
such tenderness of heart as kind hus-
band should possess. She wsvered no
longer. The same day, Rydill received
q daintily written note, bearing this mes
sage:
You need remain in suspense no long
er. I have decided that I do not wish
to marry you. am sorry, If this final
answer to your suit gives you pain, but
I am sure that as husband and wife |
We should never cease to indict pain |
upon each other.
HESTER E. MARKS.
"Aud did she marry Ross Pearson?"
inquiries the reader.
Wol1 voo