Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1886-01-02

Ing that the cElld had passed away anu
the sad eyed woman come to take her
place in that altered household. She
understood it all, but silence had seemed
best, and she talked little, although
when she chose she could unbend that
stubborn will az none else could. With.
cut admitting it, Logan Trenchard paid
more heed to jeanette than to anything
else on the broad earth. The old year
lay moaning out in the STOW. The last
hours of another twelve months full OF
heart burnings and unrelenting wrath OF
one hard old man. Fire, fever, famine,
murder, rapine and disasters on the high
seas had marked it's course, and now 1t
dwiDdled to an cad in that quiet valley OF
the Trenchards, and filled the mines and
quaries full of damp cloggy .enow and
covered up the paths to the cottages
Yet one by one these good natured souls
who toiled in his mines came plCughing
their way up the hill to the stone mouse
to stammer out their good wishes for
him and to wish him q Happy New
Year."
One by one they had been taken by
Mrs. Trenchard or jeanette into the low
rooted dining room and made to paItake
of home brewed ale and spice cake, and
given some little delicacy to take home
to the missus and the children.
mind you, don't take step towards
that mine until the weather clears,
cob," he calls after one with knitting
hrows.
"No, thankee sir, that be downright
good o'ye. I'll tell missus, and God be
VII We, cir"
Il be main sorry, marin, to tell ee i'll
news, but there be sad case our way, and
my missus be in the dumps attending wi
ans, a poor chap as seems on mis- last bed,
nd BARN as bent warm flesh and
blood, she looks that marble like in hum
ger and want. AS for the poor lady, ah,
but my heart do ache for her as hasn't
seen such days always, l warrant. She
be white and cold, dreamy like in it all,
but my missus says the whole kit be star
vim in that old trap which parsons said
vas full O. evil spirits, down by the
quarry what be shut oop this mony a
year."
With one great leap of her heart the
mother of that absent one leans forward
to question the honest fellow turning his
hat in his hand, now and then pulling a
frGwsy lock of hair out of respect to the
presence Of his employer, who still
smoked on, looking fixedly in the Goals
go on, Tompkins, 60 on; family,
say you, in the Old A bscom place hey ond
the granite quarry?'
'ltit please ee', marin, yes. My missus
she Mapped to pass and talked WI um
there last week. The poor fellow be
down WI somat O. fever, dangerous loike,
and the lady and the BARN be killed VII
nussin' and starving. 1t warn't much
We had, marin, but Betsey toek I'm a
basket and set it just within as both be
proud loike, you know, and it beant
light to hurt un."
Mrs. Trenchardt arose from her chair
and babe the man follow her. Her grey
silk gown rustled after her On the pol
ished floor as the leaves sigh and whis-
per in the wind.
"Come, Tompkins, and have q wee
bite. You are a good, sound hearted
man."
Once in the inner room with the door
closed and those cold, grey eyes shut out
with their cruel, piercing gaze, she
clasped his hands in hers, with culver
ing lip, her eyes searching his face for
sign, while Jeanette stood by with a
eASIaolihS, ioONs
Now, my good Tompkins, tell me the
truth. Is it's it my Ellen; you know
her well; you saw her as she looked
when last we saw her; is it my child in
that dreadful state this cruel weather,
without food, fire or her mothers bless
ing? OF, tell me, good Tompkins; do not
keep it from me-"
A board Cracked in the passage out
side as ifunder heavy football, and the
three turned pale. All was sileut again.
and the gentle but clumsy quarry man
blushed and held down his head, drop.
ping his chin on his plaid wolsey waist |
coat.
"Well, marin, 1 beant the man as
would loike.to bear the tiding beant,
but as the Master o. us all looks down
this bleachy night think it be Miss FL |
len. God be VII I'm and all belonging
to her. My missus beant acquainted VII
her, you know, but looked through the
chinks O. the Abscom place, and she it
was settin' by his bed wi her hands
folded and her lips moving loike, and
the little un-she war on a strip asleep
on the floor. 1t war Miss Ellen, think
forgive me, marm."
'Oh, my child, my child, without
bread and meat to eat, out in this bleak
snow. NV heart will break, Jeanette;
on hear, Ellen, my darling, my beauti
full Ellen"
AYE, she is still your beautiful Ellen,
merm, as ever she war: though she be
ahite as yon plates on the buffet she
looks more ]oike her feyther nor ever
she did In her wholesome, happy days,
when l saw her 60 apast the quarry on
her coal black mare, waving her white
hand to me vi her blue eyes like wood
blossoms. She beant spoiled entirely,
Marin, but she be main pitiful, she be-"
Mrs. Trencha' d looked uneasilS- over
her shoulder, and stole around the table
aging her hand on the quarryman's
shaggy jacket sleeve with such look as
he had seen in dumb creatures eyes
when defeat and death had overtaken
t.
"Tompkins, will you do this for me?
Take this purse to my daughter, and
hamper I will pack. Quick Jeanette;
put in everything she can need; will you
ny brave good fellow, just slip it in the
1oor and tell her her mother loves her
still, and will not see her need. God
oless her! will your"
THAT will /, mann, and it will be Joy
ful New Years to I'm, warrant, marm."
And say, Iompkins, also, that l,
Jeanette, her sister, will come early to-
and fetch her more necessaries,
such as cannot procure tonight; that l
will never see her want while live;
hat will quit my fathers roof sooner
han permit my mouth to eat the bread
hat is denied my sister; my eldest SIS
er who has an equal right to my fathers
owe and hounty"