Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1886-10-23

sired to be hospitable, he desired to be
exceedingly hospitable, but he must moi
convey the impression that he was over
jealous for q law, and thus
annoy Roxanna. Sister was SO fastidi-
GUS!
In unpreceden excitement the habi-
tually easy-going man debated within
himself regarding the course of conduct
BETTING this exceptional occasion, and
finally judged it best to interfere with
the probable wooing in no particular.
Accordingly he crept quietly around to
the porch door, with surreptitious
glance at the sitting room window in
passing. A briek fire Of chips revealed
to him his rather prim blonde sister
seated in low rocker before the hearth
and Joel Kirby leaning againss the man.
tel near her, volubly discoursing.
They've opened the ball without me,
I guess, unused the skulking host, face
tiously, as he hitched his chair along to
the kitchen stove to warm his feet In the
oven. Seeing that it's the first visit, /
must say Joel STAYS it out well. I'm
questionably he means business. What's
to prevent? He's first-rate fellow, and
he'll make q kind husband. If wasn't
sure OF that 1 wouldn't consent to his
having ROxanna. I should hate to have
him take her out to California. hope
it's true that he has bought back the old
homestead. Well, well, wouldn't l Like
to be little mouse in the sitting-rOom
wall about this timer
Could he have had his wish, most
astonished little mouse would the worthy
man have personated.
"You are the most morbidly conscien-
tious person, Roxy, that I know OF" Mr..
Kirby was saying with a frown that
scored his forehead with horizontal
wrinkles like the staff in written music.
"lf I could only convince you that it
was your duty to be my wife, I should
stand some chance of getting you; but,
unluckily for me, you've cherished this
notion that you oue ht to keep house for
your brother till you -"
Brother needs me-" murmured Miss
Roxsnna, tears swelling in her eyes OF
baby blue"
"And I don't need you? Havn't
some rightsH During your stricken Sis
ter's illness I consented to waive these,
but now she's gone and want you"
Don't Joel, don't"
u tell you 1 do, and can't help it."
cried Mr.. Kirby with grim humor.
when 1 couldn't move you by letter 1
resolved I'd come and speak for myself.
You used to say you loved me- Roxy.
Can't you -"
you know plenty of other ladies,
Joel, younger and more pleasing" fall
cred Miss Roxanna, nervously smoothing
the pale gliding Of hair that framed her
temples in Gothic arch.
"They are nothing to me-" replied the
gentleman, CURLY, almost as if he es-
teemed the fact matter OF regret.
Assured of the favor of more than one
pretty girl of bis acquaintance, was it
not little hard that the full current of
his being must needs set toward this
unresponsive woman of thirty? It had
been thus with Joel Kirby from his per-
verse childhood, when, if he wanted cake,
no human power could induce him to
nibble gingerbread.
mo, Roxy. there's only one woman in
the world for me-" ne continued, in a
softer tone. Your brother is of differ
emit temperament. Has it never occurred
to you that he may marry second
timer
Brother marry! o, no, indeed, he'll
never marry-neyer y cried Miss Rox-
anua, rooted and grounded in the belief
that her brothers heart was entombed
with the dead Climena. mo, he could
not take another wife, Joel, and you see
he has only me. 1 couldn't be SO cruel
as to leave him"
To all Mr.. Kirby's subsequent plead
ings she made this same reply, but it
soothed his chatting spirit not little
that she made it with falteriDg, and that
she parted from himself with tears.
As the sound of his rapid wheels died
in the distance che hastily dried her
eyes and hurried into the kitchen to see
about the belated supper. Mr.. Perrin,
still gloating over castles in Spain,
looked up with the rougish purpose of
greeting her as "Mrs. Kirby" but, dis
MAYED at her troubled countenance, re-
marked instead that ''the days were get
ting shorter"-a fact that she had OBJ
served before.
He felt as if he had received blow.
For him there was, there could be, but
one Interpretation of his sisters I'M
wonted emotion. She loved Kirby,
and Kirby no longer cared for her. Poor
girl, she had dreamed that mans az
tections we're like granite powders, in.
capable Of change, and she was awak-
ening with shock Hapless Roxanna!
She, too, had her trials. Keenly SYM
pathetic, the magnanimous brother con
,ealed his own disappointment as best
be could, and lavished upon his sorrow
'ul sister an excess of tenderness.
"You have the knack of spelling me
'or other folks cooking, little woman,
that's tho TRUTH" said he at tea-time,
SYSTEMATICALLY heaping his plate with
cream toast. allow should ever get
along without your"
"That'n make her feel that I sppre-
late her, If Joel dosn't he unused, be |
1evolently; while she, on her side of the
able, was thinking. "It's just as sus-
oected; it would kill brother to lose me-"
20, you'd manage somehow. Maybe
you'd marry" she ventured, timidly,
llmest hearing the fluttering of the lost