Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1886-01-16

I hsvsnt but the edge y tho v'fandy'n
the grass ter offer ye 20 course ye'd like
to set n the sun) but make yerselves s
com Portable s ye ken From Frisco, I
s'sposel Was down E the city myself
nigh month passed"
"Why, old boy" spoke up one of the
party, 4that's SO; how dye do?"
Joe looked at the stranger curiously.
In spite Of low forehead and certain
hard cast to his face he was handsome
fellow and carried himself with careless
jaunty, swing.
aWell swear" said Joe, s'you beat
me. I can't place ye."
s'My name is Howard I met you go
ing into Lyddy's. You remember Lyddy? %
with leer.
II should say I did should say I did.
Now sit down yer, all o ye. Seems to
me do recollect seein' ye once fur a
moment. Names Howard; NJ ye know
Lyddyp'
"who's Lyddys" inquired one of the
aprty.
'Lyddy?' Howard tossed his head.
"Oh, Liddy was gay girl"
$50 she was" put in Joe.
Expect we never knew her," said
another.
mo, I think not. She was my
Howard smiled significantly.
"Ohr' His friends turned away indif.
ferently. Joe reighted his pipe and sat
down beside Howard on the steps. The
rest threw themselves carelessly on the
grass, laughing and joking with one
another.
"You must been kind O soft on Lyd-
dy," Joe observed putting.
Howard laughed. ''Oh, well, if you
call it that. But she gave me the slip
all the same"
II s'pose, Mr.. Howard" after pause
removing the pipe from his mouth
s'pose ye wouldn't keer ter meet Lyddy
Jest now"
II should say I wouldr' he answered.
Joe turned around. "Lyddy!he call
ed, softly.
There was the sudden rustic of a dress
within the house. Howard started.
II thought I'd s'prise ye,' said Joe,his
face beaming.
"You don't mean to say" whispered
Howard, incredulously, 'that Lydia is
here with your"
Joe nodded his head slowly with min
gled pride and embarrassment. Howard
laughed through his teeth, a disagreeable
grating laugh.
Joe colored. Seems queerish, doesit ?
So't did to met first; RELY, I couldn't
realize ct, more'n you-sech gals
Lyddy. But tits SO, Lyddy's my wife"
Toward ceased laughing. "What! mar
lied to your he exclaimed in loud
voice.
The others looked up. Joe's face was
hot
II suppose marriage is one of your
id high notions" he added con-
temptuously.
'How? Noshuns! What dye mean?"
Howard looked amazed. 'Is it pos
sible that you don't know" He bent
forward and whispered in Joe's ear.
"Hey! What dye say?" Joe smiled,
with an effort, as though the point of an
intended joke had escaped him. Then
the meaning Of the words burst upon
him. He sprang to his feet.
"D-n ye, we ie!'' striking the man a
blow in the face.
Howard, staggering to his feet, pulled
out a revolver, but his companions, who
had rushed forward, seized his arm and
held him fast. His eyes were ablaze.
Course your he Kissed, you'll be
sorry for this!'
Joe hesitated. Perhaps he had been
hasty. There was no installing the
mans words, but, then possibly he was
not in earnest. 'I-I'm rather blunt,
mebby, but ye was lyin'-jokin,' I would
say-wan't YEP
"Not by id sightv' cried Howard
81 told the truth. Why not ask Lyddy :?
'Sech gals Lyddy,' you know, she'd
tell you.''
There was the sound of steps within
the bedroom; Lydia must have heard
all. Joe's fingers twitched How he
would like to throttle this fellow, and yet
might it not be true? There rushed
through his mind what Lydia had said
that night by the gate. Then she had
tried to tell him, but-her heart had
failed. Poor Lydia, had she not suffered
day by day in silence and alone? Had
she not been abused-great God, out
right! by-by the wretch! Joe clenched
his hands.
"Look ye! Lyddy may hev been bad,
eff ye calpt SO, but she was true t. ye. Ill
swear that; n was ye true ter Lyddy ?
By law she want yourn, yet she gave We
her hull trust. Think ye! was ye faith
full to It? afore Godr'
Joe stood there, his hard-worked
shoulders almost straight, in his simple
dignity. The members of the little group
surrounding Howard stood silent and ex-
pectant.
Howard shrugged his shoulders. ooh,
well, I don't claim to be an angel. When
woman makes fool of herself ="
Joe took step forward His whole
body trembled.
''There's times when the Lord hisself, j
smile on a woman's sim, n down trod-
din gail cling t. man till the last
straw's throwed on. Even eff there amt no
marriage I'll drop down an worship her!
N you-you that came yer sneer about
'Lr'