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

usual tonight. AS she came around tne
corner she perceived young mar
sitting at an uncovered pine table, his
figure strongly silhouetted against the
window.
0Ahr' said she, the spirit of righteous
evaporation rising up in her heart, "rve
caught you at last in the very midst Of
your evil practices!'
The young man rose hurriedly to his
feet.
II beg your pardon" he began; but
the tide Of Hattie's indignation was not
thus easily stemmed
"Don't beg my pardon" she said;
'beg the pardon of society-of public
opinion-of everything else which you
are outraging by this shameful behavior
Of yours. Apparently you have neither
pride nor self-respect left-now take my
advice; turn over new leaf. Give up
your evil practices and set yourself to
earn decent living. Look me in the
eyes, young man, she added, severely,
tell me if you are not ashamed Of your
selfv'
To all appearances the culprit was
stricken dumb Involuntarily he raised
pair of clear, honest eyes to Hattie's
face, according to orders, but he did not
speak word, good, bad or Indifferent.
"He's not bad-looking," thought Hat
tie; ''but I must not neglect the chance
of making an impression. 1 am surpris-
ed at your she added aloud; "a great,
able-bodied fellow like you, sitting down
as disreputable incubus on your
friends and relatives. Don't you know
you are the talk of the neighborhood?
Get up-go to work! Never let me see
you idling here again! No; don't an
swer me. 1 never enter into argument
with people in my district. Logic is
useless in case like this"
She hurried to old Milo, who, being
stone deaf, looked smilingly on during
this brief but energetic monologue, as
if it had been a recitation from Shake
speare.
"Here's some extract of beef for you,
Mr.. Reneau," she shouted in his ear;
'and tumbler of lemon jelly! I hope
your lumbago is better. Tn sorry can't
stay little longer to-day, but I'll come
again very soon"
And nodding and smiling good-by to
him, she hustled away.
She arrived none too soon on the do
nestle tapis.
Betsy had already broken one of the
moss-rose tea cups, and spilled all the
salad dressing, SO that Hattie had to go
to work to make more.
Cousin Prodgitt had lost her specta-
Giles, and Mrs. Hardy could not find her
best lace frill.
Consequently she was only half through
arranging her hair when Mrs. Hardy
called up the staircase:
Harriet Harriet Mr.. Gray has
Gomez
She hurriedly cooled up the shining
bronze locks and fastened them with
shell pin, tied the Swiss muslin bow at
her throat, and, catching up her pocket
handkerchief, ran down stairs
Cousin Prodgitt was still adjusting her
cap strings in her own room.
Mrs. Hardy had gone to see if the tea
was properly STEPPING; and SO our hero
inc walked directly into the presence of
Reverend Cecil Gray.
81 am Miss Hardy" said she, 81 beg
your pardon! but"
Here she stopped, with the syllables of
further speech fairly frozen on her
ongue.
A cold chill crept through all her veins
as she recognized the curly brown hair,
the clear, honest eyes, the thick mus
tache.
But the Reverend Cecil was equal to
the emergency.
'.Don't beg my pardonr said he,
gravely, although there was roguish
sparkle in his eyes. "Beg the pardon of
society-of public opinion. No, Miss
Hardy" he cried, suddenly dropping his
solemn mannerism;' don't look so distress
ed! OF course it was a mistake. Don't
1 know perfectly well that it was"
"Oh, dear! oh, dear!" gasped Hattie.
T., thought it was Gilbert Reneau. I
never had seen him, you know, and it
was so dark, and--and-'
"And SO you scolded the wrong man."
said Mr.. Gray. "Well, I'll pass the lee
ture on to the genuine offender at the
very first opportunity, only 1 am afraid 1
cannot emphasize it half SO neatly as you
did"
ooh, DON'T" said Hattie, piteously
lifting her little hands. "Please don'tw
mo WON'T" said Mr.. Gray. "We'n
forget and forgive"
And when cousin Prodgitt and. Mrs.
Hardy came in Hattie and the young
clergyman were earnestly discussing the
rival merits of the geraniums on Mrs.
Hardy's f1ower-stand.
Mrs. Prodgitt stayed until spring, and
when she went back home she told her
daughter that Hattie Hardy was engaged
to young minister.
''Or at least I suspicion she is" she
added. "She won't own nothin' fer sartin;
but things amt now as they used to be.
Folks as was engaged to be married used
to be proud of it. But Hattie's queer
girl. She hasn't been brought up as
girls were brought up in my day"
The Boy Whom Holman Befriended.
National Republican.
Every one will remember the appoint