The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1888-11-23

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victuals' and eaten off cracked plate
he rose to go, having thanked hi
hostess with all the wordy compliment
of an Irish tongue.
"Will We be worlSin' hereabouts?" sh'
asked, with coquettish side-glanc'
that seemed to cause the man some in
ternal CONFUSION which he srnothere(
in a cough.
AN if Oi do" he said, smiling, sit:
Oh that'll know where to go for the
good company"
Late that evening man dressed as g
common laborer forced his way through
the little knot of loungers round the
door OF the village inn, and entering
the bar-room demanded nights lod--
ing. As he was signing his name
slowly and carefully, the burly land
lord commenced the usual catechism
for the benefit of the listeners.
''Been fur:?"
''Quite ways"
''Goin' fur?"
THAT depends"
''Lookin' fer work?"
THAT depends, also"
"'Cause | was goin' to say" con-
tinued the landlord, THAT eff you WIZ.
Jim Anderson, he wants some hands to
help with the haydn an harvestin'.
He lives mile down the road on yer
left"
Thanks" said the man. ."I'll apply
in the morning"
''Prob'bly seen better days" COM
mented the landlord as the stranger
disappeared. Talks like one o. these
ere swells-kind o high and mighty
like. Not much of name"
Each of the silent audience rose.
passed behind the counter to look at
the greasy, thumb-marked register,
and shook their heads solemnly over
the awkwardly traced signature, James
Brown"
A week of harvesting to those who
have been present, and especially to
those who have assisted, either willing
ly or otherwise, needs no description.
1t means week of work so hard and
so sparsely interspersed with hours of
rest as to be a bug-bear even to expert
enced hands.
On the first day the newcomer
worked heroically, though regarded
with suspicion by those already in the
field; the second day was worse than
the first and he threw himself on his
bed at night, too tired to undress.
When he reached the afternoon of the
third day he Strengthened his cramped
back, wiped his aching forehead,
looked at his blistered hands and
groaned aloud. No one was near
enough to hear him at the time-no one
but pretty little miss passing with a
can of cooling butter-milk for some
lucky toiler. She paused and looked
at him doubtfully for a moment.
'What a pretty little girl, 'he thought.
vaguely. Il wish dare ask her for a
drink"
"You's one the green hands, bean't
youP" she asked, smiling. Don't We
want drink"
Il do. indeedr' replied the man, fer
vently. She filled the cover of the can
and when he had drained it he handed
it back 10 her with grateful thank
you, at the same time touching his hat.
She stopped at this evidently novel
proceeding and looked at him Curl
ously.
IN bring We some more tomorrow,
eff We like" she said. AN I'll asst Bub
ter holp We weth the haydn when e
kim" Then size blushed and hurried
away.
"Bub-hm-rustic swain" he solilo-
quized. As he was leaving the field
that night he was surprised b. sting
ing blow on the shoulder, and on turn
ing to face his assailant he recog-
nized the ''rustic swain" in spite of
the very unpleasant frown on his brow.
"Tll larn We ter NEEDLE with my galr
he began, ominously.
But, my dear young man" The
'dear young man" never heard the rest /
of that speech. He terminated it with
a well-aimed blow in the eye, and fol-
lowed that up by a series of cuffs and
blows and pommelliags, very satisfying
to his injured feelings, but very dis
to the recipient, who struck
out blindly, gasping with establishment
and rarely hitting any thing more re-
sisting than air.
Thar" said Bub, giving a last
thwack at the disconsolate figure sitting
on the ground, thar, mabbe thatll do |
20. F l ketch her a-speakin' to We
agin I'll thrash We every night for the
res o the week" Then he went of |
with the laughing spectators, very
much the hero of the hour.
The man on the ground sat for long
time without moving, and no one came !
near him. Then he raised his head and |
rubbed his bruises feelingly.