Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1888-06-16

repeat those last four words rapidly.
YOU will find that you do not say, a.
you believe you do. II made your
boots, but Il major boots
The lucky Skinner detected this fact
on the instant.
aMajor Boots!" he cried, demon
stratively, shaking hands. Dear, dear |!
how could / forget you for moment?
Delighted to see you-delighted. Mrs.
Ginger, let me introduce you to my
old friend, MAJOR Boots"
$50 glad to know you" responded
the old lady thus introduced "rm
sure I've heard Cousin Skinner speak
of You q thousand tines. Sit down,
do, and tell me who all those people
are. I'm quite stranger. I've iso-
lated myself in Europe SO long. Sit
down, Major Boots; here is a chair"
The newly christened bootmaker
hesitated q moment, but it was not
possible for him to CRY out, "rm not
Major Boots; Pm Grab, the boot
maker, come for my bill" He found
he had not the courage. He crammed
his hat under the velvet chair to which
he was motioned, and subsided into
angry silence. while the old lady
went on.
ooh, Major, I always feel SO glad
when I have the opportunity to talk
to military man! [ adore courage.
And were you ever wounded? Do tell
me all about it.
The bootmaker, finding it necessary
to reply, said @that he never had been
wounded"
And the old lady went on: @Never
How chsrmingl Bore a charmed life,
and all that sort of thing. Do tell
me all about it."
The bootmaker replied that "there
was nothing to tell"
On which that most gushing of old
ladies cried: @Now, Major, I won't be-
lieve that. It's like the modesty of
you celebrated military men. I know
you stormed redoubts and led forlorn
hopes, and were the only one left of
your regiment, and all that. I'm sure
I read all about it at the time. Oh,
here is Col. Freize, celebrated officer
did something awfully brave in India.
Colonel. let me make you acquainted
with Mai. Boots, one of our bravest
military men. He's been telling me all
about the wonderful things he did in
the army. I mean he wouldn't tell me
about them Just like all you great
men-wont trouble himself to fight
his battles over for an old woman.
"Aw-awfully charmed, Pm sure" re-
sponded the gallant Colonel. cav
fully, aw! Must introduce you to my
brother, Capt. Freize, in the same
wegiment with myself"
The bootmaker had risen, and was
looking down on his business suit.
II didn't intend to-that is, didn't
expect to be at such swell affair as
this, he stammered, cor II should
have worn my dress suit"
ooh, my dear fellow, we always ex-
pect you officers to be wough and
weady. We'd be disappointed if you
were not. The ladies, you know, adore
wough and weady men"
Away he led the bootmaker, who
really began to feel that he must have
been, at some period of his life, mill
tary man. And after being introduced
to Capt. Freize as Maj. de Boots, who
was delighted, found himself tete-a-
tete with very lovely young French
LADY, who addressed him as General
de Buta, and whom, at the request of
his hostess, whom he had never seen
before, and who had no idea who he
was, he took down to supper.
This stranger had been set down as
most eccentric and distinguished mil
itary man by everybody. He was re-
garded with attention, listened to with
reverence when he condescended to say
few words. The French lady intro
duced him voluminously as General de
Buta; and thus was he addressed there
after. The servants offered him cham
paign frequently, and the bootmaker
gradually grew exlilarated. Never
had he been present at such elegant
festivities: never had he partaken of
such viands-been so overwhelmed with
festivities. Never had 80 lovely q
creature leaned upon his arm. Never
had he tasted such wine. At first it
exhilsrated him; then it appeared to
him that his host was glorious fellow,
and that he was under infinite obligae
lions to him.
Doubling his fist, he brought it down
upon the table with crash that made
the glasses ring again.
"Better man than Skinner don't live"
cried he.
Il agree with you" said his neighbor,
politely.
"Ah! 1 adore such enthusiastic
friendship, such lofe, like Damon and
Pythias, calculated the French lady.
"How original! How delightful &C.
centric! A perfect military man!'
whispered others.
Meanwhile the bootmaker, stagger-
ing to his feet, made his way as best he
could toward his host.
skinner, he cried, 3look here! I
came"-here he reeled and caught at
tablet came to give you this be-
fore every (hic) everybody"
And he held out his folded bill,
which Mr.. Skinner instantly took.
@NowI-I wouldn't Chic) do it-for-
for"
Mr.. skinner beckoned two ants.
sMydear old friend" he said, "you're
not we'll. Let these men put you in .