Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1888-01-14
To my old friends she'd say:

TWould De dom Mrs. Eawl1nS
kindness not to do no visitin' to her
house. What with her big family an
The churnin's an everything to do, she
can't keep baked up and she's so NOR
tilted eff she's ketched when her table
amt in apple-pie order"
As her underhanded ways an tricks
bowed palmer to my sight, I got so l
disliked her more an more. used to
fetch deep signs whenever I see her a
comm toward the house. Seemed as
ct I'd give worlds to shake her off an
be free from her sneakin' and peakin'
an tattlin';; but twas as eff I couldn't
never find the right way nor time, bein'
natterelly ov timid dispersishun an
afraid to stand up fer myself.
But as the old sayin' is, there's a
end to all things; an the end to Mrs.
Possumnose's mischiefmakin' to our
house warn't fur off.
A friend O. Seth's from the city came
a visitin' to our house. He warn't no
relation, but Seth he'd knowed him for
for some time, an when he was to the
city last he'd gin him invite to come
an stay few days.
This Mr.. Reynolds wus tol'able
fne-lookin' man, though not by emmy
means what ye'd call han'sum, an he
he'd city breedin' about him, that is, a
kind O. easy, polished way that sot
MATERIAL upon him an showed off to
good advantage. Besides he he'd a sight
O. book larnin,' Mr.. Reynolds he'd, an
amazin' pleasin' way o. talkin'.
Me an Seth enjoyed his company an
done all we could to make his stay
agree BILE to him.
The very night he got here Mrs.
Possumnose popped in purtendin' to be
in a dretful hurry, she he'd come to
borrow my rollin' pin, she said, cause
she'd broke the handle off'n hern. She
followed me into the huttery, SOS to
see what I'd baked up, stopped to look
into the front room to see eff there
warn't a speck O. dust to be seen, an
out she shooted in hot haste, cause jest
then Seth drew up; he'd been to the
deepo arter Mr.. Reynolds. She
wouldn't hev him see her for the
world, she said.
Wall, his visit come to a end an the
very afternoon O. the day he left us,
Mrs. Possumnose come visitin' to our
house.
II want ye to tell me jest what kind
ov lookin' man Mr.. Reynolds is," ses
she, the fust thing arter I'd took her
things off to the bedroom an she'd got
her log-cabin patchwork a-goin,.
WALL" ses 1, so kinder sly, cause I
loved to set her curiosity on edge, "he's
much the same lookin' as other men,
only he's got sight smarter look
about him than some on 'em."
dispose ye mean that he's smarter
lookin' than yer man an mine," ses
she.
"Mebbe do, an mebbe I DON'T" ses
II should think ye'd like him better
than yer own man, SEEM ye take so
much stock in smart men," ses she.
eyer gittin' off the straight track"
ses I, "never meant to say that"
"Wall," ses she, "but ye know his
hands is white an soft an he's so kind
o. diff'runt behavin' from the men
round these parts, an he wears white
stovepipe hat; that makes him look so
kind o. stylish, ye know"
EYES," ses I, "but all that's no sign I
must go to lovin' him." an begui to
feel Uneasy an narvous like; cause I
zee what she was drivin' at.
ooh, WE'LL" ses she, Eyer good ways
rom lovin' him, I amt feard to bet.
You hadn't orter be so tetchy, cause we
know. we are such friends
A fortni't or so arter that, Seth came
nome burstlin' with madness. He'd
Din down to the postoffice arter the
nail an there's where he laid in his
stock O. righteous anger.
"Look here, Melviny," ses he to me,
EFF We don't make that possum over
here keep her nose out o. this here
place, I will; hang me eff I dontr"
"What's happened" ses I, "what
makes ye so riled up? Why, ye're as
ed in the face as old turkey COB
bler!"
"Who wouldn't be red," ses Seth, a.
lingin' himself onto the settee an
,nortin' powerfully.
II hedn't do more'n sat foot into the
office, when up comes old man Filkins."
avail, Seth, my boy ses he, he al
Ways calls me that, seem he knowed
ne from a baby, 4 pity ye, indeed that
do
"'What ferp" ses I.
"Dont pertend We don't know what |
I'm drivin' at, why, it's all over this ere
community an ye've got most folkse's |
in yer heavy affliction,' ses
Id Filkins.
"Pity! sympathy ses I, 4 don't |
tand in need ont, as I know on. Can't |
q say what's up?'"
"'Boy," ses he, .ye're actin like q
nan, bearein' yer trouble without no
Iinchin' nor no whinin', I respect ye all |
he more fer it. But it must be hard
er ye, what's thort the world an all |
, yer wumman, to see her head turned
y that city chap. Yes, it must be a
litter pill, to see the mother ov your
hildrin set VIC eside for t'other, An it |
L