Wichita eagle., 1889-10-26

| OoJo ny OlcKS gov Ter GIT, TlgnG sinar1
| "Got to leave Rabbits Findp
"Yes. You see they're downright mad
cause they thought he'd done the generous
proper thing by Spiggot's wilder and the
cripple child; not but what there was an.
| other cyl
tSilence, you snake! He did do the gener.
GUS thing by me and my poor children, and
| by"-
"Spiggot, too"
eyes, he did; when wretches like you would
have made poverty and my love for them q
temptation"
what an unforgivin' temper you've got
Maybe you'll wish you hadn't been so pert
when you hear the verdic' agin him to-mor-
row night The boys will meet him at the
| stage and take him straight thar"
For while she stood looking after her old
enemy, as if unable to grasp the situation.
What was she to do? How could she save
Dicki Should she take her children and feel
No, that would be idle She knew her hus-
band too well to think he would allow her to
sacrifice herself. Her eyes wandered over
the camp, whose lights shone like fire flies
through the faint veil of mist, and then
turned to the neighboring mountain, with its
belt of pines, until at last they rested on the
distant outline of the Sierras. The hot day
had been followed by sultry night, and the
momentary breeze which had brought little
freshness died away as suddenly as it had
come. The place was not beautiful; even the
Eoftening grace of night was powerless to rob
it of its ugliness; but yet to this woman it
had fascination no words could express. 1t
was home; and as the thought that she must
leave it came to her, she looked upon it as
Eve may have looked on the garden when its
gates were about to close behind her.
Must they be driven away because the
wretched woman who had destroyed and de-
serted her husband had chosen to come back
to him! Dick had told her the story of his
miserable marriage, and she had listened to
the cries of her children and the promptings
of her heart; and now this woman had
found him out, and they must 60 forth beg
gars.
''Oh, Dick Dickl Have come to you to
ruin your Must give you upl Oh, l can
notl cannoti'
She cried aloud in her agony, looking up to
the solemn midnight sky, but no answer came
TO her from the starry dome, and nature
slept voiceless in the hot, MINDLESS night
The meeting house at Rabbit. Find owed
its existence to one Of those sudden bursts of
emotional religious feeling to which men who
lead hard lives are frequently prone. When
Mrs. Wagons reached the meeting house her
husband was already there, and without a
word she went and stood by his side The two
clasped hands and looked silently into each
others faces, neither having words TO express
the feelings that possessed them. Joe Wat
kins was In possession of the pulpit, and near
him sat the heroine of the hour, smiling
pleasantly on the company. The crowd was
unusually well dressed. So many boiled
shirts it was remarked afterwards, had never
been seen before in the camp. 1t was the
dry season, which accounted for the large
attendance; the majority, however, pre-
ferred hanging around and discussing the
matter out of doors to listening to Joe's elo-
quence within.
Things hev bin gettin' lax fer some time"
said Watkins land the camps decided to
make stand, and Wagons hez got ter git
that's it, he's got ter git. There's three things
as Rabbits Find can't stand-hoSs stealth,
crooked dealin at cards and bigamy. The
camp amt squeamish, but that's the verdic;
and as Dick Wagons hez deserted his lovin'
wife and married Spiggots wilder, why, in
course, he's got ter git"
The orator paused for a reply; but before
it could be given Dick, turning his back ON
Joe, addressed his Judges:
Five years ago." he said, 81 married that
painted Jezebel who left me after she had
spent my money and driven me to drink and
despair. Boys, you know what was when
came here; you know what / am now
W hat | was then was the work of that fiend;
what l am now is the work of this good wo-
man. She is my wife in the sight Of God and
in the eyes of all honest men. Wonder is
hell; here" clasping her to his breast, sis
heaven. She is my wife, my own true wife,
and d the law which says she's not!"
A thunder of applause broke out on this
speech, in the midst of which Bob Tinnett
entered the building.
''Snakes and live lightning!" he exclaimed,
as his eyes fell on the deserted Ariadne, who
at that moment was vigorously applauding
the speech of her Theseus. "Are you the
deserted wife that Internal hypocrite has
been jawing about"
''Do you know herr asked Wagons ca
yerly. 'If so, you can tell them what sort
Of woman, in my boyish folly, made my
wife"
mot your wife, Dick, my boy, because
lau married ner the year DeIOTe, ana was
No. s."
''Confound you, Joe Watkins" was the I'M
expected rejoinder of the much married wo-
nan. "a pretty mess you've got me into;
out you never were worth your salt
never"
What! Did you know him beforel"
houted dozen voices, while the advocate Of
public morality turned from gray to green.
know him' Why, he was my first VEN
ure. You may be sure, gentlemen, l did not |
NOW my own value in the market when I |
married him. He promised me a pile if l |
would come along and work this game. He'd |
rot a spite against poor Dick and his wife. I |
lated to do Dick another i'll turn. Upon my |
lonor, now, Dick, l did; but I'd struck moth
ng but i'll luck for so long"
Don't apologize, ma'am," replied Dick, |
,rimly. What have just learned makes
ne very glad you came. But as for this
and he turned on Joe, who groveled
t his feet in abject terror.
Don't shoot, Dick" said Jack LEROY
Such vermin are not worth lead. He is
aving for hemp Get up, you cur, and take
his charming wife of yours and go. And
ow, boys. straight for Randys."-G. B.
in brakes Magaziza.
The Newsr and Better Way.
The following form for the arrangements
IL. L I