Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-10-10

II oughtn't to tell you such things.
ought ~"
"Well, it can't do any harm. and it
may be that I can help them some
way"
'.Ah. wish you could"
Perhaps I can if know all about
it. Do you know why your grand
father acts so bad towards your moth
err"
mo. sir, only that he don't like pa,
and when pa and ma married they
came off to Kansas. and they never
write back home and never get any
letters"
That's too bad. Is your grandpa
rich?'
''Yes, sir; ma says he has lots of
land and money and-and-
thing"
Hum. hum. too bad. too bad.''
'.He's not a, very good grandpa, is
hep" i
"Well, don't know. We could tell
better about that if we were to see
him. Would you like to see him?'
''Why don't your ma write to him
and tell him all about this trouble?
He might help her."
''She did speak about it and so did
pa. but they said it wouldn't do any
good, so they gave it up"
Then there followed several minutes
of silence, and as the horses trotted
leisurely along. the man looked
thoughtfully at the bottom of the
buggy while the girl looked out across
the prairie. forming imaginary pic
lures in the darkness. They had al
most reached Jennie's home. when her
companion raised his head. and shak-
ing himself as if he had just awoke
from sleep. asked.
do you know your grandpa's
name?"
Eyes, sir, it is Reuben Thayer."
'sWhat town does he live in?'
HE lives in Ohio. but forget the
town."
Cant you remember it?"
..Pm afraid not But have it on a
slip of paper here. Do you want it?''
Eyes, I do. What were you going
to do with it?''
s.I-you won't never tell, will you?"
Indeed WON'T
| 81 was going to write to him and
tell him every thing. but was afraid
to write, and didn't
| '.Look here. I've thought up little
scheme. Can you keep a secret?"
| Eyes, sir; if 1 ought to 1 can"
| ssyVo11 Won n,rht tn fhic fipoo on1
you must. Now, we'll go in together
and put up a little job on your pa and
ma. Well write to Mr.. What's-his-
name-your grandpa. I mean-we'l
| write to him and tell him all about
this land trouble. and I'll bet you any
thing it turns out all right. If it don't
why there won't be any harm done.
and nobody but you and will be dis
appointed. Now, what do you say to
that?"
81 I don't know. Do you think it
would be right?"
''Why, of course. There, couldn't
be any harm in it. could there?"
mo, sir, and I think it would be a
good idea"
sThen I'll write the letter when /
get back and you must keep perfectly
still aboutit.'
Il will, and if it all comes around
right pa and ma will be happy" Won
| der what the agent would think?'
''Why, he'd be as glad as he could
| be-
| The buggy rolled back across the
prairie, and after Jennie had waited a
| few minutes to listen to the gathering
of the horses feet she went into the
house.
You were so late, Jennie" the
mother said. "that began to feel un-
easy about you. was afraid that you
had lost the way"
Jennie then told about her expert
ence of the night and her meeting
with the stranger who brought her
home.
asked. os.
"Oh, I never once thought to ask
him. He was a good, kind man,
though. and I wish he was the agent
instead of Mr.. Babcock, rdon't you,
mother?''
81 wish some one who has more
heart than Mr.. Babcock was agent"
"The gentleman said Mr.. Babcock
was not to blame, though. and that the
people judge him wrong"
That's all very we'll to say, but
people whose homes are taken away
don't see it so well. What does Mr..
Babcock care if we are turned out OF
doors without a dollar in the world ?
People who are not robbed don't
know"
A week passed and, though the doc
tors visits had been regular, Mrs.
Skaggs' condition had not improved.
and the doctor thought it likely not to
improve while her mind was SO bur-
dened with care and anxiety. Jennie
had been kept close to the house since
the night she met the stranger, and
during all the week she had seen no
more of him. -
It was late in the afternoon of Satur-
day and the doctor had made his visit
and departed. Jennie came out to the
fence to watch him as he rode away.
and was still looking after him when