Wichita eagle., 1889-06-07

| and parade was talked OF. But the crown
ing glory Of the reception was to be a ban
quet, the like of which had never been seer
in Pawpaw county.
A committee on finance was appointed
and all present were requested to donate.
AM" said Hank, ''every feller thar di,
down IN his pocket an chipped in all he could
spare"
! 1t was decided that the members of the
finance committee should visit the outlying
claims to solicit the cooperation of tho
| claim holders
1--WE scattered out lively" went on Hank
| ''fer every teller was anxious to git the fur
therest around, SOS TO collect the most money
| When we gathered agin, everybody was thar
but Ira Henneker. An Just as we were
gittin' tired O. waitin', he slipped in, sayin
nothin'
L visited three claims sez one.
i was at three, sez another.
"Some had only ben to two, an one OF two
had visited four.
'Shucksr sez I. 4 was at five, an didn't
hurt myself, either
''Ira didn't say nuthin'
How many did yer make, Iryr the cheer
man asst him.
y.
! ''All the boys but Ira begun to chuck their
money down on the table.
Much did you git, Iryr sez the cheer
nan
Ira squirmed around on his heels fer a
minute
"'Nonep sez he, pretty soon, an shorter
than ever. Hain't even got my own nowr
Wal, sez the cheerman, burned if you
haint pretty lookin' chap to let a claim
holder clean you out that-a-wayr
" If you don't like my way growled Ira,
right savage, Jest lump it, an be durn to
your
AN he jumped up an left the room, leav-
ing us with our mouths open, SO to sneak
By the time we come to our senses. con-
tinued Hank, "Ira want nowhur to be found
Boys sez the cheerman, 'sump'n' demands
our attention MORN the boom business Iry,s
crazy, reckon
OF we put toward the claim Ira had
visited. Some Nv US knowed by sight the
feller that was a-holdin' lt-quiet, peaceable
chap from summers East. But, quiet or not.
Lone Mound had no use for ANYBODY that
not only wouldn't whoop up the boom, but
actually robbed the committee, an 50 we
a-reckoned on his a-leavin' We neighborhood
shortly after we got there"
The poor cabin or ''shack" of the claim
holder did not look hke the abode of des-
perate character Beside the door was little
bed OF bright hued prairie flowers, and a wild
morning glory was trained up to one Of the
little windows. The approach of the COM
mltteemen met no opposition, and, with wea-
pons handy, they entered the cabin.
Upon the poor bed lay the claim holder
His emaciated face, fever flushed and CHASTITY.
and his voice, little more than a quavering
whisper, told of a dangerous illness. On the
table lay little heap of money, and on a
chair at the bedside was bowl of broth
I'm glad to sees you," the sick man said
family. Il suppose Ira Henneker sent you
He was here a little while ago."
The intruders appeared exceedingly uncom-
Portable, Each looked at his neighbor, as if
mutely asking him to say something appro-
pirate,
''Sick long, pardnerY' asked the chairman
Of the committee, presently.
II don't know" said the sick man, YEARLY.
Il have been delirious, | think | grew
worse and worse, and then all was blank
till just before Ira came. 1t may not have
been long, yet it seems months since I felt
myself slipping from consciousness But l
feel little, just little, better now Ira was
very kind to me- and the broth did me good"
1t was evident that he had not seen the
money on the table.
Il must get well as soon as can, for Alice
is coming soOn-coming soon"
Alicel He dwelt lovingly on the name.
"Alicel Little Alice Coming soon"
How soonw asked the chairman, for want
Of more appropriate question.
''If she meets with no delay on the trip, she
will be here by the 10th or 18th of this
month. must hurry and get well by that
time, for want to meet her when the buck
board brings her over from Prairie City |
am going to hire you to bring her, Hank,
and Why, hos gonel'
Hank did not learn all Of the story till
-sttsrward. 1t WIS tie simple story of two
long waiting hearts The claim holder had
come west to make on the prairie a home for
the only girl in the world to him, and to
whom he was the only man in the world.
And she, left behind, had persevered in her
luties as the teacher of little country sshool
adding to the small store of dollars that
should be common property when they be-
,ame one.
Presently the time prescribed by law before
/ claim becomes the property of ''home-
teader" would end, and then they could set
le down comfortably in little prairie home |
# their own.
At last, little windfan, in the form of
mall legacy from a distant relative, came TO !
he girl, and she hastened TO write the good
lews TO her lover The marriage need not be I
any longer. As soon as the neces- (
ary legalities were completed and she OBJ /
aimed possession of her property, she would /
lasten to him.
A little later the claim holder fell Ill; how 1
dangerously he did not realize.
At his isolated cabin his condition had not 1
zen suspected by the scattered neighbors till |
he visit Of the boomers
Ere the claim holders story was ended
hero came the thud Of hoofs and moment
ater Ira Henneker strode in, followed by DR..
accord, from Prairie City.
The boomers left the cabin, but when. after
he examination, DR.. McCord joined them,
ith grave face and solenlnly shaken head,
ley re-entered the house Without consult
lg the rest, the treasurer of the finance COM
littee laid on the table little pouch con-
aiming the reception fund.
Doc" said he, in hoarSe aside, III
lOney'l make
Il can only do my best returned the ply
clan.
Whats left viii be plenty fer began
lie chairman
Plenty fer the BOOM" finished some one,
) the chairman paused
Ten minutes later, with the exception of
lie physician and couple Of volunteer nurses,
lie sick man was alone The rest Of the
oonaers were attending TO duties or purchas-
g articles deemed by clumsy sympathizers
be of utility 10 an invalid This done,
lev arrayed themselves in their best clothes.