Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1890-04-05

Asver met him, and [ found myself
flushing unaccountably when she in
PRODUCED Us, and I imagined that he
looked amused as his bright black eye
took in my Quaker costume.
They sang several pieces, and moth
ing / have ever heard since has sounded
in any way equal to those grand Meth
odist hymns, rung forth in that humble
home by those young disciples.
At parting they both shook my
hand and warmly invited me to
visit them. There was moth
ing for me to do but return the courtesy,
though I inwardly trembled as they
promised to accept my invitation.
said that my sister ard I did not
get out very much since Nathan had
gone away. 1 thought Dell's cheeks
grew q good deal roster at the mention
of his name.
in less than a fortnight they came
over to spend an evening, which was a
common custom in those days.
Father was most ungracious and
mother dare not be otherwise.
Poor little Hepsie was so divided be-
tween her fear of displeasing father and
her fear of his offending our guests,
that she was as pale as sheet and all
of tremblc. There was no other way
but for me to defy everything and
act the part Of a cordial hostess,
which did to the best of my ability
and to Hepsie's great admiration. But
do the best I could the evening passed
off painfully. 1 did not dare to invite
them to come again, nor promise to re-
turn this, with father grimly watching
me from under the broad brim of his
hat. (The men wore their hats In the
house as yell as out of doors In our
settlement
Hepsie cried herself to sleep in my
arms that night. The next morning we
were requested to drop all associations
outside of our own church. Had been
boy like Nathan, am sure 1 would
have taken my chances out in the world
from that hour-but was only a girl,
and girls were not near so independent
then as now.
We rarely met the Cranes after that.
for our folks kept US in sight most OF
the time.
The Methodists were having a great
revival too and that made them more
unpopular than ever among the Qua
kers.
Meanwhile Hepsie and I were being
theoretically courted by two young
men in our own church.
Father favored these youth, and so OF
course mother did; but we-well We
dare not snub them nor did we care to
encourage them, only Hepsie said she
supposed father would make us marry
| them.
docs thee believe in love, Ruth %
she asked pathetically of me once.
"Ofcourse 1 do, child" replied, "and
they'll never get me to marry man
that do not love just because he is a
Quaker. I'll leave as Nathan did,
first"
"Oh, Ruthiei it sounds dreadful for
thee to talk so; what would father and
mother say?"
1t was early in June that father was
taken sick with low, slow fever, and
there was no one to see to the farm but
Jimmie, then only fourteen, so there
was nothing could be done but write to
Pittsburgh and see if Nathan would
come home
He came, though by so doing he lost
a paying position.
shall never forget the look of horror
on mothers face as she beheld him
dressed in worldly style.
When father assailed him about it he
replied firmly:
Il have given up good thing to come
here and care for-for thee, Che was
going to say "you," but checked him
self "and now I will not be
told what I may wear OF
how must speak. I will try and dc
as near like used to as I can, but not
one word of interference will stand. !"
Father groaned and mother cried,
but Nathan went off whistling to see
about the farm business, and thus the
matter dropped.
told him, at the first opportunity,
about the call of the Cranes, and he
laughed and said he had heard of it.
"How?" asked in surprise.
Then he told me that he and Dell
had corresponded ever since he went
away.
The next Sunday morning he dressed
himself with great care, and saddling q
horse rode off in the direction of the
Methodist meeting house.
Mother looked grieved and drew
the blinds so father could not see.
Nathan did not return till after the
night meeting.
Father finally got better of the fever,
but the first time he stepped out Of
doors he took cold and it turned tc
rheumatism. Now he was helpless and
likely to be.
Toward fall Nathan and he had talk.
He wanted Nathan to take the farm
and run it for so much; but Nathan
thought he'd better take it on the
shares.
"One thing more, father" he said; ii
1 stay here shall put up little house
in the maple grove and bring wife tc
il"
"a wifep father gasped.
Yes, I am going to marry Miss Crane,
and of course can not bring her here.
There was something of scene. only
Nathan nipped it in the bud by say