The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1890-11-28

was 30 mucn OF MIN 10 get iOnoSOmo.
But his life had been devoted to sterner
things than thoughts Of love; notwith-
standing his indomitable spirit and his
untiring industry. it had taken him
years, single-handed and unequipped
as he was, to bring his Texas home to its
present value.
While standing Eliminating at the
door Johns vision was greeted by the
appearance of Jessie Carell, "the school,
marin o. Sassafras," as some called her.
who lived at Colonel Bludsoe's, mile to
the north of Rose ranch, and taught the
Sasssfras school nearly three miles to
the south. She passed Johns home,
therefore, every day, and sometimes he
! Joined her and accompanied her to the
door OF the school-house. This was
when Cephas Bludsoe was not along.
She was sweet little woman; no one
conld help thinking that.
Usually she rode black pony on her
trips back and forth to school, but on
this particular morning shewas walk
ing. :,
as she came up and smiled . greeting he
went down the path and took posses
sion of her books and 1unch-basket.
FLOWS 1t come you're walkin' this
down the road. "Where's the pony?"
"'Doo' got out among the range
horses last night" she answered, San I
thought I wouldn't wait till he was
caught. can stand walkin' to-day, as
there's no school at all tomorrow"
Observation-Disclosures so. But It's
too far fer you to walk. Jessie. I'll see
tibet you ride back this evening. I'll
| have one o. my ponies down to the
school-house fer you"
''Cephas is goin' to bring Doc down,
he said" Her eyes fell as she said this
The frown returned to Johns brow,
darker than ever. He said nothing for
a moment. Then he shifted the books
on his arm, and muttered something to
the effect that it might snow big for
Thanksgivin'."
"Sister Carries comm to-day to spend
Thanksgivin' and month with me-" he
informed her presently.
Comm from Ohio2"
"Yes. She'll get to Houston station
on the afternoon train, an I'll meet 'er.s
From all you've told me about Carrie,
I think I'd like TO see her very much"
remarked the young school-ma'am, earn
estly.
would you?" said John. "I'll tell
you: s'pose you spend Thanksgivln' at
Rose ranch, an Carrie IL get up rous-
In dinner fer u.s."
"Tm sorry" she began, paused, and
continued: I'm sorry, but I promised
Cephas to go over to Galloway's with
him tomorrow"
"Seems like you an Cephas are havin'
Q good deal to do with one another
o. late" John muttered in q hard voice.
Then he added: 1--WE been thinkin' o.
you all mornin'." Judging from the
way he spoke this, 1t was not unlikely
that his thoughts of her had affected
him more than the weather.
81 hope you thought good things" she
said, pleasantly.
II heard you an Cephas were goin' to
marry, Cbristmas-times," he said, abb
ruptly.
She glanced up at him quickly.
"Who told that?" she asked.
The subject was suddenly dropped at
this point. Cephas Bludsoe came riding
up and blusteringly saluted them.
GLOOMY day, amt it, Ellsworth" he
remarked. "Hope it won't snow afore I
get back from the station. Coin down
to-day, John?"
"To the station? Yes, this afternoon"
John answered, quietly.
"I'll see you there, mebbe."
"She didn't deny it." he muttered. 81
reckon 1t must be So"
That afternoon he went to Houston
station, which was a good eight miles
from Rose ranch, and when the train
from the north came there was Carrie,
as radiant and gladstone as of cd.
As the two started in the little spring.
wagon for the ranch, John noticed Ce-
phas entering the stations liquor resort
in company with two young fellows who
were notorious ne'er-do-wells. It proved
that this was the beginning of great
Thanksgiving drunk on the part Of the
three.
"Seems like he's forgot his promise
to take the black pony fer Jessie, John
thought.
Brother and sister were rejoiced at
meeting again after their long sepa-
ration, and the miles were travelled
quickly.
However, they had hardly left tho
station when John noticed peculiar
change in the atmosphere. Itgrew cold
and the sky was lowering. Evidently . 4
STERN was near.
He whipped up the horses and they
sped along rapidly.
Darker and darker grew the heavens.
John thought he had never known
storm to approach so swiftly.
It became bitterly cold. and the wind
blew from the north. Suddenly the sieet |
and snow began to fall, and John knew
that they were in the midst Of one Of
those terrible billiards Of the South |
west.
He made Carrie as comfortable as pos |
sible with his big buffalo robe and her !
shawls, and bundled up himself all he /,
could, but still they suffered from the |
cold.
BY the time they reached Sassafras !
school-house there were two feet of |
snow on the ground, and it was falling |
in binding flood.
The building was deserted and locked. |
John thought Of Cepbas in the saloon at !
the station, and wondered if Jessie had I
waited for the black pony.
They were still more than a mile from |
Rose ranch. when human form. pros |
trate In the snow, caused the horses to
shy and brought an exclamation from !
John.