The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-08-15

Noffh6t CObp and Brundige were be-
coming wealthy or above the necessity OF
daily tel. On Ghes contrary, they,worked
harder than ever, rarely allowing them
selves the luxury Ola days hunt And slim
ulated out of his old loafng habits by the
example set by; the junior member OF the
| firm the dimirutive ''senior" even began
| to growl at the necessary delays incidental
| to the preparation Of meals
six hours out'n the twenty-four spent
I a-frying slapjscks and sowbelly,nn he would
! growl angrily. mo wonder we can't get
no more ore on the dump! On, you can
| GRIM
1T was only smile of enjoyment due to
/ this delicious coffee" Brundige would de-
precatingly remark. by the way, Andy,
what's the matter With hiring US a hay
then Chinee' as grub Singer"
''Oh, yessee! Ne Hkee billed lats. Him
belize good Club" sneeEed Andy, with a
happy mimicry of the Celestian sang froid.
| 'Durn Chinaman, fsayl'
Il tell We, my son." Cobb pIacidly re-
marked one morning as the partners Of the
Busted Hopes" sat down TO discuss their
frugal meal, this there ALFRED way Of
eternally trottin' around town with burnt
fingers, greasy breeches an'-four all over
my bloemin' counrepance has got to stop.
That's whatit hask Jest lock at OF Andy
right now-plastered with batter an spst~
tered with bacon fat an bean soupl Amt
I pictur"
Get yourself an apron" advised Ed
Il anr' exclaimed Cobb, with startling
decision. AN apron an dress; yes,
big mother hubbard that's what! Oh,
yes, I'm goin' ter git 'em. An I'll git me
a sun bonnet an a polynee an some but
toned shoes an lace collar foot high;
an'-yes, by goshen!-rII git me some one
70 wear EN-, toov'
Having relieved his mind by this little
outburst the miner quietly assaulted the
ham and eggs, Covertly watching his com
panion meantime
Going to hire a lady cook, ehi'' inquired
Ed carelessly. Won't you find that an
expensive luxury, and besides difficult to
secure out here in the wildsf"
TOO much soda in these biscuits grum-
bled Andy, AN the eggs are burnt an
the ham cut too thin. That's allus the
way when a fool man tries ter cook. Ed,
my lad, I'm goin' to commit allymony."
WHAT"
Yes, I am, sure as-as eggs! You
wouldn't think it ter look at me, but I'm
jest as good as married man right now"
Brundige had grown too well acquainted
with surprises of all kinds to express any
emotion at this. But Cobb noticed with
panied interest that his friend refused or
neglected TO offer p, the congratulations
usually rendered upon such occasions and
that there was troubled look shining in
the blue orbs gazing so vacantiy out at the
open doorway.
Rising under the weak pretense of at
tending to something upon the hearth,
great hearted Andy, half remorseful in the
midst Of his happy anticipations, sided
around the table and OF a sudden laid one
brawny hand tenderly on his friends
shoulder
1T was all along of my sickness, Of boy,
an havin' you here waitin' on me like
oaby an KNOWN that if you was TO go an
Pave me alone, all alone ag' in, " he falrered,
and tears shone in his usually laughing
eyes.
Not that I'd ever thought of sech a
thing if I'd knowed you'd have keered, +" be
went on, deprecatinglY. Thinks l. with
dear little woman in the shanty ter keep
everything straight, it'll seem more like
home ter the lad. Jest think of it, Ed,
nothin' ter trouble US when we come in, /
tired, from the mines. Regular hotel Twin
"a squar meal, a good smoke; an a long
rest on the bench by the door, with the lit
tie woman ter knock tune out n the guitar
for us-she's a sumner for musician you |
know''-
Self reproachful for the fault that had |
married his friends picture of coming hap |
piness, Ed checked further utterance Oy |
laying a shapely brown hand across the /
bearded lips
i know that you are, or ought TO be, the /
happiest man in the world, he cried, half J
bitterly. Don't mind the sellshness Of a !
IL natured crank, who would !!
allow the memory of his own sorrow to /
shadow the happiness Of others. Going TO |
be married! Here, hearty hand shake on |
that, Andy That's right Now, old boy. |
sit down again, and tell me all about it"
Its like a leaf out n dime novel, amt |
it," responded Andy, with his usual cheer |
fitness returned. II know'd her years ago |
we went to school together, me- an her |
an when I heered that she was still an OF !
maid jest sot down an writ tew her"
And she responded
East IS boss power an steam power !.
could bring the letter. IF IL was the same |
nat she knowed n the past, Why she /
said. she was more than glad ter hear he
was alive An then she mentioned the
lays when we used ter set on the same seat
at school an crack hazlenuts with our
eeth."
Brundige was silent Another picture
IF the past was arising in his memory. A
asst farewell beneath the light OF the cres-
cent moon. and promise for the future
broken, alas, As soon almost as the words
we're spoken.
4 answered her letter the same day.
God knows how I managed ter keep silence
al these years, fer / knowed then that
lad loved Molly Price all my life, an
must tell her Of my love or die. told her
everything" went on the rough faced
miner, rendered suddenly eloquent By the
power Of love. \ told her OF how was
Town in the world, an had known poverty
IN SufTeria'. but thar was a chance, only
,haace, mind you, that times would be
better with me shortly. An l told her,
NJ lad. OF nv vrsSsie with the fever, an
III about Ed BTuldiZe-the best pard a
eIler ever had-an' how I hoped 70 stay
With you through life, and De buried by
our side II death. IN after all that, Ed,
ny boy, asked her 70 come 70 me, TO come
,ut here TO tnis wilderness, an Jlne hands
With ne fer life.
And she : coming
Andy COBB made no reply, but the heart
cit giee II MS honest face spoke louder
haa mere words.
only think" ne said at last, "she has
liked ne all these years an had looked an
onged fer ne ter come back! Think Ct
hal, Ed. Just ike woman, eh,-true to