Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1890-03-15

1
and unrest. Soon she heard that he
was corresponding with some one else.
Maddened to desperation, she never
questioned the truth of the rumor, but
blindly accepted an offer of marriage
from Mark Hazard, the young post
master. They were married in less
than a year after Harry Sewell's de-
parture. A change of administration
about this time threw young Hazard out
of employment, and he, too, decided to
seek his fortune In the West; and
thither his bride accompanied him.
Stopping in a new town just spring
ing into existence in the lead regions OF
Wisconsin. he started small grocery,
while his wife kept boarders-chiedy
the rough miners.
Five years pass in a ceaseless round
of toll. Well, perhaps, for the
young wife that it was so. She had
less time to encourage the canker that
never ceased knawing at her heart.
Her girl and boy were the rays of
sunshine that had flashed athwart her
path. They made life worth the living.
Mark Hazard had proven the saying of
his old neighbors, that he was narrow
minded and small-souled, to be literally
true, and to no one we're these traits
more apparent than to his wife.
1t was on sultry spring afternoon
that double carriage paused in front
of the large, unfinished, almost unfur-
nished house known as the Hazard
Place." and a well-dressed gentleman,
alighting and stepping to the open
door, asked for accommodations for his
party of four.
Poor woman, she had been washing,
and, with dinner just over, she was
warm and tired. The flushed face,
with damp curls clustering about it,
looked far more like Kittie Deane's,
however, than did the usual pale coun-
tenance and plainly drawn hair of Mrs.
Mark Hazard.
"Yes, you can stay but the accom-
modations are poor" she answered
hesitatingly, lifting her eyes for the first
time to the occupants of the carriage. A
brief glance took in the we'll dressed
ladies in the back seat, and was met by
the startled, troubled gaze of the gentle
man holding the reins.
One little gasping cry, and the flush
was gone from the sweet face and the
"landlady" lay in pitiful heap on the
rough flour.
Poor thing, tired OUT" cried the
ladies in unison, while the gentleman
on the front seat, with an exclamation
thev did not understand, flung the reins
to his companion on the ground, and
springing out, was, a moment later,
carrying the limp little body into room
through the open door of which he saw
homemade lounge. The ladies fol-
lowed, and girl ofsome fourteen years,
entered carrying sleeping babe.
In the midst of the confusion which
ensued, one of the ladies cried out:
"Why, Harry Sewell, you look as if you
were going to faint"
The man made no reply but his handle
trembled as he sprinkled water on the
thin, up-turned face of the-to the others
unconscious stranger. Presently the
white lids futtered. and the blue eyes
opened upon the anxious face of Harry
Sewell. A momentary flush, a quick
contraction of the features as if in, pain,
then Mark Hazards wife struggled to
sitting posture.
II was so tired" she remarked in a
weak, apologize tone, keeping her
eyes averted from the face opposite.
Here, Maggie" she continued to the
girl, give baby here and show them to
the east room. Take up fresh water"
The table was set for the strangers
in big, unfinished parlor room; and as
Maggie served them they did not see
their hostess again that day. Mark
Hazard met the men strolling about in
the evening, and talked with them of
the weather, crops and country, as with
other travellers, and passed on none the
wiser.
Kittie, drawing water from the deep
well in the gathering twilight, heard
voice and step beside her. Let me
draw it, Kittie."
She drew back as if he had struck
her.
Harry Sewell, how dare you come
into my presence. Is it to taunt meY
ITO 'taunt' you, Kittie Deane-beg
pardon, Mrs. Hazard Strange words
from one so utterly false, one who
urged her betrothed lover to go West
that she might marry his rival"
%Me false?" her voice quivered. @What
can you mean? Did you expect me to
be true to one who never wrote single
word, but correspondent with others?