The Globe-republican. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1889-1910, 1890-01-29

looking SO forlorn and sheepish that
Miss Perkins could only pity him, sat
Cousin Parker himse!f!"
He was a small, thin man, with most
distrustful, beseeching expression. His
head was bent forward, his coat was but
tonless and shabby. His eyes were mod
estly bent on the floor. When all the
combined eyes of all the rich and great
Taskers were turned toward him,
he fairly shrivelled up within himself,
and looked furtively toward the door. as
if with a view to speedy and ignomin-
ious retreat.
$50 this is Cousin Parker" exclaimed
Miss Perkins, involuntarily. 'Land!'
"We would all like to hear from Cousin
Parker himself" said Hon. Enos K. Tas-
ker. of Boston 1.-THE rich and great Tas-
kerr, in pompous voice. 1--WE would
like to hear from him as to his family
and his affairs. Cousin Parker-er-
won't you tell US how you are doing this
year,"
1t appeared that Cousin Parker swal-
lowed a great swallow, and his Adams
apple rose and fell without any audible
response.
s'Come forward" beamed Abram Tas-
ker, kindly; and, as if to suit action to
his words, Abram, who was huge,
kindly old soul, with an enormous
strength of arm, advanced, and, with
out intending it, lifted Cousin Parker
bodily out into the center of the Tasker
semicircle, and set him down. There
was a subdued murmur among all the
Taskers. as to the probability, from his
shabby aud generally unkempt appear
ance, that the fund to be raised this
year would have to be unusually large.
81 feel very thankful-for the
past" was what Cousin Parker whis-
pered feebly, so that Abram, who stood
by him protectingly, leaned his great
ear down and alone heard him.
"He feels thankful for the past!" roar
ed Abram, with kindly, encouraging
smile for poor Cousin Parker.
''Oh, he feels thankful for the past,
does he?" exclaimed Miss Perkins.
swell. land! should think he ought.
Why, he's had money every year-alto-
gether, two or three thousand dollars at
least"
''He's expectip' change for the fu-
tur'" called out Abram. "A big change.
He's awful hopeful"
A smile of pity went around among
all the TaskerS present. Mrs. New
York Tasker. as it was a warm day,
held her vinaigrette to her nose, and
complained a little of feeling faint.
The dismal photographs hung about the
wall in black frames, she said, gave her
quite turn. They were photographs
| of deceased Taskers. standing up, man
and wife together, very stiff and
straight, holding on to chairs for dear
Italian scenery, or Venetian baluS-
trade. The hair-cloth sofas and chairs,
too, were rather awe-inspiring. Much
as Mrs. New York Tasker admired the
family into which she had married, she
admitted that they were. some of them,
very odd country-peOple. And this poor
Cousin Parker! What an oddity he was,
to be sure!
HE has tried next to every thing to
get on" went on Abram, the mouth
piece, after a prolonged listening to
Cousin Parker's whisper. ''He went
West an tried to grow up with the
country. But he didn't stay long enough
to grow. He started newspaper, but
he took the wrong side in politics, an
got fired. Then he fined the circus and
Figured as the hind legs of an eller-
phunt; but the folks got on to his dis
guise, he says, an they kinder fired
rocks at him, an so he cum back home
to Mis- Parker an the nine children
kinder hopeless. But his hope picked
up when we as family cum forward an
let him have two hundred dollars last
year. Thet started him up again inven-
tin, and he ulster sit up at nights he
says, hopin' an inventin'."
Miss Perkins gave q sniff. Other
Taskers present probably could have
shifted had not the prim New England
spinster kindly done it for them.
Then, again, there was a whisper.
she says he has at larst finally turned
inventor, an is goin' to make it his
business" roared Abram, still leaning
down to Cousin Parker. Immediately
there was a buzz of loud protestation
from every right-minded Tasker pres
ent.
He says he again wishes to say that
in the past he has had very hard luck"
roared Abram again.
ASK him if he thinks if he should
turn to and do a little work now and
then by accident his luck wouldn't
change" said Miss Perkins, sharply.
Cousin Parker gave her such sad, be-
seeching look that she wished she had
kept quiet. Miss Perkins did not wish
it to be understood that she was heart
less; but it made her very impatient TO
take hold of Cousin Parker and shake
him. Oh that she could have him under
her charge for a time at NewburypOrt!
She would get this inventor nonsense |
out of him! Yes. indeed!
Abrams ear was SO long near Cousin |
Parker's mouth that the Taskers knew |
interesting was coming. At |
last he reared: HE says he's got smart |
partner. The smart partner has sold |
one of his inventions for him. His |
name is Ephraim Shouter He comes |