The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-05-18


ket by the way. The most of the day
was consumed in this jaunt, and it was
late in the wintry afternoon when he
journeyed homeward.
AS he turned the corner of the brier
field, where the innumerable denuded
stalks of many growths were making a
mournful rustling IN the evening wind,
he was surprised to see woman trudg-
ing along in the narrow, sandy road that
skirted the wood. She was going in the
same direction as himself, and her back
was towards him, but there was some
thing in her tall, gaunt figure, clad in
russell brown, and wrapped in a scanty
shawl of red and green plaid, something
in the determined manner of her gait.
that had a strangely familiar look to old
Gilbert's eyes. He urged the black OK
to an unwilling trot, and presently over
took this solitary wayfarer, who turned
her head as she stepped aside, and old
Gilbert recognized Roxanna White.
why, tubbe shot, he muttered to
himself. "Whoa, Brandy
Gilbert had long ago decided that this
woman was no common .''po' bukra."
She commanded his involuntary respect
by the subtle magnetism of character,
and moreover she had the advantage, in
his eyes, of belonging, in a way, to
Mawse Nick; wherefore he felt that it
behooved him to do his best manners.
"Why, howdye, mistis?' he said, with
a broad grin, as he Enatched off his hat.
Huh you do:'
I'm middIin' well, thankee, said Miss
: hite, who was not above displaying
proper manners herself when occasion
served. You're Colonel Thornes man,
Gilbert, onleast I'm mighty mistaken
Old Gilbert grinned with gratified vani-
ty. "Tubbe sho!" he answered, slipping
with alacrity from his seat On the oxcart
"Ef you mought lax lift, mistis, en-
wouldn' mind ridin' in de yoxcyart,
kin walk"
I'm obleeged ter yer said Miss
White, promptly. Don't keer if I do
hyst myself for bit o the way. l amt
never one o the kind to spite OCCASION"
The cart was low and Roxanna was
active, so the ''hysting' was not difficult
of accomplishment. She sat fat down
in the bottom of the cart, and immediate
ly took upon herself the burden of con-
versation. while old Gilbert trudged
along beside the OK.
I'm bound fur Col. Thorne," she an
nounced. I'm fair set to tackle the
colonel bout his son Nick, what married
out of hand my cousin 'Mandy's daugh-
ter"
The start with which Gilbert heard
this gave = jerk to the reins that brought
old Brandy to dead halt. The OK stood
still, while the old man gaped with
amazement at the woman who would
dare name the colonels son in the colo
nefs presence; and yet he felt that il
anyone could venture successfully upon
such mention it might be this masterful
woman; but he gasped out the words:
eye ain't-sho'ly|
CANT l, thought retorted MissWhite
"Tell you what, thar amt that son O.
peeked to look street in the face an
speak my mind toe. I amt never
+ wronged nobody, an | amt goin' to see
nobody wronged, eff speech o mine kin
Set 'em squar. The Lord give me a
tongue, an it kin wag. Come, drive up,
ole man! 1t won't be the fust time a
woman's tongue has wagged at stiff
necked sinner
'Geel Brandy!' shouted old Gilbert,
and staggered on, drunk, so to say. with
1.-The wine Of establishment
/ pretty doins, continued Miss White.
big pot in the little pot, an all Leon
county dancin' to the tune O fiddles in
I the COlonels house. an feastin, an the
! ColonePs son scG1flin' for bread yonder
/ to Tampa. Not but what he does the
best he kin. But job Furnival amt no
mo- in condition to wCrk with the fallin'
of a sill onto his backbone; laid up help
less he is fur the rest o his days. An
whyn't the colonel do somethin fur his
own flesh an blood, befo' the boy kills
/ hisself tryin' to mex a liyinT
lis Mawse Nick ailin agin?' old Gill
bert faltered, with sudden appalling
memory of the vow Missy had exacted.
concerning which h had not felt called
upon TO take action as vet.
"Well, he amt never goin' to be extry
strong, l don't reckon. said Miss White
composedly. ''LeaStwise, he amt the
kind TO git a hvin' thouten niggers an
Ian, Nick Thorne amt.
"NOw mind you set me down to the
corner, old man. SOS kin git in roun' by
the front. l amt a speck ashamed o my
errand, an amt the kind to go creepin'
in by nobody's back do
But Miss R0xanna White was saved
the trouble of 'goin' in round by the
'front.'" for just as they came to the cor
ner where she had wished to be ''set
down a buggy was seen approaching
along the private road that led from Mrs.
Leonard Thornes place.
"Deh mawSter, now said old Gilbert,
with mingled satisfaction and uneasiness.
He had burning curiosity to know what
the colonel would say to this bold inter-
ceder for Mawse Nich. and yet he quaked
in prospect of the storm that was likely
to follow. Hits mawster, sho's you
live, en- Missie-virey- De been over ter
de sister in-law's place
Roxanna White called q halt, and
scrambled out OF the cart to take her
position by the road side, ike an army
drawn up for battle. She raised her hand
as the buggy drew near, signal for it
to stop, and the colonel refined IL his
horses.
Good evenin' to you. Col. Thorne,"
said she. in the high key of excitement.
The colonel lifted his hat with stately
politeness and bowed. but did not speak.
~. ao-..t .r.c.r - Lro--- IL IL. Z