The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-12-24
A PIKETOWN ROMANCE.

the rheumatic" Consequently he was
very peevish.
He badgered and bullied all who came
within hearing of his stentorian voice,
from his youngest daughter Martha to
ais meek, pale faced old wife.
He found fault with his one hired man
to such an extent that the latter ''quit, "
leaving the pillow in the furrow in the
back lot, and went in search of place
where, as he expressed it, he could
"chaw his hash in peace, an not be
cussed at Whenever he went in ear shot
Of the house."
The hired man had not been a rapid
worker, and as Peter had been ailing for
weeks his farm work was in a very
backward and chaotic condition.
The blowing was no more than half
Gone, the potatoes were not planted, the
corn ground was not fitted" and it was
already the middle of May.
The farm hands for miles around had
all secured situations, and had been at
work for weeks. There was not one to
30 had for love or money.
1t looked as though Peter Cummins
would have to worry through the season
as best he could without hired man.
Under the circumstances Peter did not
improve either in health or temper
"Drat the rheumatizr' cried he. IF
| could only git about I'd hitch up ole
Jerry an drive till | found hired man
an one good for suthin', too But
here am tied down-bound an gagged
with this pesky rheumatic Ow, WOW,
WOW! wot tinge thet air was"
Although Peter was. in certain
sense, bound to his chair, he was very
far from stating the truth when he said
he was gagged, as his wife, his daugh-
tiers and every chance passerby could
have testified.
Although blowing and planting were
at a standstill on the farm the dairy
work went on as briskly as ever, with
Miss Susan Cummins as general man
ager and Miss Martha an able assistant.
Theseventeen COWS were MIXED bright
and early every morning; the milk was
''set" in large, shallow pans, and the
cream, at the proper time, was churned,
salted and worked" into the sweetest of
golden butter
This was not considered hard work by
the tall. broad shouldered, rosy checked,
blue eyed, faxen haired Susan, who at 10
years of age was as strong, healthy and
cheerful as girl well could be.
Martha, two years younger, although
equally as light hearted as her sister, was
different in many ways. She resembled
her mother, who, when "gal," as she
often told her daughters. was considered
great beauty.
Martha had inherited her mothers coal
black hair and eyes, creamy complexion
and slim, slender form. She was very
pretty, and not farmer boy for miles
around but loved the ground she walked
on-especielly when she lightly tripped
over a portion of her fathers fertile soil.
The Cummins homestead would have
been fairly overrun with admirers of the
two girls for there were many who
liked the robust Susan's style of beauty
but for one thing. They one and all had
a wholesome fear and dread of Peters
rasping, ear piercing, foghorn voice. He
also, when not down with rheumatic"
welded with much dexterity and &C
curacy No. 10 cowhide boot.
So, because of the voice and the boot,
the girls. though greatly admired, had
no STEADY company"
The nearest approach to it was the
three calls Hiram Stubs had made on
Susan.
On his first visit Hiram was very
anxious, apparently, to secure Peters
advice as to what he had better do with
mis- mine acre lot-seed it down er plant
it ag'in."
Peter, being in a cheerful mood, for
wonder, expatiated and dwelt on the de-
lightful subject at such great length.
and Hiram, to propitiate him, gave him
such marked and undivided attention,
that Susan remained unnoticed, save at
such rare intervals as Peter went to the
door to expectorate. On these occa-
sions Hiram rolled prominent pewter
eye toward the damsel, and made hur-
ried and whispered observation on the
state of the weather or solicitously in
quired as to her health.
The youths second visit, ostensibly for
the purpose of procuring a recipe for a
SPAWN hniment, passed off in much the
same way.
When Hiram, in his store clothes. pre-
sente6 himself at the kitchen door of the
Cummins homestead for the third time
there was a GOODNESS in the reception
rendered him by the old husbandmaa
that should have wal ned him of break
ers ahead.
Peter, being tired and cross, retired
early, and the young man. not to lose
any precious time, at once commenced
edging his chair toward the blushing
and e1pectant damsel.
He reached her side as soon as could
be expected under the circumstances,
and had Just succeeded in partially sur
rounding her buxom form with an arm
by no means too long, when the two
were thrown apart as BY an electric
shock. They had ard the following
words. uttered in tone OF voice that
could be heard full mile:
Hi. there. Susan. Send tibet air tow
headed fool hum, an mog your boots
tew bed. Dew We hear:'
1t was well understood that when Peter
said thing he meant IT, he was not
only handy with his No. 10 boots. but
was very muscular man and a noted
rough and tumble wrestler.