Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1890-10-25
POWERFULLY DECEIVED.
How He Deceived Old Snaggs and Won
a Wife.
BY w. L FRENCH.


Old man Snaggs was a charac, in
his way, and his way was not the way
of most people, so it brought the old
man into q great deal of prominence
among his neighbors.
Old man Snaggs reminded one of a
dry goods box, square on all sides, and
with good many sharp corners in his
makeup.
He was not one of your "bad men"
but he was hard one, and all there when
it came to rough and tumble, knock
down or any other similar diversion
that came in his way and in which he
loved to indulge.
He was not tall man, but what he
lacked in height he made up in breadth,
and when he got to town and threw a
few bowls inside of him, those with
whom he was not on friendly terms
usually went around block or two to
keep out of the old mans way. He
was the hardest man around Punkin
vile to handle, and few had any desire
to meet him in a physical encounter.
The old man possessed one daughter
who was the source of great annoyance
to him. She was both young and good
looking, and, as she was an only child
and heir prospective to the old mans
broad acres, she did not lack for would
be suitors. But it was would-be only,
for the old man found some objection to
each and all of them, and unceremoni-
Ously hustled them off the place, till
it was seldom now that new one ven
tured to the house ''to see Molly"
When she objected to the old mans
manner of conducting himself toward
her would-be gallants he replied:
II tell We, child, Their right one haint
KUN along yit, an when he does the old
man II let ye know, an that's all there
is to it.
"Yes, but" argued Molly, show do
you know the right one for you will be
the right one for me?"
II reckon that II be made plain
ter ye when the time kums. As fer me
bein' bothered ter cut wood an buy lie
fer every young gallOot in the kentry,
why, its ridiculous, so thar" And
when the old man ended anything with
so thar" it was settled as far as he was
concerned.
But Molly partook more of the agrees
sive, independent spirit of her father
than she did Of the meek, retiring one
of her mother, and so she contrived to
set the old mans laws at defiance and
meet her lovers OF the houses of vari-
Gus friends.
Finally the number dwindled down
to one-Rube Marshall, nick-named by
his companions "Freckled Rube"-and
he, too, was something of a character.
He was tall, lean, slab-sided, big-jointed
freckled that the skin of his hands and
face were little else but freckles, and
hence the name. "Freckled Rube." He
ran large farm for his widowed moth
er, and bore the reputation of being
very dutiful son.
Perhaps Molly thought that as he was
dutiful son he would be dutiful hus-
band. At any rate his wooing pro-
crossed favorably, and in few months
they were engaged.
But here a great dilemma presented
itself to the lovers. Who was to break
the news of their engagement to the old
man and ask his consent? Many plans
for successfully accomplishing this were
discussed and thrown aside by them as
useless.
Old Snaggs wanted &hand," and
Rube at length decided on the plan of
going to work for him and trying to
worm himself into his good graces-a
rather doubtful task.
So to Iull the old mans suspicious. if
he should have any, in regard to Rube
coming to him for work, Molly,
Rube and his mother were to tell
that Rube and his mother had
had 8 sfallin' ont in regard to conduct
ing the affairs of the farm, and that
Rube had reached out for himself,
snd was going to let the old lady run
the farm as she saw TT Accordingly
that evening Molly told her father that
she had heard that Rube Marshall was
roing to leave home and do for himself.
about time" growied the old man.
sFreckled Rube's been ivin' OF the old
lady long enough. fhe ever 'sPects to
mount to anything, it's bout time he
was beginnin'." Not q very encourag-
ing answer in the light Of Moly's
hopes.
But you know, father, he always
worked the farm for his mother and
took care of things for her.
HYa's, / reckon so. But he's kin OF
= home baby. I don't think he'd
mount to much when it KUN to taken
raal hard knocks" said the old man.
Il low that when was his age I'd rus
tied 'roun' over right smart of kentry,
an made my own Twin, too and the
cid man sQuirted q gil Of tobacco iuica