Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1890-03-12

y
the affronted Molly Ann Meeks, l had con
cluded to be her brothers; and, while it i!
conceded as one of the unwritten laws Of
politeness that no ''feller'' shall slight lady
on the ballroom floor, of all places in the
world, both of these young gentlemen, eager
to take up tl.eir sisters quarrel, pointedly
refused TO swing the innocent cause of al
this trouble and heartburning, balancing
unconcernedly before her, and then, at the
last instant, declining her outstretched hand
and leaving her, with an exaggerated bow
meant to convey world of disdain and con
tempt.
I could hardly have restrained nv ange,
at this. but l saw, by the happy, careless
| laugh that wreathed my darling's features
| that her thoughts were too full Of a more de-
lightful subject to allow passing events to
trouble her in the least. Therefore could
watch the little drama with the silent amuse-
ment of an uncorned spectator.
CHANGING at Brisbane, could see that he
had noted it all, and was chatting like a Gagged
| lion.
''It's them Meekses,n he said He caught
my eye and interpreted my thoughts Alright.
"Ornery whelps, Thar mad bekase my
Kinda is dancin' with that feller, Ben Coffee
Jes' see how black Molly Ann looks-an' half
the fellers here are Fad, tew, fer thar all
| Meekses, mighty nigh"
nodded TO intimate that understood. l
would have spoken, but in order to keep up
with the violin / must needs use my breath
! for another purpose. Just then l overheard
loud remark, close to my elbow, from e
third possessor of the Meeks physiognomy.
''In my bringin' up" he said, in loud, sJl-
percilious ones, nobody played the fiddle
but ole niggers. Nowadays the poor white
trash hez TUX up ther trade"
Brisbane made balz in time, missed two
Or three notes, and jumbied the rest of the
bar together promiscuously. A moment
later MeeKs spoke again.
ooh, yes, ole Brisbane used ter be more of
gentleman, but guzzling whisky hez about
laid him out"
The violin was mute, but l kept time"
going for an instant longer.
|. "Got a mighty purity GAL" remarked an
other voice.
''Oh, yes, sneeringly: '1Rinda Brisbane is
purity enough, | allow, but then
The voice ceased, for l had whirled around
and caught the speaker by the throat
Take Miss Brisbane's name on your tongue
again and / viii tear it out By the roots
shouted. furious with anger.
Meeks shook himself loose from my grasp
and stepped back a pace.
Whore ye talkin' tew, little boy!' he
queried, looking down at NE from the height
of his six feet four. "Reckon you must be
another one of 'Rinda's sugar humps or you
wouldn't''-
Trump! Despite his height managed to
plant a blow between Meeks' snaky eyes, and
he measured his length on the floor.
Brisbane caught me by the shoulder and
pulled me violently back. His eyes were
flaming with anger and his cleaning teeth
shone like wolf fangs in the shadow of the
gray mustache.
Stan back, young feiler," he said grimly:
''this is my fight, an not yourn Eff they
want a tussle with Their ole man, they kin hev
1t, guess. Come on, ye cowardly skunks.
Thar's forty Ieeks tew one Brisbane, but he
amt afearedi Come tew me, an feel the size
Of ole Kernul Bowler
l could see that his right hand gripped the
handle of a knife-the blade being concealed
in his sleeve. | saw Meeks staggering to his
feet and the crowd closing in, and | me-
chanically grasped the revolver in my coat
pocket.
At that moment there was halt in pro-
ceedings. A newcomer crowded through the
throng, parting them right and left; tall,
portly person whom had encountered a few
hours before and now recognized with de-
light-Sam Morley, the jolly hearted Jus
tice" of Snake Ridge
Hold on minute, boys" he called cheer
lily. Il hate to interrupt fair fight, but !
am here on special business. and Pm in a sort
of hurry to get it over with"
Must be pow'rful pressin'," grumbled the
angry fiddler.
Quite So" replied the squire Besides,
have already got my fee-and fat one. too,
and it is only fair that l should earn it at
once"
He drew from an inner pocket a folded
paper, and looked at me inquiringy. us it
all rightl"
| hestated; then suddenly l caught a
glimpse of a face in the backgrounds rosy,
radiant face, suffuSed with blushes-and
nodded a quick assent.
Then hear ye, all people," shouted the
.ovial Morley, holding the document aloft, in
full view of the puzzled, attentive throng:
81 have here a marriage license, drawn with
all the formaities of law, by which l am
authorized to unite in wedlock Richard Sher-
win and Marinda Brisbane Are the parties
present:"
With peculiar half frightened sensation
at my heart | made a step forward and then
felt little, soft hand nestled confidingly
within my palm.
Anybody able TO produce any half way
decent objection to this matchs If SO. speak
now, for its your lnsl and only chance"
Every eye was turned upon old Brisbane's
weather beaten visage. III evident perplex-
ity his eyes wandered from his daughters |
face TO mine, then over the assembled crowd; |
until, by chance, they rested upon the dis |
colored bruise that now was plainly visible |
on the forehead OF big Tony Meehs Then |
the Old mans face lighted with smile of !
go ahead, square" he said calmly. "Ef |
he'd forty gals that teller cud have his pick !
OF the lott
Every man in the room was perfectly cog
infant of the old fellows reasons for so saw |
ing. No reward was too great for him who |
had caused the downfall OF a Meeks. Still. |
no one expressed any signs Of dis2pproval, |
and when the ceremony was over. Molly |
Ann Meeks was the first to offer congratula-
tions.
''Sech a surprise" she sinpered az never
was 81 ocS'b IA ny LIZ Anu Jew nope as |
how Mister Sherwin will settle down some
war cius, so mem 'Rinda kin be together a
heap
And, freed from all fear Of losing the affec.
tons of the amiable Ben Coffee, Miss Ieeks
insisted on dancing the next set" with me,
and took particular pains to introduce me to
her numerous relations; prominent among
the number WAS my late antagonist. who Wed |
IN
on my good luck at gaining such treasure
as =. Rindn tho odd la,.,S iittI. IL, .rnl = n