Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1890-03-08

1 UPOhs OuS oSA14 sI1hEb1uS uuOoI 1hO 'Ae5
orous infection of the morning, / took
my way back to the house.
The Nest, for such was the quaint
name our house was known by, was
situated on the rise of a hill, around
which the main road crept. To reach Ii
therefore, it was necessary to turn from
the highway into private lane. The
place was very retired; the main reason
for its purchase by my grandfather,
worn out by some half century of city
life. Into this lane, then had turned,
and was whistling gayly as I walked,
half my annoyance of the morning be-
ing forgotten by exercise in the keen
air, and my anticipations of our coming
fun, when was confronted by two men.
The suddenness of their appearance
startled me; nor did closer inspection
of the gentlemen PROPOSES me more
favorable. The first was great hulk
ing, beetle-browed fellow, on whose re-
ceding forehead "crime" was legibly
imprinted. His companion though
smaller of statue, and less formidable
aspect, was infinitely more repulsive,
and the low cunning of his blotched and
dirty face caused me to shudder invol-
UNFAIRLY. They each carried bags, nor
was my surprise as to their being hawk
/ ers apparently incorrect, for with a
glance at his fellow-peddler, the short
one came forward and said in whining
voice:
"Any pretty pictures, my little dear,
this morning very cheap and very
fne-only look, my nice little boy"
So saying he thrust into my hand one
or two of the gaudy pictures. so
commonly hawked about the country.
Though but a child I instinctively
felt my feeling of repulsion deepen, as
the cringing accents of the man fell
upon my ear.
With hurried negative I passed on,
but not without hearing the deep under
tone of the latter man pour forth a
blasphemy, accompanied by the words ::
Il guess that's the cut of the old 'un. !"
At the time did not pay much at
tention to the speech, as had an I'M
defnable longing to place greater dis
lance between US, and on arriving at
the house it was speedily forgotten for
the time, through the discovery of my
grandfather in tremendous rage.
/ must here mention that among the
oddities of my relation was his utter
dislike to anything in money matters
that resembled credit. In all his deal
ings he expected and paid ready money.
To further his views on this subject, he
was in the habit of drawing very large
amounts from the bank in a bulk,
thereby always having ready money in
the house.
On this identical morning he had just
received large sum, and it was during
the counting of this that I had dis
turbed him by the mention of my I'M
lucky play.
1t appears that during my absence he
had discovered some fancied error
made by the bank officials, and was in a
perfect fury about it. However, after
the whole day spent in Tuning and
fretting, and threats of Withdrawing his
account, he found it to be an oversight
of his own, and became more pacifed.
Our household was small one, con-
sisting of my aforementioned old black
nurse, who, with a young girl, COM
prised the female portion of its inmates.
grandfather and myself.
The memorable laws of the establish
ment doomed an early retirement to
bed, so about eight o'clock found my
way to my room, but not to sleep. My
first care was to clothe myself in the
dress had managed for the ill-used
false heir, and to rehearse that part
with the utmost delight to myself.
Having commenced the dress re-
hearsal, inclination and duty rendered
it incumbent on me to go through with
it. In accordance with this very
proper feeling, 1 had dotted the habili-
ments which the badly-treated youth
was supposed to have worn in the flesh
for the more unsightly toilet popularity
ascribed to ghosts in general and the
tombs in particular.
To heighten the horrifc and impress
my audience with due respect for the
CHASTITY aspect of the apparition, 1 had
decided upon using a phosphoric prep
aration.
Thinking it would be better to
ascertain the effect of this my
self, before relying on it as certain
success, was busily engaged rubbing
some On my face when L heard my
grandfather's step on the stairs be-
meath. was aware of what to expect
if caught in fagrante delicto, so in mo-
ment puff out goes the candle, and in
goes his ghostship to bed.
Now whether the drama had made
me drowsy (some possess that faculty
toIa remarkable degree) or whether my
Gaming had heightened my naturally
sleepy nature, L cannot vouch for, but
what ever the cause, must instanta-
neously have fallen asleep. 1 had
passed through may century of half
connected dreams when Twas awakened
by noise resembling a cats claws
scratching against glass; though but
half aroused, felt great surprise at
such an unusual sound, being aware
that ION account of my grandfather's
antipathy to all dumb things) no ami
NAL could be its cause
Dreamily puzzled, but not sufficiently
awakened to give the matter much
thought, was returning to the land of
dreams, when .creaking as of my
grandfather's bedroom window being
softly raised, at once caused my senses
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