Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1890-03-01

phia, and am his nephew, Barry Sex
ton. We are staying at Pleasantville
for few days"
Il am Maggie Hasford," I managed
to reply. Il am here with party of
berry -pickers, but my home is at
PleasantvilIe.
There" as the last touch was given
the bandage, "now just drink a few
drops of this, and you Will be all right. J"
This" was some brandy and it
nearly strangled ME, at which the doc
tor laughed genially.
%You are nervy lass not to faint. 1
am truly sorry you must suffer for my
carelessness, but this is no time for
words. Let us help you to the wagon,
so they can take you home at once.
am sorry Barry and myself have no
conveyance at hand"
1 found myself miserably weak, and
was glad of the proffered assistance.
When we reached the camp, we found
most of the party already assembled,
and the doctor reprimanded them
severely for allowing me to
stroll off by myself, adding:
"She has injured her arm severely,
and 1 would advise an immediate re-
turn home"
There was @ twinkle in his eyes as
he saw the effect his words produced,
and bidding me be careful and keep
the bandage in place, he shook hands
with me, and they departed. He left a
paper in my hand. but I was too
deathly sick to examine it, so put it In
my pocket along with my precious sill
yer. The ride home was as uncom-
Portable as the one in the morning had
been pleasant suffered considerable
pain, and they were several times COM
PEELED to administer the brandy he left
them to keep me from fainting.
The general impression was that I
had had a fall, and I did not
trouble myself to explain.
The shock of my injury acted like a
tonic on poor mamma, who all her life
had seemed equal to all emergencies.
She petted me to my hearts content,
so thankful was she it was no worse.
When rested, and refreshed, 1 be-
thought me of the money in my pocket,
and drew out with it the paper the
stranger had given me. 1 unfolded it
to fnd-a hundred dollar bill. We
stared at each other amazed Mamma
was the first to recover.
"This writing on the paper, dear"
It had been hastily scrawled with a
pencil, and was as follows:
THE poor abused fore-flnger on your left
hand betrays the fact that you are working
girl. /, by my wretched carelessness, have
deprived you Of the use of that hand for
weeks, perhaps months. You must live,
and the bill 1 enclose may be of service. 1
shall seek you out tomorrow, but let this
subject remain unmentioned.
Sincerely yours,
r. J. ARBUTHNoTT.
However much pride counseled US to
refuse the gift, necessity gainsayed it,
for without it we must have starved.
Next morning found me restless and
feverish, and mamma was very glad
when about nine she saw the two
strangers enter our gate. One, middle
aged, erect, dignifed, slightly gray, and
with a look on his fine face which
plainly said good will to ALL" The
other-well, Barry Sexton was the
handsomest man 1 had ever seen. I
had passed wakeful night, and his
earnest, sympathetic gaze had been ever
before me, and the smile he gave me at
parting.
Mother opened the door at their
knock. There was moments silence,
and then heard.
Ralph"
"Maryp
Then followed confused murmur of
voices, and presently mamma came in,
followed by the doctor.
"Oh, Maggie, this is"
"The man who has never forgiven
Mary Noble for marrying John Hosford
until within the last five minutes" he
interrupted, with pleasant laugh,
and 1 turned to find mamms's
pale face flushing royalty. I had
always though her pretty, but
just then she was lovely in her con-
fusion, and 1 saw the doctor thought so
too. While he was dressing my arm,
mamma explained. She had known
him in her happy girlhood and although
she did not say so, 1 guessed he had
been her lover. In fact, when he went
away she told me how she had quarIeled
with him, and two days later married
my father.
Well, under DR.. Arbuttnortt's skill
full treatment 1 recovered rapidly. He
and Barry Sexton were daily visitors, and
the upshot of the matter was a quiet
wedding couple of weeks later, when
mamma became the famous doctors
loved and loving wife. Barry saucily
suggested that we make it a
double wedding, but the great
man forbade it. And, inasmuch,
as the audacious fellow had said no
word to me on the subject, he pre-
tended to submit unwillingly, but with
much enjoyment of my blushing confu-
sion. The day after the wedding we
left Pleasantville, going to the Doctors
beautiful city home. Oh, how happy I
was in seeing mammals great good for
tune. No more toll, no more hunger,
worry and loneliness. AT my earnest
entreaty I was sent to a good school,
where remained until the holidays last
winter.
Twas happy girl when, soon after
my return home, Barry told me he
loved me. We were married In May,
and instead of going abroad on q reou-