Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1891-03-21
UNITED AT LAST.
BY THE DREAMER.

"Has it never occurred to you, Sid
ney, that you are handsome?"
Sidney paused in his work and looked
at me with a curious expression; then
dropping his eyes-those wonderful
dusky eyes-went on again hoeing cab
bage, with half-amused smile linger-
ing around his handsome mouth.
you have nothing to say. Is it so
unimportant a matter that you do not
care? Handsome features are rather
to be priced"
Twas passionate lover of good looks ;
and I would have given good, round
fortune-very ludicrous and foolish of
me for those olive cheeks and won
drous eyes which Sidney, our man-of-
all-work, cared so little about.
You are not in earnest, Mr.. Dover,
why need man care for good looks !?
There is rather more than can be &C.
complished in this hurrying world of
ours without troubling about our fea-
lures, don't you think?"
"Yes, / know; but one can hardly
live in this rushing world without now
and then borrowing trouble"
Sidney Homer was young, poor, and
obliged to labor by the sweat of his
brow for living. do not know as he
took a second thought about any i'm
pulsive compliment. He may, for all I
know, have craved love and sympathy
In his difficult life as I had for good
looks. He was faultlessly handsome
a prince by nature; while I was plain,
sallow and understood. But have had
a portion of love and have been satiated
with luxuries, like the lucky fellow that
was, born to the pleasant things of
life, fortunes favorite whose whimsi-
cal fancies were as carefully carried out
by all at home, as if it had been a pow
erful, absolute necessity.
There was but little in the bounds of
reason and almost out of it that my
father would not have tried to have
done for me.
Coming home after I refused any
more schooling, 1 found my father con-
tentedly enjoying the prospect of having
me at home. Sidney l found, too,
going quietly about the grounds keeping
the vegetables and flowers in order and
making himself useful.
Peculiarly patrician, my father was
SLOW to approach to familiarity with his
handsome, obliging mau-of-work. Ny
proud, fond father in his partial eyes his
one boy Clyde was more gifted every
way than any other fellow he knew.
But Sidney attracted me; and, after
little acquaintance with him, felt like
meeting him in familiar friendship, and
Il - III frfn Il ~ -
me.
Alas We do not see many steps be-
fore US. We do not know what change
an hour may bring.
Yes, am in earnest, Sidney" 1 went
on to say. 81 think you are the hand
soonest man / have ever seen. I pre-
sumo you have always been poor and
have had but little chance for an educa-
ton"
Eyes My father died poor and left
my mother to my care, and she was an
invalid and has been constant care
until she died a year ago. l could do
no more than just for US to live. Ny
mother instructed me in the rudiments
of learning; but experience. I find, is
the successful teacher. When one is
able, if they know no more than l do,
it Is better to be at work"
"Siduey is right as to work, " said my
father, who came up to me where we
stood in the sun-bright garden. He
could not attend to useful work, such as
he has been doing for me, with his head
.crammed full of knowledge"
Sidney's face flushed, and 1 fancied
that he resented in measure my faith
ser's brusque GOODNESS.
But Alice, my promised bride, was
coming, and wished her to see Sidney
and to share my opinion of him. She
had astohished everybody by accepting
me-she. an acknowledged worshiper of
beauty In general. How she had fancied
me-, passing by so many others, have
never been able to decide; for never
could think she coveted my riches. My
heart had been wholly hers from the
very first, and I told her so when
asked her to marry me, and she had an
swered me in q satisfactory way.
During the delicious Juns days Alice
was expected to our town, where some
of her relatives lived, and knew she
could be expected to visit my home and
form . good acquaintance with my
father.
Alb, those gloriously blissful days,
.Rhen IoeEipg into her deep blue eyes