Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1892-11-05

UOGolQeF. DIS ncaO was small ana nal
! at top. with huge ears, and long snipe
nose. 80 that it looked like a weather
cock perched upon his spindle neck te
tell which way the wind blew. To see
him striding along profile of hill on g
windy day with his clothes begging and
fluttering about him, one might have
mistaken him for the genius of famine
descending upon the earth, or some
scare crow eloped from corn field. He
ruled supreme in the school room, in
flicting chastlsement with birch. and
always winding up with the remark to
the urchin that he would remember il
and thank him the longest day he lived.
Out of school he dropped the dignity OF
his station and helped with the lighter
farm work when he boarded round, and
found favor with the mothers by helping
to take care of the youngest children.
He was the singing master of the
neighborhood, and besides always car
RED stock of small gossip. Being a
school master, he was OF considerable
importance in the eyes of the country
and he was always greeted with satisfac-
ton. He could relate the most wonder.
full ghost stories for the amusement of
the Dutch wives. He was MORALLY afraid
of witches, and hhe awful things he saw
after dark in his walk homeward made
him miserable so long as dark lasted, but
with daylight he was restored to peace of
mind. His path, however, was crossed
by woman, and 80 his ease was at an
end
Katrina Van Tassel was the only
child of the wealthiest Dutch farmer in
the neighborhood. She was plump,
pretty and eighteen, coquetish and be-
comingly dressed. Ichabod was capti-
waited by her charms, not the least of
which were the snug house, WELDON
ditioned farm, fat pigs and sleek stock.
His mouth watered when he thought of
the fat poultry, ripe apples and the
abundance of culinary blessings. He
resolved in his mind how he could turn
all these into cash and invest the pro-
ceeds in wild western lands.
But he had rival-a great jolly fell
low with q Herculean frame-who was
famed for his dexterity on horseback,
and who rejoiced in the name of Brom
Bones. As Ichabod pressed his atten-
tions Katrina seemed to favor him more
than she did Brom. This gave rise to a
deadly feud between the aspirants to
her hand.
There was to be quilting frolic at the
Van Tassel mansion, Ichabod wished to
go in state, so he borrowed ewe-necked,
hammer-headed, gaunt old horse, blind
Of one eye, and whose viciousness had in
creased with his years. When he ap-
preached the Van Tassel mansion he
found the guests already assembled. At
ter snmptuous feast, the dance began.
As Ichabod was famous dancer, he
danced with Katrina. After this, ghost
stories we're in order, and Ichabod re-
cited Cotton Mather to prove some of his
stories. At last, the guests departed, but
Ichabod tarried to say few words to
Katrina alone. The interview was not
satisfactory, and he soon took his leave
It was the witehing time of night, when
ghosts walk abroad. After several scares,
he reached the bridge. Gunpowder came
to stand, just in time for them to hear
a splash in the water by the bridge.
The affrighted rider cudgelled Gun
powders sides to no purpose. He
broke into psalm tune, when the object
in the water bounded into the road by
his side. It was the headless horseman.
nnr-1-,dov NJ 1oeS -
but the horseman kept right along by
him. Finally Ichabod saw the rider car
ried his head in his hand at the pommel
of the saddle. His terror rose to desper-
alton. He kicked and pounded Gun
powders sides, and away they dashed
the specter keeping right up with him.
At last the saddle gave way and Ichabod
had to cling to his horses neck in order
to keep his seat. The saddle fell to the
ground and was lost. In turning his
head to look at his pursuer, he saw the
apparition in the act of throwing his
head at him. Ichabod tried to dodge,
but it hit his head and knocked him off
his horse. He rolled in the dust.
The next morning Ichobod was not to
be found, and he never after appeared in
those parts. Gunpowder was at his mas
ter's gate. The schcolmaster's hat and a
shattered pumpkin were found on the
road. where the dust showed some sort
OF scufhe to have taken place. Brom
Bones always looked very knowing when
the affair was mentioned, and soon after
married the fair Katrina.
Irving's ready pen has dealt with more
serious subjects than romantic tales. He
went to Spain to translate documents re-
lating to Columbus, and from the ma
terial collected, wrote Life Of Columbus.
It is of especial interest in this year. His
great work is the Life of Washington.
No other can compare with this noble
biography.
Another humorous work is Knicker-
bocker's History of New York from the
beginning of the world to the end OF the
Dutch Dynasty. The humor in this is SO
quiet that it has been taken to be real
story. Much of his writings relate to his
travels,
It was fitting that the close OF Irving's
life should have been spent at his home
called Sunnyside in his own "Sleepy
Hollow"
PTI,ESl PTrrsfi PrTrsiII