Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1892-05-21

upon ny tHc Ci-S%~% "a OhO hoO@S Se s.'S
farmers cob, and in five minutes the
two men were grasping hands.
Supper was laid In the sanded parlor-
and rare, toothsome meal 1t was, pre-
pared by the landlady's own hand-and
when it was over, they adjourned TO
Arthur's own apartment.
"What shall it be, Farmcr-winc or
spirits? cigars, of course?" Arthur asked
with hospitable intentions.
mo wine nor spirits for me, young
sir; with your permission I'll stick to
the brown October ale; an as for cigars,
they are only fit for boys nm women
folk, and / read in the papers that great
ladies in London have taken to smok-
ing EN-, the brazen hussics! But tell
Mistress Turner, thy landlady, lad, to
bring me n clay pipe an an ounce O.
Bristol birds eye, an mayhappen I'll
blow cloud wi yc."
Which simple demand was ut once ut
tended to.
When the maidservunt had retired
Arthur began the pumping process.
"IIow are things going on mt the
farmhouse?" he asked, with apparent
Indifference.
The farmers face was picture OF
perplexity. He pulled forth n dozen
clouds of smoke from his pipe, knitted
his bushy brows, and gave n sigh that
was almost groan.
Things beant agoing on Mt a to my
satisfaction" he began. 'Everything's
at skies an sevens since you was there.
Such chickering's and hcart-burnings !
never seen sim began to keep house,
an all out O. havin' frog-catin' French
people in ones family"
"Why, what has happened?"
1.-THE Lord knows, for dunnot.
That pretty lass, Miss Grahame, goes
about the place as though the house
was q nunnery, with never smile on
her face, till can't abear to see her.
The French gov'ness is mighty sweet
wi her, but her takes it out of the rest
of the family, for a more cantanker-
GUS old maid never came across,
surely"
And your own wife and daughter?"
"Ah! there's the sorest spot of all.
NV little Nell is more down in the
dumps than Miss Kate-goes a-mooning
about with her eyes cast down an has
lost all her good looks an nat'ral peart-
ness. 1t makes my heart ache to look
Mt her."
And your good dame? Surely she
is not victim of this general melan-
choly?"
"Shc's like me-nearly worn out wi
their tantrums. never knowed her
sick for twenty years, but hers losing
weight every day, tell &C."
as NJ. baskerville still with you?"
''Of course he is"
"And arc his spirits ut zero, too?"
Not they. He crawls about the
house like n tame cat, wi n Singer an
grin on his sallow face rs he goes tc
the women folk, one after another, an
whispers soft nothings in their cars.
catched him talking to my Nell i the
garden arbor on Tuesday eve, an by
the Lord Harry if ever find him alone
wi her again I'll dress him down sc
that his own mother wouldn't know
him."
at is to Miss Nellie that his atten'
tions are paid, then?" Dunbar asked
with selfish chuckle.
mo, they bean't, an they never viii
be as long rs her has q father to keeT
her out o. harms way. didn't know
as it was safe for me to go to market
to-day, but I'm at peace about that
now, for ! seen him in Chertsey just
afore started this evening"
"Chcrtscy! What was he doing there?'
"How should | know? Mayhapper
getting his hair curled."
Thus for an hour they chatted to
gethcr, the yeoman getting more ant
more respondent over his household
troubles.
Suddenly a bright thought strucl
Arthur Dunbar. 1t was evident thai
Miss Grahnme was unhappy and needed
friends sympathy. Who more proper
to play the part of consider than him
self? The difficulty was IN securing ar
interview, for his pride would hardly
permit him to face Nine. Campignor
after her ungracious manner toward;
him, and he felt assured that If he werC
to present himself boldly at the farm
house tete-a-tete with the young lady
would never be accorded him. Why
not make o confidant of the good
naturcd farmer? lie would do so.
''Mr. Barlow" he began, in hesitat
ing, difIident way, II am a bad hand al
asking favors; but your kindness TO me
O total stranger, emboldens me to be
lieve that | should not ask one of yor
in vain"
"You are right, lad" was the hearty
response. II know what thee mean, sc
dunnot blush to thy ears in telling me.
"a never Thought you guessed -
Dunbar cried.
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