Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-12-16

room Of an amateur theatrical troupe. Then
the shutters were put up, the lights out
way. with courage that ebbed at every step
to the Bar 6.
Miss Eula seemed somewhat awsd ana -.
tonishsd. not at the visit-such calls had
been common during her stay-but At the
manner Of her visitors. They might. had
the number been sufficient have been readi.
ly taken for the pail bearers going In 4 body
to O funeral.
When the party was finally seated there
fell a solemn hush. Old Hank Psarsall
who seemed to consider himself elected
chairman Of the meeting by the silent suf
frage Of the eye. deemed this lifting time
to speak.
Rising. he waved his hand toward his COM
panions like Snowman exhibiting q col
lection Of curious animals.
I'VE heerd. miss" he said. "thet you wuz
thinkin' o leavtn' us. Harter county'll miss
ye They amt nothin' Harter county
wouldn't do to try to keep we. It seemed to
some O. US tibet eft ye wuz pervided weth q
satisfactory pardner: ye might be more in
ther notion t settle hyer.
Now this" with another comprehensive
gesture, "ez the layout" He spoke with
some depression. as though the goods. on
the whole, did not look as well "a he had
You know Their tricks an gaits by this
time. ma am. an whether there's anything
p'r'aps they're stiddier: none O. 'em don't
handsome very much, but they're all toll
liable sound an kind, an II tn one y pick
don travel jist to suit we. here's tn rest o.
trader
Some years ago all weli-conducted females
were represented. in literature. at least, as
fainting upon receiving q proposal Of mar
Miss Eula's nerves that, on receiving
round half dozen at one blow she neither
tainted nor screamed.
why. the fact is. gentlemen" said she.
fNyfd al mi an6 ayA ~vTH
that your proposal overwhelms me; It's 30
80 Texan-if you'll permit the expression.
really think too much Of all Of You col
lectively to accept any one individually
This sounded we'll, but somehow it was
rather Unsatisfactory. The band Of suitors
looked one at the other to see II any COM
fort might be extracted from 1t, and finding
none. looked glooniiy down and twirled
Seeing unrelieved depression. Miss Eula
tried again. The fact Is" she said. that
your kind offers-or offer-comes too late
anyhow. I'm engaged already; in fact I'm
going home to be married"
Deeper gloom on every face. Some ten.
derfoot chump." conflded Pref Somers to
the depths OF his sombrero; some Teller Z
d run from COW and couldn't ride . live
horse or rope q steer If his life depended
on It,"
why. no." answered Miss Eula with
some embarrassment. I'm going to marry
a gentleman that you all know right well;
a-a-a fellow citizen Of yours"
They looked at each other in consterna-
ton at the mention Of a dark horse. They
had thought that all the eligible bachelor
hood OF Harter county was then within
those four walls.
Its Mr.. Norton Willis. our neighbor on
the north here" she added. blushingly.
The worm!
The company rose with solemn alacrity,
shook their hostess hand and filed out.
Well" remarked Hank Pearsall, cheer
fully. you'll hev let UP taikin' bout
Nort's luck after this: reckon he amt no
early worm in this trade"
II don't know" said the storekeeper
with that acrid cynicism which one Aesop
informs US certain fox once displayed ia
matter OF grapes: "mebby she's the early
birdr