Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1893-06-17
MILES RELATIVES.

The speaker arranged wrap about
the invaIid's shoulders with tOucf
as gentle as a woman's and the
tenderness of a great. gobd heart
fingered in his eyes Then with the
intention of getting the "kinkS out
of his legs" he walked away for the
purpose of taking turn or two on
the platform of dingy little station
at a dilapidated Western village.
where the west bound train had
stopped for the trainmen's noontime
lunch, which was served at a rude
counter in the station. ~
The buildings within the range OF
Richard Wakeman's vision had dis.
couraged, unhappy look as if the
effort to keep up respectable ap-
pearance had long since been aban-
doned The wild prairie winds had
snatched away a shingle here, and a
clapboard There, and several OF the
chimneyss and fences seemed to be
tottering on the verge of destruction
which was certain to follow the next
wind storm. That severe wind storms
WCIC 4lOLA
the fact that the debris of a recent
storm was strewn throughout the
village. 1t was also evident that the
inhabitants considered it 'labor LOST
to gather in their belongings, since
the next storm would, in all proba-
bility, send them broad cast again.
The canine population Of the place
Was arranged in an eXpectant row at
the side of the track, just under the
coach windows, where. they had
stationed themselves on the arrival of
the train, and were begging, with up
turned eyes, for contributions from
from Eastern bakeshops. This Cir
cumstance led one to conclude that
these half famished creatures sub
sisted mostly on the generosity Of
travellers, a supposition which was
partially verified by crust Of bread
descending from one of the windows
in front of the hungry pack, at which
a confused scramble, accompanied by
vicious snarIings, took place, and the
largest, least miserable deg among
them, captured the prize.
Richard Wakeman glanced above
the station house door in hopes of
being able to learn the name of the
forlorn village; but the late storm
had torn the board upon which the
lame was recorded, from it's fasten-
ingS and 1T now stood propped up
against the station house, with its
letters inverted. The name might
have been HaTdscrabble. Young
Wakeman decided thatIt looked as
nearly like that as anything, 'and
being most appropriate appellation,
he accepted it without further in
vest cation.
There was great connection at
the station. 1t seemed to Richard
Wakeman that the emit re village
must have turned out for some spe :ial
purpose. He was not long kept in
ignorance Of its nature, for the loud
voiced conversation informed him
that Mile Marks was taking her in
valid mother to California, for the
benefit Of its recurperative climate.
"The hull passed O. relatives on
both sides, hez turned out to see 'em
off,, ez was our duty, seem tibet there
amt much prospects O. Marthy's
livin'to get home az in" one of the
dutiful RELATIVES" was remarking in
a high pitched falsetto voice, that
cut the air like knife.
3ENs a clean waste o. money! an (;
old'Abner SO, last night. 1 said,
says l, this sending a half dead
woman, an a young, giddy girl off |
alone is a temptin' O. Providence. to !
say the very least; an the extrava-
gance or it is simply dreadful But |
Abner slapped one o. his high an
mighty looks on to his face, an said !
at he reckoned he could afford to
give Marthy chance for her life, at
any rate, 'n' he didn't count the cost |
o. 1t nuther. Marthy's alters been a |
savin' woman, an / wonder that she !
consented to sech' extravaganza"
"It's all Miles doin's.," volun- !
teered a third "That girl has
carried things pretty much her own !
way since she came back from that
Eastern school, 1 s'picioned 'twould /,
be the ruination o. her when they !
was a-plannin' to send her. They |
heard all j had to say on the subject !
an then went right on just as il / !
hadn't spoke my mind at all. l had
talk with Millie last night, an gave
her heaps o. good advice about prop f!
trly sonductin' Of herself amongst
strangers an the spendin' o. money, 8
an so forth, an whether she takes it
to heart or not is neither here nor
there / done my duty an my
conscience is clear o. any reSponsi-
bility in the matter / told MIllie
thet her poor mother jest worked
herself into tn grave, in order to send
her away to school, an have big
notions crammed into her head, so
thet she'd look down on her folks an
relatives.
what did she say to that?"
81 can't say ez she said much with
her tongue, put her eyes was full y
talk, an her face turned pink AID
chalky-llke all in a minute. She
knows too much fer her own good,
Mile does"
"I've said so to Abner an Marthy
time an time agin, but / might ez
ILL @oltr fo tho wind for anv poOd IL