The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1893-03-11

cannot be described by any other word
.(of sufficient brcvity) than pink; SO
s.Pink" he was called, and SO remained
to the end of the chapter.
/ first met him on Union PACING
train going west He was full OF 1aith
and hope and charity then.
The way 1 came to notice him hrst
was through his asking me, at the
Omaha station, question concerning
the time the train was due to leave.
He was so homely, SO dreadfuily
homely, and yet SO ''good" looking,
that he attracted my attention as soon
us he spoke; and, after heard his
voice (it was good" voice Pink had), |
took fancy to study him.
When the train started / walked
through to see if there was anyone on
board knew, and in the smoker, with
only two or three fellow-passengers,
again found Pink. He smiled at me,
and said s'Good evening" in pleasant
way: SO sat down by him and LIT
cigar. i
.sGoing west?'' / asked, by way OF
opening the conversation.
Yes" he answered, promptly; go
ing to Coloraydo"
"Yes? Ever been there before?"
Nope; I'm a tenderfoot, reckon"
he smiled. Then he added: II s'pose
it's q pretty tough country-have you
been there?"
''Oh, yes; live there"
'sWell, how is it-any chance fr
Teller T. git plenty work?"
sYes, IL he wants 1t
"That's good; that's what want"
Then, in his innnGent, confiding way,
she went ON to tell Ime how it was he
came to be going. but west-the whole
story. 1t oone-ad story. and yet not
really . nv as,x asa tale OF an inprov,
dent fatilSlSss.'s family of small chill
dren, of the death of tlsesfather and the
efforts of the widow and the older chill
dren TO get along, and their troubles In
doing SO.
Pink was the oldest--he was eighteen.
Then there were Min, fifteen; Grace,
eleven; Frank and Freddie, the twins,
ten; Ted, eight, and Fan, the baby,
five.
Pink This name was George) and Min
could help little; but there was not
much they could get to do in the little
country town they lived in, and, be-
sides, Min did not like to work. "Ye
see," said Pink, deprecatingly, shes a
girl, an hain't been brought up T. work.
'xactly, an'-well, We can't 'xpect girls
t. banker after work much, nohow.
An tn rest of 'em, We see. they're pref
ty little-pretty little yet" And Pink
smiled in a paternal sort of fashion.
He left the train at Julesburg-he
had some prospect of getting work near
there, he told me-and saw nothing
of him for over two years. Then, one
day, coming down Sixteenth street, in
Denver, met him. He had not changed
a bit, and he remembered me at once
when he saw me. / asked after his
mother and the young uns," In little
while; Pink's eyes lighted mp. and his
face broadened into smile
'.Fine!' he said; fine! II git let
ter every week, an they're all gittin'
on good. I'm goin' home pretty soon;
been hopin' cd go Z Minis weddin'-
she's goin' t. git married next Novem-
ber-but don't reckon l en- make it.
Ye see, these here women, they've got
T. rag out lot an git heaps o things
e Git married in, so l got T. rustic t
keep Min staked in good shape; want
my sister T. have as good as they is
wouldn't your"
Almost year later met him again.
Neither he nor his smile hsd changed.
ssGosh! I'm glad t see ye!' he ejacu.
{. lated. "D'ye know, it seems most as
If you was an old neighbor OF our'n,
feel t. know ye SO well"
We took lunch together, and
!. asked him how he was getting along
and how the folks were.
"Oh, I'm still punchin' cows" he
said. San joggin' along. same oil gait
/. oh. YES, git letter every week yit
Mothers dom first rate. an tn young
: uns rittin' on fine. Minis got darn
good man, guess Gracie's big girl,
most growed now, an Frank an FREQ
are CROWN tremendous, mother says
An Ted an Fan, they're gettin' big
too; so most all of 'em's gittin' Z helI
what they can, out o. school times
Grace. she's goin' Z learn sten-o
graphy-they say ye-c'n git big wages
dom that"
Have you been home to see then
YETI"
"Home?a he asked, with tender
emphasis on the word; "wish't could
an guess will, Thanksgivin'; but
We see, these here young uns all got
have clo'es an go Z school, an the,
cost a sight, they do"
After thisa Pink was often IN MI
mind, but / never saw nor heard any
thing Of him for three years, until. ON
day, / drove out from Laramie to
ranch some miles distant. on bushes
Pink was there. He was saddling
horse by the door as we drove up. ant
turned as he heard us approach. d.
was the same old Pink, except that n
wore a nustache (of the same color .
his hair and eyebrows). and there wer'
incipient crows feet at the corners
his eyes, and lines about his mouth
aWell, how are all the Dyers?
asked, after we had greeted each other
ssOh, fine! Grace. she's married nov
--Qot married two months ago. to
operator. Minis got two kids now
TINS = 1T IL