Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1893-03-24


"kiuks out of his legs he
walked away for the purpose OF taking
q turn or two on the platform of dlngy
little station at a dilapidated western
village. where the west bound train had
stopped for the trsinmen's nOontime
lunch. which was served at rude coun-
ter 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 a respectable appearance had
long since been abandoned. the wild,
prairie winds had snatched away a shin
gle here, and clapboard there, and
several of the chimneys and fences
seemed to be tottering or the verge Of
destruction which was certain to follcw
the next wind storm. That severe Wind
storms were common was quite evident
from the fact that the debris of 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 probability, 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 win
dows, where they had stationed them
selves on the arrival OF the train, and
were begging, with upturned eyes, for
contributions from Eastern bakeshops.
This circumstance LED one to conclude
thas these half-famished creatures sub
sisted mostly on the generosity of trav-
elers, suppostion which was partially
verified by a crust of bread descending
from one Of the windows in front of the
hungry pack, at which confused
scramble, accompanied by vicious snarl.
ings, took place, and the largest, least.
miserable dog among them, captured the
prize.
Richard Wakeman glanced above the
station house door in hopes OF beng able
to learn the name Of the forlorn village;
but the late storm had torn the board
upon which the name was recorded, from
Its fastenings, and it now stood propped
up against the station house, with its
letters inverted. The name might have
been Hardscrabble. Young Wakemau
decided that it looked as nearly like that
as anything, and being most appro-
pirate appellation, he accepted it with.
out further investigation.
There was great commotion at the
station. 1t seemed to Richard Wake
man that the entire village must have
turned out for some special purpose. He
was not long kept in ignorance Of its
nature, for the loud-voiced conversation
informed him that Mile Marks was
taking her invalid mother to California,
for the benefit of its recuperative climate.
"The hull passed. O. relatives on both
sides, hez turned out to see 'em of, ez
was our duty, seein' tibet there amt
much prospects o. Marthy's livin' to get
home ag'in," one of the dutlful "rea.
tives" was remarking In high-pitchel
falsetto voice, that cut the air like d
knife.
sits clean waste O. money, an l
told Abner 30. last night. l said, says
I, 'this sending half dead woman, au
young, giddy girl of alone is tempt.
in O. Providence, to say the very least,
an the extravaganza Of it is supply
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. it
nuther. Marthy's alters been savin'
woman, an I wonder that she consented
to sech extravaganza.
''It's all Miles doin's," volunteered
a third. "Thet girl has carried things
pretty much her own way since she came
back from that eastern school.
s'picioned 'twould be the ruiuation o.
her when they was a-plannin' to send
her. They heard all l had to say on the
subject, en- then went right ON just as
il hadn't spoke my mind at all. had
a talk with Millie last night, an gave
her heaps O. good advice about properly
conductin' of herself amongst strangers,
an the spendin' O. money, 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
responsibility in the matter"
Before Richard had time to make his
escape, four gaunt, hard featured women
had crowded against him in their efforts
to enter the tourist car, upon the lower
step of which he had stationed himself,
the better to see over the heads of emil
lies relatives" The movement was Sc
sudden that he had no recourse but t.
enter the car in advance of them, which
he did, intending to pass through it t.
the Pullman coach beyond, while hi
charge was sleeping; but when he hat
reached the center OF the car he dis
covered that the Objectionable relative
quite blockaded the passage in eithe
direction, and there was nothing left &c
him but to find seat and wait thei
exit.
As he seated himself, stalwart ma
"a typical Western settler-placed
slender little woman in the compartmer
next to the one he had entered.
"There you be, NAV, ez comf'table
II you was to home on your best feath,
bed, he said, with gigantic effort
steady his voice. After swallowing tw
or three times in quick succession,
sddeds ''You'n Milliem have re