The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-09-26

on Clark street
@G- there sat, on
the evening of the 9Th of October, 1871,
young man bus;ly engaged with
some complicated-looking machinery
which he was constructing with the aid
OF his tools. The young mans face
bore thoughtful expression and there
were hard lines round his mouth. tell
ing sad tale of the struggle for exist
ence. which seemed quite consistent
with the fortunes of an inventive gen.
ius, as the young man appeared to be.
The parching breath of the prairie wind
surged through the open window of the
little room, intensifying the heat to an
almost unbearable degree. It was hot
in Chicago on that fateful day. For
weeks and weeks there had been no
rain to moisten the scorching boards OF
which the sidewalks, and often the
houses and roadways. were composed;
and these, being dry as finder, waited
but the accident whose shadow men.
aced, at this very hour, the doomed
city-the kick of the O'Leary cow,
that unhappy triviality which was des-
tined to cost such a frightful total Of
life and treasure!
Finally the atmosphere became SO
close in the small room that the patient
worker rose from his bench, and, throw
ing aside his tools, picked up his hat
and made his way down the rickety
stairs to the street. 1t was observable
that the young man possessed, in adj
dition to an intellectual face, a we'll
knit figure. and a step which, even un-
der the pressure of the weather, had
an athletic swing and bespoke
buoyant temperament. Allan PeIton
had inherited his fine physique from
his father, one of the pioneer settlers of
Illinois; and much of his individuality
he owed also to his mother; for his pa
rents had lived in stirring times, when
it rarely happened that both men and
women were not equally competent
with the rifle, and almost as well used to
all the fatigues and hardships of from
tier life.
The young man turned his footsteps
on this fateful evening in the direction
of State street; willing pilgrimage
which he often made in the evening
after his days task was finished. On
State street he took a car, rode south
ward some distance, and at last stopped
in front of pleasant residence, to
which he was promptly admitted by
young girl The young mans face
flushed as he took her hand and shook
it respectfully. It was very plain that
he was in love, from the admiring
glances he bestowed upon her. 1t was
his first experience, too-usually seri-
Gus matter-and Jessie Harmon was a
superb creature. Besides mere personal
beauty she possessed sterling charac-
ter and was very sensible and prac-
teal girl. If momentous issues hung
upon the events of this night for the
city, important ones also depended upon
this call in Stale street.
Aware of the fact that many suitors
thronged to the side of Miss Harmon,
Allan Penton had made formal re-
quest for her hand, and had called this
evening to learn how his proposition
had been received by the young lady
and her family. Finally, after futile
efforts had been made to alleviate the
suspense of the occasion by discussing
other topics, the young man inquired,
what had been decided in
regard to his proposal.
Jessie Harmon never looked prettier
than when she answered her admirers
question. 1t was plain that she was
not suffering from the embarrassment
of such a serious affection as that of
the young inventor; for her manner
was gay and easy, whilst his betrayed
the anxiety and excitement of de5u-
tdnt in the school of love. "Well,"
said the young lady, formally, very
much as some young graduates deliver