Iuka reporter., 1893-04-06


reached the center of the car he DIS
covered that the Objectionable relatives
quite blockaded the passage in either
direction, and there was nothing left for
him but to find seat and wait their
exit
As he seated himself, stalwart man
"a typical Western settler--paced
slender little woman in the compartment
pext to the one he had entered.
"There you be, nav, ez comf'table ez
if you was to home on your best feather
bed, he SAID, with gigantic effort to
steady his voice. After swallowing two
or three times in quick succession, he
added: "You'n Millie'll have a real
nice time, an you'll come home ez chirk
ez cricket, er my name amt Abner
Marks"
He tucked her shawl about her as he
spoke with awkward tenderness, aud his
great, brown hand paused in passing to
clasp her slender one, while his lips
twitched tremulously. He was rough
and uncouth, this man whose continual
battle for living had crowded out all
possible opportunity for self improve
ment out of his narrow, over burdened
life; uncouth and uncut tivated but
great hearted in the extreme was Abner
Marks.
''It's costin' you great deal, Abner, I"
| sighed the little woman, wearily, san
I'm afraid we can't afford it. The yela-
tives say"
plague take the relatives! I wish
the hull pack on 'em was in Jericho.
They've pestered the life cen a most
out'n you. I've got my opinion thet it's
more relatives than malaria what's ailin'
of you."
Richard noticed that this was said in
subdued tones.
"An' as fer tn cost, don't you go TO
frettin' erbout thet, an spile all the good
effects o tn Californy climate" He
continued in much louder voice. ssI've
had big streak O. luck lately, an can
afford a sight more'n your trip III cost.
Now say good-by to your folks while !
give Millie word O. advice"
He drew Millie to one side where the
little woman could not hear the 'sword
O advice" he was about to give her, and
in getting her beyond her mothers vi
cinity, as well as away from the clamor-
GUS relatives, he paused quite close to the
solitary young man whom fate seemed
to have destined as a receptacle for the
condolences of this family. He could not
have changed his position without at
tracing considerable attention and oc-
cupying much of the precious time
needed for the farewells.
"Here's the purse with ev'ry dime 1
could rake an scrape together, arter
buyin' your Tickets" he began. am
get some more to you fore this is gone,
an mind you're not to scrimp nav ez
longs the money holds out, nor let her
know thet I'm a-sellin' tn garden, tools
to exc out, nor thet the red heifer s
sold nor tn white horse
mo, no, father; surely you can trust
me-" interrupted Millie, earnestly.
"Mother shall never know, and if this
trip cures her, we will be too happy to
care for anything else. mean to earn
something to help along with just as
soon as we get to California"
The conductor shouted ssall aboard, !"
which in this case meant for those al
ready aboard to leave the train. There
was hurried handshaking, followed by
a general scramble for the door, and a
moment later distance had begun to
lengthen out between brave Millie Marks
and her prairie home.
Having had so much of the family his
tory forced upon him, Richard Wake
man regarded the two women in the
next compartment with more interest
than he was accustomed to bestow on
travelling companions.
The girls face was completely hidden
by thick veil which she now proceeded
to remove. Richard was Just trihe
curious to see the face of this girl whose
relatives, with the single exception of
the little sick mother, were such loud
voiced, ungainly creatures. He expected
a slight improvement perhaps, but not
much.
With an upper movement of her hand
she removed the veil and hat, then
busted herself making her dear invalid
comfortable. Richard came near ex-
claiming with surprise at the sweet, un-
conscious beauty Of the fair, flower like
face looking out from its frame of soft
brown hair. Every curve and outline
of it was as delicately chiseled as he
could hope to behold in the face of a
queen.
The years schooling abroad, which
the relatives SO emphatically disap-
proved, had accomplished wonders for
Millie Marks, and Richard Wakeman
diniy comprehended what her later life
among them must have been.
ITO a girl like her it must have been
nightmare Of HORROR" be thought, as she
caressed the little mother, while the
cadences of her sweet, low voice were
waited back to him. ssI don't wonder
that she wanted to get the mother away
from them, and God helping me they
shall never go back again, but the way
ehoII onou IN for that n1ahtop nohla,no,