Iuka reporter., 1893-04-06

~ W w his eyes. Their
e with the intention of getting tn,
s'kinks out of his legs" b,
walked away for the purpose of taking
turn or two on the platform of dingy
little station at dilapidated western
village, where the west bound train haG
stopped for the trainmen's noontime
lunch, which was served at rude coun
ter in the station.
The buildings within the range o.
Richard Wakeman's vision had dis
couraged, unhappy look as if the effort
TO keep up respectable appearance had
long since been abandoned. The wild,
prairie winds had snatched away shin
| gle here, and clapboard there, and
several of the chimneys and fences
seemed to be tottering on the verge OF
destruction which was certain to follow
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
broadcast 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 leo one to conclude
thas these half-famished creatures sub.
sisted mostly on the generosity of trav-
elers, 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 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 being 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 Wakeman
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 Millie Marks was
taking her invalid mother to California,
for the benefit Of its recuperative climate.
"The hull passel O. relatives on both
sides, hez turned out to see 'en off, ez
was our duty, seein' thet there amt
much prospects o. Marthy's livin' to get
home ag'in," one of the dutlful "rela.
tives" was remarking IN high-pitchei
falsetto voice, that cut the air like
knife.
s'It's clean waste o. money, an
told Abner SO, last night. I said, says
l, this sending half dead woman, an
a young, giddy girl off alone is tempt.
in o. Providence, to say the very least,
an the extravaganza of 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, m he didn't count the cost O. it
nuther. Marthy's alters been sayin'
woman, an ! wonder that she consented
to sech extravaganza.
"It's all Miles doin's," volunteered
third. "Thet girl has carried things
pretty much her own way since she came
back from that eastern school. /
s'picioned 'twould be the ruination o.
her when they was a-plannin' to send
her. They heard all had to say on the
subject, an then went right on just as
il hadn't spoke my mind at all. had
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. l done my
duty, On 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 ssMil-
lies relatives. The movement was SO
sndfien that he had no recourse hut "a