Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1893-03-25

serious
..No; one had better cry than laugh
in this case, returned Kitty, her chin
slightly quivering.
Then you won'tmarry me?" spoke
Tom, after long pause.
ssNo, of course not, Tom.
sDon't We love me?"
ssOf course do. 1 can't help that,
but can help marrying you"
"Wal, Kit, suppose l jump right
out an go to DOM somethln', then
what?"
ooh, you'd Jist as well ak me what
I'll do when the jigment day comes.
You'll never hop out You amt got
no hop in yer mater. You ar simply
a great, big, han'some. good-natered
chunk of no cOuntnesS
''You won't never be nuthin'. 1t
amt in ye. You orter be killed, Tom,
if it wasn't that powder an lead costs
money. | wish you wuz gone out OF
mysight, an I'd never see you no more.
If you don't git up an leave this
neighborhOod, Pm gOin' ter hav ye
arrested, an sold as vagrant! AM
you talk about marryin'! The great
Lord, Tom"
Toms eyes opened wider than they
ever had before. That smile, that
had had so much to do in moulding
his countenance, was almost gone.
He gazed long at Kitty, hoping to see
smile break through that cloudy
expression on her face, to show him
her anger was only feigned. But the
expression grew darker and darker
every moment. Finally she arose, as
by sudden impulse, and, looking
down in Toms wondering face, said:
s'Tom, I mean all I've said, an much
more I want to warn you; don't
fool around me no more Leave this
county, If you know what's good for
you"
Saying this, the beautiful girl, a
tear creeping to each cheek, left for
the house, leaving big. lazy, handsome
Tom, lying on the grass-thinking!
Yes, the first serious work he had
ever did in his life, he was doing now.
Tom was actually thinking! And
thinking hard, TOO. Out of his loved
ones terrible denunciation sprang a
force that was stirring that sluggish
nature to the bottom. By rude,
rough hand, she had opened door in
his nature revealing great store of
possibilities never before suspected.
Tom, the worthless, thoughtless vag-
abond, arose from that shade deter
mined, hopeful, resolute, capable
man.
Three weeks from the day Kitty
and Tom parted beneath her fathers
apple tree, she received the following,
post marked "Vanceburg, Kentucky"
1t ran as follows:
DEAR KIT am we'll, hoping these flu
lines viii find you enjoyin' the same blessin'
Nv helth. Did you know I wuz gone of? I
am. I'm away off down hur in Luis Co.
started off that evenin' arter you had SIGH
encouragin' talk to me. I cum hur an got q
job on the Chesapeake and Ohio railroad.
got a job on section, an didn't work only
a week until they put me on az section
boss. This job suits me the best, az seem
more adopted ter GYM % orders tn than an bein
has took hken to me somehow, an say if
stick, an go right on. might git ter be a
Kunductor on one o. them passenger cars
sum day. What would ye think ter see me
with blue SCOT on. with big brass buttons
er glistenin' like stars, an cap sot on my
strings O. gold? Kit, I'm goin' ter show you
how bad ye wuz mistaken about me. Pm
goin' ter be sumthin' er die tryin'. I'm
tryin' ter learn sumthin'. too. A mighty
purity little gal, stayin' at same hotel whar
do, IL er teachin' me ter spell an write bet
ter, an is givin' me lessons in hggers. She
SEE Pm awful quick ter learn, an SEE 1t is
jist perfectly delightful ter teach me. I
don't see how gal like her could have the
patience with such big malumix as I am.
Wal, good-by, Kit. I hope the time will
come when you won't be ashamed Nv me
an will even be willln' ter-well, never
mind. I'll tell We some day, maybe.
Yours forever,
Tom"
Kitty read this letter with delight,
until she came to the announcement
that Tom was taking lessons under a
pretty little gal," who took delight
in her duties But the slight pain
this gave her was swallowed up in
the great joy she felt at the evidence
of her lovers complete tranSforma-
tiou. 81 was so sorroY to talk to
him the way I did," she soliloquized,
"but now find it was the best thing
that could hev ben done fer him.
That very talk. has started him up
from being a no account loungin'
nuthin, ter the maxim of man. F"
Kitty, thenceforward for many
months, went singing about, gay as a
lark. thinking and dreaming only of
the time when she would be the wife
of big, handsome Tom.
X
Four years went by. Kitty for the
first year received many letters from
Tom, all of which were a history OF
the continual improvement, and bust
ness advancement of capable man.
The second year the letters were less
frequent but when one came, the
great delight it gave, made ample
amends for its hardness The third
year, she received only one letter, and
1t was a very brief one, written In a
bold, business-like hand. He was the
train dispatcher for road out West,
and was receiving big salary. Al
| tho and of tho fnurth yaar she 70.