Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1894-05-30

II ~ ~ his eyes. Then
X with the intention o, getting the
"kinks out of his legs he
walked away for the purpose OF taking
a turn or two on the Platform OF dingy
lite station at a d.lapidatcd western
village, wlere the west bouni train had
stopped for the trainmen's noontine
lunch, which was served at a III ie coun.
ter in the station.
Tae buildings within the range OF
Richard WAkeman's vision had dis
courage1, unhappy look as if the eGort
TO keep up a respectable appearance had
long since been abandoned. Tne wild,
prairie winds had snatcIei way shin
gle here, and clap5oIrd there, and
several of the climneys and fences
seemed to be totteriny 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 a recent
storm was strewn throughout the village.
1t was also evident that the inhabitants
considered it "labor lost" to gather iu
their belongings, since :he next storm
would, in all probability, send thep
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 blkeshoDs.
= L., I, -. l.
thas these half-famishei creatures sub.
sisted mostly on the generosity q! 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 confused
scramble, accompanied by vicious sIarl-
iugs, took place, and the largest, least
miserable dog among them, captured the
prize.
Richard Wa&omsn 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 row stood prop9ed
up against the station house, with its
letters inverted. The name might have
been Hardzcrabb,e. Young Wakenan
decided that it looked as nearly like that
as anything, and being a most appro-
pirate alpeIation, he accepted it with.
,ut fur:lcr investigation.
There was great commotion at the
station. 1t seemed TO Richard Wake.
maa that the entire villa &C must have
turned out for some special purpose. He
was not long kept in ignorance Of its
nature, for the loul-voiccd conversation
informed him that Millic Marks was
taking her invalid mother to California,
or the benefit of its recuperative climate.
"The hull passol o relatives on both
sides, hcz turned out to see 'em off, ez
was our duty, seein' thet there amt
much prospects o Marthy's Hviu' to get
home ag'In," one of the duhtul "rela-
tives" was remarkiug IN high-pitchel
talsetto voice, that cut the air like a
knife.
ats clean waste o. money, al
;old Abner so. last night. L said, says
|, this sending half dead woman, an
young, gidiy girl of alone is a tempt
in o. Providence, to say the very least,
an the cStravagance of it is simply
dreadful But A5ner slapped ono o his
high an mighty looks on to his face, an
sand at he reckonei he could afford to
give Mlrthy chance for her life, at any
rate, N he didn't count the cost o it
nuther. Marthy's alters been savin'
woman, an L wonder that she consented
n spch cX Xravarance"
"lts al Miles doin's," volunteered
! thirl. "Thet girl has carried things
pretty much her own way since she cane
back from that eastern school.
s'picioncd 'twould be the ruiuation o.
her when they was a-plannin' to send
her. They heard all l had to say on the
subject, an tien went right on just as
If l hadn'C spoke nv mind at all. | had
a talk with Mlllie last night, an gave
her heaps O. good advice about properly
conduc:in' 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. 1 done my
duty, an my conscience is clear o any
responsibility in the matter"
Before Richard hal time to mike his
escape, four gaunt, har II featured wonea
had crowded against him in their efforts
to eater the tourist car, upon the 10 yer
step of wh!cl he had stationed himself,
the better to see over the heads of ''Mil-
lies relatives" The movement was SO
saGdcn that he had no recourse but to
entc- the car in advance of them, which
nc did, inten ling to pass through it to
th= Pull uan coach beyoud, while his
chsf.e WAS sleeping; but whea he had
-eacHC the center OF tae car Ia 49,
covered TINT the Objectionable relative
lr,ite bloc<aled the passage in either
direction, and there was nothing left for
him but t. fad Il seat and wait ther
exit.
As he sea'c1 hi nseIf, n stalwart man
"A typic,l Western settler-p.acad n
slender little woman in the complrlmen'
acxt to the one he had entered.
There you be, NAV, ez coml'tablc c.
# you was to home on your best feather
bel, ne sad, with gigantic effort tc
stcady his voice. Alter swallowing two
OF thrcc times in Quick succession, lie