The Greenville times., 1895-02-09


plishments or characteristics Simon
Early may have possessed his predom-
inant qualities were excessive bashful-
ness and very slender form, set of by
a pale, lemon-colored strip of fuzz on
his upper lip. lie was in the employ
of Messrs. Hoof & Tallow. Of Windy
City, a frontier town noted for its
briskness and its numerous cyclones,
which, il was declared. turned the In
habitants over as often as setting hen
is said TO turn her eggs over. II was
seldom, however, that any fatalities
had to be reported, though many com
plants Of being "shuck up right
smart might have been heard ON ~ri-
.ous sides.
Messrs Hoof & Mllow piled n thrifty
business in buying up and shipping
out hides, bones, etc, products made
abundant by the cyclone, the blizzard
and the great. gaunt prairie wolves.
SIMON was fresh from the rural dis
tricts around Star Valley, Kan, from
which it was rumored that his folks
had been driven by force Of dry
weather aud chnch-bugs. A few of
their former acquaintances, however,
declared that the tall, thin-visaged be-
ing known as Simons father had been
actuated in quitting his old place of
abode more on account of the enforce
ment of the prohibitory law than for
any other reason, and had come TO
live among cowboys and buffalo grass,
where more freedom Of conscience was
permitted.
BE that as 1t may, the elder Early
had removed his family and belongings
TO the more unrestricted town of Windy
City, where the diffident Simon had
secured position in his Uncle Hoofs
establishment.
In order to help Simon scrape off
some Of the bashfnlness for which he
was renowned his considerate uncle
and Mr.. Tallow frequently sent him
across the hillocks and hollows of buf-
falo grass to outlying farmers and
rsnchers to bargain for fresh supplies
of hides, bones, and anything in their
line.
It was st. Valentines day, mild and
pleasant. But the good and much
enduring citizens Of Windy City
were not an almanac-reading people,
and 1t Is doubtful II more than half
dozen of them could have told you why
the l4th of February was such popu-
lar day with young folks
Simon was one of that half-dozen.
He knew what Valentines day meant,
and II had been his intention to answer
an advertisement in a newspaper where
he had read that two fancy, lace
trimmed expressions of lovers feel
ings might be purchased for five cents.
lie didn't care for the money, and,
much as he would have liked sending
both Of them to certain maiden over
on Tar creek, he lacked even the cour.
age to write the manufacturers what
he wanted. They didn't keep valentines
for sale at any of the stores in Windy
City. But shutting whatever regrets
or longings he might have closely in
his heart, Simon mounted his broncho
and rode away across the prairie to en-
gage hides and bones for the firm.
He blushed to himself as he thought
how much pleasanter it would be to
engage that certain maiden in sonversa-
tion, il he only dared do it.
An unusually early blizzard had
swept along Tar creek, killing great
deal Of stock for the ranchers. This
enabled the youth to reap rich har'
vest in the peculiar wares Of the firm
Having bargained with some fellows
engaged in the bone-piciking business
TO deliver at an early day, Simor
started toward home, directing hil
broncho by cattle path that passed
the ranch Of old Sandhill Hyde, one O
che first comers TO Tar creek. The olt