Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1896-04-09
CHAPTER L-CoNr1NUEb.


piano stool and not ungracefully was
slowly turning herself half round and
then back. She was come1y girl and
stwas evident that she was the belle of
the neighborhood; and it was also evil
dent that she cared nothing for this
distinction, that she had studied and
read herself beyond any companion
ship that the village might offer, and
that simply to be admired had long
since grown tiresome to her. Miss Lopp
never forgot that pleasing picture, the
dark eyes half humOrously pleading,
the abundant hair caught up here and
there as if by graceful and yet careless
dips, the pleasing face and yet q coun-
tenance bespealSing strength Of will
physical vigor and grace.
"You must not say you won't" the
girl went on, giving Miss Lopp no time
to answer. until you know how much
In need of a sensible companion I am.
Fathcr-and let me request you not to
pay any attention to his strong express
sions for he is really the bost man you
ever saw-well, he does everything he
can to tighten my loneliness, but he
can't do so very much, you know, be-
ing only a man, and l am actually
hungry for some one to talk to-"
81 don't see how 1 can resist SO
strong an appeal" Miss Lopp replied
There, I knew you couldn't say you
wouldn't when you were brought to
understand it all. And we'd better go
now" she added, springing off the
stool. ''You shall have large front
room, but it has rag carpet, woven
half scntimenta1ly by woman that
lives not far from hereby half senti-
mentally 1 mean that she thought so
much of me she wove it for half price.
But you don't mind that, do you?"
what, the sentiment or the half
price,"
''Why, the rag carpet, of course.
L didn't know but you might expect
velvet on the floor"
my dear child" said Miss Lopp, sit
was not the thought of a carpet that
brought me into this neigh borhood,
and to tell you the truth don't care
or with sawdust.''
''Oh, / just know that ! shall like
you, because you are not stupid with
evenness of talk and kiln-dried man
hers. So come on and we'll go over
right now"
And SO Miss Lopp was installed in a
Her two front windows commanded
the drowsy village, the town COW that
looked as though she had been patched,
having so often been scalded by irate
housewives; the providing hog, the
sport of every dog that found himself
without amusement, the hitching rack
where farmers nags squcaled and bit
at one another. But the two other
windows looked upon a garden, rose
tinted here and there, the dark shade
lying between rows of high peas, q
tangle of plum bushes. a long slope and
Il creek.
! The Office of the newspaper was
found in a jumbled state, with black
and light types mixed together, but
with the assistance of boy who had
long been an apprentice, a decent order
was brought about, and from the very
first number the paper showed en-
improvement. The paragraphs were
written with a vigor that made the
villagers wink as though their eyes
had lighted upon something too bright
for them; and the editorials on national
and international subjects were set
forth with that dignity which the
farmer demands that his editor shall
observe. A show of franknesS soon
wins the confidence of q southern
town, and Miss Lopp became so evil
dent favorite that within month
after her arrival her paper had picked
up an additional circulation of fifty
copies. a marvellous growth, a newspa-
per miracle in Broonfeld.
Nell soon learned to pick up type, and
was therefore Polly's closest and most
valued companion. They were rarely
seen apart; they strolled in the woods
like lovers, and together they begged
contributions to the mite society.
One afternoon, as they were going
home to enjoy the cool of the garden,
Nell, swinging Polly's hand as they
moved along, declared that she had
never been so happy. Il feel that l
am useful" she said; II feel that / am
the dearest friend Of woman who
knows something. And do you know
what have been thinking of? I have
been thinking that we ought to make
VOW never to separate. 1 told father
the other night tho. 1 should never
marry, and if you will take up the same
resolution why we will live together.
There's the stage. and look, there are
three passengers, men. and they are
coming this way"
polly ,,,a1a No raY,1v h,1k 1oo0ipo