The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-01-24
A WEDDING PARTY.

yield of peaches, it's pigeons and its razor
back hogs.
The peach crop and its shipment cause
a stir in early summer. The pigeons have
nestled and brooded there from the time
of the falling of the stars so the old women
of the place declare, and they have well
established their right of priority by occu-
plying the caves of the dilapidated stores
and dwelling houses, on the roofs of which
they parade in pomp for the benefit of the
passengers whenever a train appears.
The bearded and begrimed engineer who
puffs through the town twice day is au-
thority for the statement that the razor
back hogs are so trained that they spend
the morning about the schoolhouse, mile
distant from the station, where they de-
YOUR the residue of numerous lunch bas-
kets, and at the blowing of his whistle
dash through the woods to meet the train
and consume the peach Feelings thrown
from the car windows.
But there are other productions in Cor
don more notable than pigs, peaches and
pigeons.
Some days ago the old engineer came to
a stand at this station. A shriJl voiced
conductor squalled, "Al aboardr' The
car door opened slowly, and a woman,
holding an infant in tight grasp, entered,
followed by a middle aged man and a
young fellow of the country swain variety.
The woman had on a dress of checked
homespun, buttoned to painful degre
about her obese body, and a nondeseript
hat, covered over with the crimson tipped
wings of bIackbirds. She was putting
from the excitement of the occasion and
the exercise of a long walk, while the baby
bawled and made furious efforts to pull
handfuls of hair from its mothers head.
The man gazed vacantly about him and
threw himself, with jerk, beside ths
woman, which, for an instant, stopped the
believing of the babe
The young fellow had ambled up and
stood in the aisle with an air of uncertain
elaboration. He decided suddenly to seat
himself, moved my valise testingly, looked
up ti1nidly and fell into the seat. I had
an opportunity of noticing him closely.
He wore new pair of blue jeans trousers
that were scarcely long enough to hide his
flaming red socks, blazing out in bold re-
lief above his creaking brogans, likewise
new. His i'll fitting coat was in color
dingy brown. This was unbuttoned and
disclosed an unbleached, unstarched shirt.
His long hair was saturated with water
and seemed to sparkle with frequent ap-
plications of pomade. His physiognomy
was rather extenuated. The chin shot out at
an abrupt angle and tapered off to point,
bedecked with scanty ridge of down that
had never known the invasion of steel.
His nose was almost parallel to the chin.
1t had been the shining mark for the mid
summer sun and had suffered surface
abrasion that morning when he scrubbed
his countehance. But, more conspicuous
than all, was the peculiar dilation OF his
cheek that told of the wad of tobacco upon
which he munched. His lips were yellow
stained, and the wrinkles about the corner
of his mouth formed miniature aqueducts
for conducting the juice to his shirt collar.
When the train was good under way.
the old man turned:
Better come up this way, Bud, an set
down by yer ma an me-"
'Ruther sit back here whar kin Spit -
responded the young fellow, firing the
liquid contents Of his mouth into the GUS
pidor.
"Waal, lao ter know eff yer can't spit
outen this here window. Amt no law
'ginst it, is thar2 An bein as you're goin
ter marry, yer ma an med lac ter see
sumpen of yer fo' you an Nancy gifts tied
together, cause we amt countin much
ON seein yer whin yer gifts ter Twin over
thar at ole man Scroggins'.
This argument was effective, and the
fellow moved up several seats. It was
caught amid the rum bling of the cars that
the young man was destined to be married
that day, and that he expected to mako
his home with his BRIDES parents.
"Pa, I wants yer to send ole Sue over
Tomorrow. That's the bes' plowin critter
ever drew the line over, an eff me an
Nancys got to make Twin ole Sue'u
have to be thar to help us OUT
A laconio grunt was the reply.
San don't fergit ter send over that thar
shotgun of mine I seed a whole passle er
squirrils over thar in Soroggins' wood Las
week, an they're jist hatchery ichin fer
shot. Thet's what I spec I kin git a
dog over thar at Nancy's, an yer needn't
bother yerself bout sendin my ole hound
iraJt for 1111f
ter scratch heas an eat grub. That's
whatP'
For some miles there was dreary silence.
The old woman relapsed into state of
somnolent satisfaction and punctuated her
dreaming with sudden mods and resultant
snorts, while the baby still tugged with
her hair. The old man gaZed out at the
scudding cotton crops, and the prospective
groom munched his tobacco and ruminated
upon marital responsibilities.
Suddenly the engine shrieked for the
next stop. The effect was instantaneous.
The young man ceased to chew and pushed
his head from the car window. The wom-
savage slap, which brought all its lung
power into action, while the old man
started toward the door in a run.
'fThar she isl Thar's Nancy an her
ma an ole man Scrogginsr' he yelled back.
'.Hello folksl Howdy, how'dyl Here's
Bud in here cooked an primed fer marry
IMP
The train had come to q stop at what
appeared to be a crossroads station. Sew
eral wagon teams were standing under the
live oaks hard by, In one of these wagons,
all alone, was seated girl of 10, arrayed
in q neat red calico dress and a green
checked sunbonnet beneath which was q
comely countenance, radiant with smiles.
These smiles expanded as she saw the
young man jump from the car and rush
toward her. His only saIutation was a
series of violent kisses which she pretend
ed to resent.
He reached out for the reins and wished
to drive. She refused.