Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1896-05-09
MISS POPE'S PREDICTION.
BY SARAH b. SCARBOROUGH.


Don't know The brisk tailoress
shipped off thread with her teeth and
pushed forward a chair as she said
this, in her usual comprehensive way.
It'd take a steam-;njun to keep up
with Lnviny's doinEs," she added, as
Miss Pope dropped into the seat with
a mournful shake of her pretty gray
brown front curls.
We'll, if In juns can keep up with her,
| she'll get kept up with, for she's coming
home with tribe on 'em, only they're
live ones"
.She ain't." exclaimed Miss Myers.
"Yes, she is. I've just got the letter"
''What won't that girl do next? First
she up and had lot of contrary bands
here, and some of 'em were contrary
enough. too; then she turned your old
farm into playground for a whole lot
| of city poor children, and last year she
| had the crookedest lot of sewing-girls
| from some sweating factory, she called
| it-and they were crooked, and looked
as if they'd been swea ted till they were
leaked and thin as shadows; and now
what are you going to do about it,
L'rilly Pope?"
''Why, just what 1 always do, s'pose,"
| she resignedly answered. Il could see
some sense in the other doings before
she got through, but there amt grain
| IN this. Iniuns," she continued, with
spirit. What can a body do with saw
ages? If l ever felt like putting my
foot down, it's right now"
''Why don't you, then?''
There's no time," she groaned. "Lu-
viny never gives a body time to put
their foot down. They're coming to-
night; and this isn't the last of it.
Mark my words: if Luviny Gordon
brings them redskins here, you'll all be
nightly shocked before fall. / shall
certainly be scalped; and''-she low
cred her voice-''wben that happens,
MISSY, remember I've always said
you're to have that spare-rocm feather
bed for nursing me with the fever
And it made my hair stand up to sit
and hear her predict that so calmly,
said Miss Myers, she related this
conversation to subsequent callers, for
Miss Pope's predictions are sure's can
oe. 1 never did envy her for only two
things-knowiny things ahead SO, and
that pretty head of hair she's got. And
that feather bed does make three" she
added, refiectively. Il don't hope any
thing'H happen, but it wouldn't be
strange if L had that bed before fall.
Injuns are treach'rous!"
Luviny arrived that night with her
charges three Indian boys ranging
from II to 1G years of age Their APP
pearance was a surprise to the North
Parton people who had gathered to
meet them at the little station. 1t was
more-it was disappointment as we'll.
1T certainly isn't treating us square
Iy!" grumb bled old Mir. Brooks, as Lu-
viny, with a pleasant nod to all, briskly
looked after the baggage, and led ,he
|
where the hired man awaited them.
NO procession, nor no paint nor feath-
ers. Looks s if Luviny intended to de-
ceive u.s.
"Luviny'd ought to know North Far
ton folks BETTER said Miss Myers.
I'VE didn't aim to be dead set against
the savages, but bringing 'e1n here dis
guised like civilized beings amt the
thing. Its imposition and looks to me
like treachery, and Miss Pope's got
grounds for her prediction
It was too bad; but Luviny did not
know that the people were disappont-
ed as she saw her charges safely in the
wagon. and nodded good-naturedly
again to those watching her.
Miss Pope received them with solemn
resignation, and that night she heard
Luviny's plans concerning them with
the same subdued spirit, only signing
as she whispered:
well, 1 nope you'll live to carry out
these plans. if you're set ont. As for
me, know L haven't got long to stay
here, but must say 1 hain't ever
thought that when 1 went, it'd be by
scalping,"
why, Aunt Pope, what do you
mean?" exclaimed Luviny.
''Luviny, you've nrver been an Injun,
even if you have lived a whole year
among 'em. A leopard can't change his
spots, and it's Injun nature to scalp
when there's anything to scalp, and it's
horne il on me that mine'll go before
sail. Sns it's right to protect yourself,
o1,d I've got double locks on the doors,
and the Injuns mus sleep in the wood
house chamber"
So they slept there, while Luviny
cheerily laughed at her aunt's fears
and kept the boys busy about the
qualms concerning them
The redskins are proper nice boys
he observed at the shop one day, "only
it seem IS if they'd ought to have Injun
names, instead of being Joe and Ed
ward and John. But Miss Pope, she
so set against 'em that Luviny's going
to see about sending 'em TO the school
where they were going to be sent in
the fall"
sAnd I don't wonoer. I've noticed
L'rilly's hair s getting grayer in front
and / guess Luvinys kind o. shaky OF
'em herself. Talk about civilizing In
| inns and Snndipp ,eru m Schonlf Pet