Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-01-14

rest, cheap frame structures, had been
placed on wheels and drawn to Cen
tropolis.
Reckon I'll stay yere." Miggles had
drawled alphabetically. Live yere
as easy as anywhere else. Mount to
nuth'n' nowhere" And so they left
HIM.
An thar he's lived ever since"
the mail-carrier went on. Worked
a little truck-patch for his vegetab es,
an fished some, an growed lazier an
more trif1in' every day. But now he's
been pindlin' fer a long time, an
Jacks been supplyin' him with grub.
Lives thar all alone, excep. fer Sole
mon, an l reckon
who is Solomon?'
''One day, after he had lived thar
door-a mule old an rickety an yell
Ter, with patches Nv unshed hair on
his sides, till he looked almost woolIy.
That was Solomon. Migg.es never
knowed nur keered where he come
frum, but built him a stable, an thar
they stay, CROWN older an gittin'
more trifin' every day. AM Wal
blamed if 1 didn't fergit my hurry!
Gid dapr'
And away went the rascalIy-looking
ponies.
"Oh, Jacks mighty good to them
both, an But, thar! now we're over
the rise, an you kin see all that's left
Nv Sumner"
A little later the blackboard had
Stacked it's speed short way from
the two-building settlement, the
mail-carrier had shouted his brief
words of explanation and the rascally
ponies were moving on again, and
Jack Reno, ON his cayuse, was rapily
overtaking them. And Miggles set
tied weakly back on his doorstep,
clutching at his breast.
''Millyv' whispered Miggles ct
oh, no, but
He looked after them till they dis
appeared over the rise The sudden
pain Of his heart had stilled as sud
denly as it had come.
Minded me Nv Milly," he tod
himself, mutteringly. 'She was lit
tie, too. Her names Miliy, too. |
must be gittin' worse, fer somehow
fer a minute | Thought it was-'
Jacks gOin' to be married tonight, -
he said, presently. Seems like he
wants me to come. An'-wal, it's
ben a long time since anybody
wanted me to be anywhere. B'!eve
I'll go. Nuth'n' to fix up with, bu
then, nobody'll expect anything wv
Miggles. Sorto shove myself pretty
we'll out O. sight, in a corner, an
seems someWay as if I've alIu3 ben
showed out Nv sight in a corner An
then-wal, mebby she looks little
Nike
He rose weakly and tot cred into
the house.
The hour that followed before da, k
mess settled down over the prairie
was the busiest THAT MiggIes had
spent for many day. His battered
clothes were cal efully brushed, his
coarse and characterle.s beard
trimmed with the remnant of pair
of shears, and his old boots labor.
lOusly creased. He surmounted the
neck of his old shirt with a pape,
| cellar, very much crumpled, but
/ cleaa-a relic Of the hasty exodu;
from Sumner long ago. This collar
exhibited a persistent desire to ride
poor Miggles neck. When his toilet
was completed Miggles was fever SHY
impatient to be off.
They'll be expectin' me-" he tod
himself, half pridefulIy. AN she
looked like Milly.
4 The trip over to CentropoIis occu
J pied more of Bob Slacker's time thar
had been expected, and when he
reached Miggles's cabin both the
slouch1ng man and the woody mule
had gone.
Miggles did not feel equal to thu
task of mounting Solomon, and so h.
set out on foot across the prairie, and
! Solomon followed him, dog-fashion
, The twilight had deepened into dark
ness, and the stars Were winking Sc
cially ait each other. AS he went
then, mutteringly addressing himself
making his way weakly across tn,
dark prairie, Miggles spoke now an
then, mutteringly addressing himself
"Jack'n be kinder glad to see me
an'-wal someway I feel fixed I'D
heap! Don't look so awful bad, am
kin keep back in corner.
Thought I'd forgotten her" h.
went on, prese ltiy. ''But-law, if L,
a,made a better fight agin ill-luck-
agin-agin my own triflin' sefr' h,
growled, fiercely. That's jest VIVA
it was, my worthless self! Wal
prob'ly she's forgot me long ago
| an"
A sudden difidence overlook him
when he reached the ranch. His fiesta
finery, the riding collar, the we'll
creased boots and carefully-brusheC
tatters, did not seem as smart anG
festal as they had at the cabin.
IN jest git a peep in at the windel
first, if l kim" he muttered. "Kindel
hate to go in thar 'mong all then
folks
1t was almost time for the perform
ance OF the ceremony as he reached
the window and peeped cautiously in
The room was filled with a hearty as
semblage, and startling fnery, but a.
seemed thoroughly satisfied wit.
themselves. Bob Stacker, gorgeous i
new suit of outrageousiy fittin
,