Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1897-04-22

CI WHOLi Sudh
call McCurdy-for the same reason
given for the same license by somebody
else-because that was not his name.
He had large family of good, healthy,
rosy checked children, such as are
always found where work and ozone
are plentiful. McCurdy was of a hot,
irascible temper-had shot soldier of
the garrison here who got too fresh, and
was promptly acquitted of any criminal
intent in doing so. His claim was
about five miles from Fort Scott, and
was improved to the extent of a native
lumber house, an incipient orchard
which never got to the fruit bearing
stage, and prairie hay stable. One
of his daughters, Kate, was at that time
girl of 10 or II.
McCurdy, after trip to town one
ofternoon, came home in testy humor.
His mules didn't travel to suit him.
The roads were rougher than usual.
The piece of fence board used for
seat (spring seats were used exclusively
by the bloodless aristocrats at that
time was harder than usual.
On his arrival home Kate came out
to help him take care of his team.
She, like everything else, was not up to
his standard of efficiency. After few
forcible suggestions, which finally grew
to angry reprimands, he lost all patience
and told her so frankly. He dropped the
trace chain which he was in the act of
hanging on the top of the hame of the
off mule and proceeded to give her
few hasty instructions. He got good.
sized sprout from a peach tree and
trounced her soundly.
: Kate was of that age-not a child
and not quite woman-when girls
don't take kindly to things of that kind.
She moped off to the house and, as the
folks were all away, put on her sun
bonnet and slipped out into the big road
and started westward.
About half mile west of her home,
as she walked along rubbing her eyes
with her apron and caring little where
she went or what became of her, she
was noticed by Tom Carpenter, sturdy
young farmer whose claim adjoined her
fathers and who was on friendly terms
with the family. He asked where she
was going. Not receiving a satisfac-
8. tory answer and noticing that she was
crying, he left his team at the stable
and came to her. After a deal of
questioning on his part and deal of
rubbing of eyes on her part, he learned
the facts. His suggestions of the
danger she was running into by leaving
home, as well as his advice that she
return, were scorned. She had stood
that kind of treatment as long as she
could. She would Mt stand it any longer.
She didn't care where she went nor what
became of her-she was not going back
home.
After exhausting his persuasive
powers in that direction a bright idea
struck Tom Carpenter. Thoughts akin
TO it may have struck him before, but
now it came to him with nice, healthy
opportunity right close at its heels. He
had a good claim. pretty we'll improved.
He was a single man and ought to have
"a wife. That last fact was indisputable.
Now Tom Carpenter was a bashful
man. He was old enough and big
enough to look out for himself in bust.
ness matters, Though he was peace
able. good-natured fellow; if any of the
neighboring settlers had come to him
really in search of trouble he would
hive been accommodated in short order.
He wasn't afraid of any man alive
But the presence of this girl and the
presence of the aforesaid bright idea
upset his GOODNESS. His ability to give
good advice suddenly left him. He
grew all at once silent and unsympa-
thetic. He blushed till his face was a:
red as Kate's eyes. Why he blushed
can't tell, can you? But he did. Thi.
great, big. husky fellow, who woult
tackle a pair of unbroken Texas steer:
fresh from the range, actually blushee
and hesitated and like Lowell's hero.
'.He stood spell on one foot fust
Then stood a spell on t'other.
And on which he felt the wust
He couldn't ha' told you nuther."
He fnally screwed his courage up,
however. Here was the young woman