The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-04-25
Stories of an Inland State.

fallen countenance.
; Worse and worse" she said. Pete tool
the wagon. We've got 10 escape and dc
it on our hooves in this mud Geewhilh.
kens, Listen at that thunder She stood
, at the open door. Across the wide prairis
the lightning played. irving the awful
darkness Of the treeIess, unbroken land
: for the eye in a prairie storm can moi
fix in the blackness the line OF the hc-!.
} ION, and the sky ard the distant prairie
|; become one.
IT hope said Mrs. Sweeney, the blue
glare Of the incessant lightning making
her look spectral as she peered into the
night, II hope that old Snoogles likes this
water"
He loves storms" sad Misty Dawn,
"for the little boy told me so.''
He does, does he, the old Lar? Well,
I'll bet he doesn't. IN bet he's Quakine
in his old boots right now"
Misty Dawn wondered. She did not be-
lieve the boy capable of that deceit
"Snoogles is an old fool" Mrs Sweeney
went on. Say, do you know whether
nasts on ships have lightning-rods on EN-
or not?"
mo, do not" said Misty Dawn
well, if was Snoogies, I'd put one or
where he makes the kid sit"
The wind sang in the distance.
Pausing a moment, Mrs. Sweeney said
l'''Wind, too. A bad night, Misty Dawn. -
she went on quite Familiarity. why are
you not afraid? I'd like to see young
woman of your age from the state down
here right now"
Misty Dawn dropped her head and did
not answer.
Louder sang the coming wind and sharp
er came the blue lightning. Mrs. Sweeney
closed the door and said:
| Now we're in for If. I hope old Snoo-
giles is enjoying himself II 1 had boy
I'd send him over and present my COM
pliments and ask him II it reminded him
of his old sea. Whew! Listen TO that
windr'
Misty Dawn arose quietly and said: This
house is strong?"
Yes. very. Why?"
eff it were a frame house would be
afraid"
Why"
Cyclones cannot hurt an Indian In his
teepee but they kill him in a frame house
which falls about his head
IT guess that's right. The Indian has
| some advantages, then, after all?"
Some" answered Misty Dawn, thinking
| of the absence of contests and deputies on
| the reservation.
Civilization" unused Mrs. Sweeney. af'
ter long thought. as sham. It's what
| Pete calls a COLLISION and snare. You
don't know what you're getting into. No
| body's your friend unless then can use
you. No one ever helps you unless he can
help himself by helping you. Now think
Of that Old codger. Snoogles. He thought
Of my danger from the deputy marshals
but he only thought Of 1t when he thought
how he might get rid of me. Now, on
the other hand, I might have kept that
boy here tonight, but I didn't. Why? as
the preacher says because there was moth
ing In 1t for me-
An awful palpitating lingering glare OF
lightning, followed quickly by cracking,
shivering blast of thunder, stopped Mrs
Sweeney.
Something's struck" She went on, "and
near I wonder if it's old Snoogles''
1.-The pole?''
eyes, II that's struck II serves him right.
There amt any sense in him running that
thing up here on the prairie Now what
I was saying was that we never do any
thing for nothing, but sometimes we do.
The presence of money on a civilized per-
son is about as good as the money itself.
Civilized people viii help those who are
able to help themselves and ask but the
pay of thanks. But civilized people wiz
not help those who are not able 10 help
themselves and take thanks for pay.
That's civilization and government"
Misty Dawn thought she caught the hint
She began: Mrs. Sweeney, have been
here troubling you"
Just quit that" answered Mrs. Sweeney,
sharply. I'm coming to that. You come
here a poor. ragged runaway and ask to
stay with me day, and say No STREE,
you can't do 1T But you come here with
a shawl full OF silver dollars and I say:
Yes, certainly, glad to have you.
and" cried Misty Dawn. above the
uprOar without
"Waitr yelled Mrs. Sweeney. "I want |
you to stay. I don't want any Of your
money for keeping you here. Why? Just |
because you've got the money. But if |
you didn't have the money then I'd de- |
nand 1t. That's civilization"
What did you do with the silver?" ask |
ed Misty Dawn.
Slipped # under the floor. But I amt |
limiting. Don't think that. I'm merely |
pointing out human nature. / wouldn't |
take your money. God bless you, my |
child. / amt limiting What's that?"
Mrs. Sweeney sprang to her feet. Some |
enc was outside.
She opened the door. and the wind swept /
In furry Of drops.
The shaggy. dripping form Of Captain
Snoogles stood there. leading the boy by
the hand.
Come in, Snoogles" yelled Mrs Sween-
ey,. What's the matter?''
''Maintop gallant" started the boy.
Say the pole. It's shorter cried Mrs
Sweeney. My, But you're soaked"
The old man remained standing. salut-
ing. Parted abeam," he said. and every
thing gone by the board"
The boy said nothing. though Mrs.
Sweeney looked 10 him.
We'll. you come mighty near having &c
swim over here. 1 suppose l am TO under
stand that the Clara Bell has been knocked
top gallant galley-west and sank four
fathoms in mud?''
The Old man nodded.
The boy walked slowly over 10 Misty
Dawn and she pulled of MS hat and his
shoes and his coat and began 10 dry him
out near the little stove. stirring up the
fire. She asked him several questions, but
the boy DID not answer.
The truth was that a bolt OF lightning
had struck the pole On Captain Snoosle's
shan:y and torn the AZ reef apart. food
ing everything within.
When this had happened. the little boy.
who longei to see the sea and TO brave
It's terrors real and fancied. had heheld
something which had wrecked the nursed
conviction OF years.
Now his thoughts were busy. Had his
ewes deceived him? No He had seen I; j
plainly. Enthusiastically. How pale re had I
looked. and how he had tremhlc5, He saw