The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-11-15
The Runaways.

old strip about hundred yar0S Woe,
running both ways as far as the eye could
reach. while on either SIDE the ranks OF
corn toed the line, seemingly afraid 10 en-
croach one inch beyond their mark
II was deep, fertile prairie land, covered
now with the characteristic coarse grass
and gum weed but as capable OF good
yield under the cultivation as the fields or
either side.
Tiny" said Sim, as if celebrating.
you a mes of age"
The girl quivered little but she look
ed at him resolutely.
! And there amt no reason why we
should stay right here all our lives. I'm
a strappin' Teller. an though / hate 10
leave Ioway, 1 reckon there's other states
where man could work fer-fer himself
| and wife"
80, Sim. you never mean fer US 20 run
away? Why, 'twould kill NAV. an Aunt
Susan, an Aunt Eliza" gasped Tiny.
"'Twouldn't kill EN- he responded.
| Think o. me- danglin' On string nigh
onto two years already: it's g wonder IT
| amt killed me, that's what. There amt
no other way but fer US jest to go before
! the preacher, an when we're man and
wife, both our folks can kick all they're
a mind to. There's no use in 1aitin'
neither, is there, Tiny?'
PAIL never forgive your ma, nor she
( him. You an mes trembiin' here on the
ragged edge Of diskivery every minute.
an / tell you I WON'T stand It a great
while more. There. there. Tfnyl I amt
meanin' to be cross, but II you've got
women folk TO leave. I've got men folks.
| There's father; he's the obstinatest old
man you ever see, an 1 know 1t; it's jest
1 him to see a pretty little daughter right
/ in reach, an him TO refuse her, because
it's you It's a comfort to feel ef you're
marryin' into sech an obstinate family,
/ you're marryin' outen one about as bad
1 All the same. hate TO leave pa and I'm
! Gle Sim, an old John, thets been our
hired man. an fed hogs with US, sence
before l was born.
But I'm a-goin' TO leave 'em, Tiny. an
you an nell start off into the world an
find a place for ourselves; then the
Saulsburys thet's left can fight il out with
the Taylors thets left, an welcome.
Say you'll come, little girl, SAY, ,you'H
ccme!"
Tiny looked up at Sim, with the look
woman gives a man only once in her life,
and that when she herself goes with 1t,
and then the tears slowly welled into her
eyes.
20, Sim," she consented. ''but wen
.
'Yess. he replied, Strengthening himself
TO his feet 2; yes, after the weddin'!"
Hardly had the two parted-indeed the
shaking tasses of the corn yet betrayed
the opposite path each had taken-when
an old man stepped grimly into the clear
strip. the stubby beard on his set, square
jaw showing a sandy gray in the sun.
A scant skirted calico dress and Stat
sunbonnet. with a long pointed nose and
an obstinate chin appearing within 1t,
glided from the stalks on the other side.
as if to meet him.
When too late to retreat they spied each
other-old Tom Salisbury with the widow
Taylor.
Hem" he said gruffly.
''M-m-m," she said at the same mo-
ment. with a little screech in her voice.
81 never 'posed-I never thought" she
stammered.
mo, you never s'plcioned I was nigh;
nuther did you-but 1 do spicIon. now,
you've ben about here long enough TO
see what's goin' on between my boy an
your gal. / give you my word, Mis- Tay-
Tor. I never drumpt of it before, an L
stumbled on it today
81 couldn't "a believed II CT my Tiny
unless I'd foEered her a-purpose, an seen
it. I'd ben wondering this long time
what tuck her so often in this direction"
the woman half sobbed.
Il heard how she spoke OF her mother
nom. an L hope you likewise heard jest
how Sim mentioned me, fer in the main
he done me justice an himself credit
Sims a strong hard workin' young man,
an an improvement on his father, l
should jedge Should you, nom, sayin'
ne wasn't a salisbury, now, feel COM
ftable thet your dotter should hev him?'
'Tiny's darlin' good girl, active an
within, an always healthy, an careful.
Don't seem s eff she was old enough, an
yet-welI-ruther IN t she shouldn't mar
~ at all, like Susan and Eliza-turriole
old maids, both of 'em-why, yes! But
Sausbury-O" Mrs. Taylor protested
pointedly.
The old man shifted his weight TO the
other foot and gazed into the clouds.
Mis- Taylor, we've ben engaged in up
hoIdin' a principle nigh onto twenty year,
now, an L don't know but what we've
about wore it out. Still, ef there amt
but a rag left of the old flag, I'm bound
to grip the flagstaff, an 1 spose you're the
same?"
Il hain't changed monet she returned
vindictively."
But bein' 50 well pleased with Sim fer
his goin' a head as he pleases, spite OF the
parents on both sides; also seem with
my own eyes what a modest an sensible
girl you've raised. an idee occurs 10 me
by which we can git shot of the whole
thing in a self-respectin' manner. Mis-
Taylor, do you still hold your patent from
from the government, embracing this
here strip O. lands he inquired
The slat bonnet nodded violently.
- = -, II n
Will consent TO leave 1t a sorter neutral
strip as long as you lve?''
Again the bonnet agitated.
We'll. I still hold my patent, too. clear
y dednin II as a part OF my domains
plainly betrayin' the mistake n suryeyin
which our almighty government has
made. I'll never go back on my promise
ruther about leav.n it IN the material
perarie while l keep my claim Now, 4
when in the course Of natur' you become /
an angel, would it be proper 20 suppose (
the old maids bein' otherwise provided I
fer. as I've always heaTd-to suppose T.
tibet you'd leave your farm here IN lovay .
10 your sole issue2'
1T would" said Mrs Taylor, wonder /
ingly.
NY farm beln' ekaIly good an product /
i've land. I should, in ike case, an givln' 4
fer once employment 20 a lawyer leave +
it 10 the only child l have in the world. /
an thet's my Sim. Then, as l understand. .
these two farms could Be attached As 4
wings 70 this here strip Q; one hundred /
yards wide an go acres long Now.
while them two young things are stealth
their wedGin' trip, there might Dc a log
raIsin' on this spot. me % do the hauliI' 4
with the help OF Uncle sin an NJ aired
man. John"
An me 70 furnish two webs az c.o-1
% nv own an Susan an Eliza 50 ana
4, - - -.,-r.- - q 81 ~ ne pte- Dishes