Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-07-01
UNLUCKY RESEMBLANCE.
4 Romance of Real Life i'm the
BackwOOds of Ken
fnPkv.

Kentucky Cor. Cincinnati Commercial Tribune.
l stopped for the night on Bowie branch,
a tributary of Rifle creek, last October.
Supper being over, the ''old man OF the
house" and myself drew chairs in front
of grateful fire of hickory logs. We were
discussing such absorbing questions as the
weather, free silver, coon dogs. Cuban war.
moonshine whisky, Hannaism and the best
methods of baking 'possum, when a tall.
comely girl of about II seated herself in the
corner at my left, fixed her luminous blue
eyes on my face. and hardly batted them
for more than minute. Finally, she eject
ed fierce pant. leaped to her feet, seized
the poker and gave the side of the ruddy
backlog several quick stabs. Then she sat
down and fixed her thirsty gaze on me as
before
She then arose suddenly, turned over the
chair and rushed into the adjoining room.
1 heard her throw herself heavily across
the groaning bed. Then convulsiye sobs
Were borne to my ears.
Soon the old man arose and followed her.
Soon I could hear their voices humming
together.
slowly tramped back to where l was sitting.
He stood with his back to the fire minute.
then gave an embarrassed cough and spoke:
Stranger you know what that 'ar gal IS
cryin' and sobbin' about?"
Il haven't the faintest idea. I'm sure"
returned.
wal, it's about you"
Indeed
Vas, you an the tother little feller. Yes,
she says you're just like MIN.
Like whom
'Tommie Latimer."
who's he?"
"Only a plain unassoomin' little hoss
thief. stranger. He's away. for the time
| being, at Frankfort. stranger-delayed thar
for short spell of four years, an it's i'm
| possible for him to get away at present:
Comm to examine you at close quarters, l
believe the gal is right. Don't want to
brag on man right to his chin, but
must say that you do look jist like him.
MY gal an him was er goin' to hitch up
an trot of toward eternity together, but
the 'tarnal officers come in an cut the tugs.
Jist ready for the ceremony-the preacher
was here; the shoats was baked; the pun
kin pies was smokin' on the table. when
| the ornery officers come up an jerked the
little rooster off the pole of joy. took him
away and cooped him up. She been faith
full to him, stranger; has been lovin' him
| right along until you came. Now she says
she'll take her heart strings often him and
| wrap 'em around you If you are willin'.'
.Oh. she means it. stranger Needn't
think she's fiirtin with ye. She means
what she says clear up to the hub. IN
| Paid the preacher for marryin' her and
little Tommie Latimer. Give him next to
my best coon dog and the ceremony is still
Latimer to get in You lookin' just like
him, you see. she can imagine that you
are him, and would. thereby. save -FOUR
years and three months of marriage bliss
| that goes to waste by waitin' for him. So,
| let's git the thing settled an git them
| tear splashes often her cheeks an them
sighs outen her lungs, 1t bothers me-"
'But-I'm married"
wal. thars the jestice of the peace
| right close here that can divorce ye in
| fifteen minutes from date. and I've got a
jug of liquor and a pound o long green
| tobacker to pay him for the job. Hurry
up"
Its impossible,"' 1 said desperately.
Don't talk so loud. then, SO she can over
hear I'll fix it fer ye to escape. If you
won't marry her. I'll tell her to go to
cookin' for the weddin and that you are
gone for the preacher. When you git out,
| split for tall timber. Leave the main road,
| for If she finds she's tripped up she'll foler
ye an she's got the fastest hoss in the
| hills. Besides. she can shoot an apple from
! a gatepost at a distance of 100 yards. Sorry.
stranger you look like little Tommie.
Would er loved to had We stayed over night.
AS it is, my care for human life bids ye
split for yer hoss.
And split"