Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1898-12-31
For Sale by Jones & Gibson.

Law gracious, you amt gOin' in
the face O. sickness, Milly!" screamed
Cinthy.
81 amt SICK was the grim answer.
"Well leave the children, anyway
for of course L won't go, seem as you
need me, brother faint my cousin,
so l don't mind, anyway"
But here such a howl arose from
Johnny, in the bravery of new suit
and blue necktie, down to the baby,
who clutched her fur hood in her arms,
that Milly, Tightening her lips trifie,
said, "No, they can go"
As a seemingly last resort the
weather turned a frowning face upon
the undertaking. The sunny morning
had passed from gold to gray, from
gray to purple, and it began to snow
But Milly, her pluck aroused, drove
out of the farm gate at half past
twelve, with the four children in the
wagon and the cake tucked under the
seat.
1t showed. 1t showed faster. The
wind rose in their faces. The horses
Numbered along, plunging the wagon
| into holes and rutS. Milly, unused to
driving the team, and hampered by
the baby in her lap, sighed often fol
Kitty, her own little brown mare, anC
the broken cutter. so far away. And
now the two on the back seat began
to cry with cold and even Johnny was
rubbing something wetter than snow
flakes out of his eyes.
''Lie down. was her command, ant
tumbling them into the bottom she
threw the heavy blanket over them.
head and ears and disposed of tlt
oaby. now asleep, in like manner ii,
front; and now she ventured 20 U.s.
the whip, and plunge on a little faster
through the drifts. Another mile O
the uncomfortable journey was passed
ana then came d bump and ii cras.
, AID the wagon lurched forward, cau>-
ing combined scream in four keys.
.Milly saw ner cake box going, but il
! slid gently into the snow and she only
t kept the baby in by thrusting her foot
ahead of it,.
low! Ow! What is it, mar
''Mushl it's wheel smashed. Get
out"
Old Ben began to plunged. She had
20 let the baby follow the cake and
: mold to the reins with both hands.
.What shall we do now?" They
} stood beside the useless wagon with
the snow swinging in great sheets
around them.
eve could ride, but old Ben got a
spell on him. Unhitch, Johnny, and
tie him to the fence; we'll have to
walk" She was not conquered yet.
She took the baby, Johnny the cake
and the two little girls each others
hands, aud they started.
She could gain no idea of time from
the darkeneG sky, but the fateful
hour of three could not be far off.
They toiled and struggled on. I'VE
amt far now" she said encouraging
ly. ''Now, let's us play 'Bonaparte's
army like you do at home and charge
up this hill, and when we get to the
top we can see the house."
They'll all be running OUT" said
Johnny, ''when they see us coming"
The top reached at last, they could
look down the long incline at the
house, standing dim behind its dark
cedars Thankful was Milly as she
passed under their sheltering branch
es that dropped great masses of snow
about her.
''What ails them? It's quieter than
a funeral she exclaimed. There was
no joyful stir or shout of welcome;
but as they passed the wing she saw,
through the side window the one op-
posite, the reason. the supreme mo-
ment had arrived, and all eyes were
turned indoors. The minister's
square black form passed the window
and behind him the groom and the
white dress of the bride could be
plainly seen as they moved to their
places.
Through tangle of rose sprouts
and snow piled on them Milly forced
her way up to the window. pressing
into drift waist deep, but her face
touched the glass at last She saw
them join hands. and stand while the
minister's lips moved with the solemn
words, and then that first married
kiss and it was over.
With a quiet laugh of triumph Mil