The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-03-25
Peters Creek Electric Road,

1t was not because thev were bad
friends-no, ~oi Jane invaria5 ~ sroke
Of Susan with emotion and gave II as
her opinion that whatever might be said
TO the contrary, no one, TO her mind,
ever seasoned tomato pickles the way
that Susan did. As for Susan, she was
given TO remarkfng that Jane made a
bed with more celebrity and neatness than
any woman of her acquaintance. By this
it will be seen that a feeling of most
affectionate cordiality existed between
the two,
But neither of them found it easy TO
take the horses away from their work
for two days, and even if SUCH thing
could be accomplished now and then, IL
was impossible for either woman TO
achieve the journey without some sort
Of a man-body as conductor Of the ex-
petition.
1t was not that Jane and Susan were
timid drivers, but that it hardly seemed
womanly for them to ford two streams
and dash up hill and down, as the pecu-
liarities of the road required them 10 do.
Such display of courage they would
have considered as distinctly masculine
as the riding of a diamondframedw wheel.
1t must not be supposed that the part
of New York State in which this oc-
Cured was unenriched by railroad activ-
ity. Dear, No! By riding thirty-three
miles, thus describing an acute TRAN
gle, and waiting five hours at the june
ton, it was possible for Jane TO so to
Susan, and for Susan to go TO Jane.
Its preposterous" said Susan.
Outrageous said Jane.
So they did not visit.
There's rumors afioat of one of them
electric roads to be built straight long
Peters Creek" John Lathrop told Su-
san, his wife. '"Thatu take you straight
to James, and no changin' of cars nor
nothin'.''
Laws" cried Susan. How soon'n it
be builded?''
Bout three years. said Lathrop, and
laughed. But Susan was serious.
How many hoursll it take to git from
here to there on 1ectric carp
Hours! Minutes, you mean, woman.
Less'n fifty minutes'I do the biz"
What? Me git to Jane in fifty min
utes!' 1t seemed Incredible. Then res
olution was born in the economical soul
there road is DONE" she declared. It'll
be a savin'.''
Jane heard of this resolve and COM
mended 1t.
LAS Susan says" she remarked to her
husband, 'it'n be real economy to put
off visitin till that there road is done"
Yes" acquiesced Hank French, when
we git the 'lectric it'll be quicker to go
anywhere than to stay at home"
"Eh?" said Jane, looking perplexed.
Yep" growled Hank; and, vexed at
his wife's lack Of appreciation of his hu-
NOR, relapsed into silence.
But three years is a long time going by.
The sisters stood it with what fortitude
they could. But thousand things had
happened of which they desired to speak.
People had died-people they both knew
and Jane and Susan had had no oppor-
tunity to discuss deathbed speeches, like
lihood of frances, details of funerals, Or
the situation of the bereaved families.
Beula Jones had used shaker flannel in
stead of all-fiannel pinning blankets for
her baby, and Susan had no chance to
tell Jane. Lila Gibbs had been married
in green poplin-the idea!-and Jane had
lacked an opportunity to tell Susan Pete
Hines was converted and was almost eX-
ploding with his pent-up oaths; ST Lewis
had taken to drink since he married his
second wife. Was it not pitiful that these
events had remained undiscuSsed? More
over, there were domestic matters of
still greater importance-but these 1t
would be a breach of confidence to men
ton
The twins got so that the first news
which related to the construction of the
electric road When the teams We're put
at work upon the roadbed, Susan and
Jane were as happy as birds. When the
first rails were laid they exulted like
successful politicians the morning after
election. Each was busy upon frock
which she intended to wear to the house
of the other; each was full of childish
at the thought of giving a
surprise to the other.
The time of waiting passed. A morn
ing of rain dawned and at each end of
the road a bright yellow car stood wait
ing to make its initial journey. Jane-in
her new frock-was in one car, bound
for Susan's, her arms filed with bun
dies containing gifts. her heart flutter-
ing like that of a happy girl Susan--in
her fresh gown-was in the other car,
destined for James, her lap heaped with
presents, her heart dancing like an ac-
cepted lovers.
The cars started by the watch, spit blue
fire from the furious wheels and green
fire from the frantic trolleys, and made
the run in fifty-eight and fifty-nine min
utes respectively, passing each other on
the way.
The summer rain turned into a down.
pour, and all in the deluge Jane climbed
the hill to Susan's house, and Susan
pIodded along the common to James.
Never mind Jane" said John La
throp to his sister-in-law You just
make yourself to home. Susan'n be hack
in no time Don't you move out o. this
here house till Sue gifts home. She's bin
frettin' and stewin fur ye till 1 up and
said TO- her I guess she made mistake
in Twin with me. It was you she ought
I have had"
So Jane staid and looked after Su-
sans children and cooked for Susan's
husband. and watched every car for the
appearance Of her sister.
As for Susan. she broke down for a
moment when she found that her jour
ney had been in vain.
Now. see here. Susie argued her
Hank French, what use
is it to cry? Jane'U come racin home
You stay right where you be-
So Susan did as she was bid and visited
with James husband. and hemmed James
napkins. and made a new kind OF pickle
for Jane out of some overripe string
beans
But on the third day Jane concluded to
go home And OF the third day Susan
to go home. And so-but that's
really the end of the story.
They're a fool invention TO ny mind.
them Iectric cars" said Jane TO her hus-
band.
Susan dropped tears in the bath as she
bathed the children
There's too many new-fanEIed things
in these parts she said 70 the children
Next time your ma goes anywhere she's
zoin' 10 drive the horses and then maybe
she git something that she wants The
Chicago Tribune
Men are 30 sfup Il.
lFrom the London Answers
Wife fIaying down the daily pspsr WITH
4 sigh)-I can't Tor tire NE @ ne under
stand al this talk about the worlds coal