The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1900-10-05

IvI book right down an run an
pick up some chips to hurry up this
plaguey firc-an' put on some taters
10 cook whilst I sets tn table. Theys
a man an woman-mighty stylish
lookin' folks-what's hos ther way an
wants sumpin' feat jes' as quick as
ever they kin git it. Lucky I baked
yistc'day, an had that hen on a-cook-
in Jump, now, an take yore min
off'n yore readin' long huff to hep me
git tn dinner" and tall, thin woman,
with scanty gray hair drawn tightly
back from a sallow face, returned to
the front room Of small weather
stained, story-and-a-half frame house
where she had left one of her guests
a lady in plain gray travelling dress
standing in the doorway looking Gus
across the broad, level expanse OF bot
tom" land stretching away from the
bills nearby to the Missouri river.
take tn rockin' cheer, ma'am, an
rest yorese'f," said the hostess, pulling
q table to the center of the room, COW
ering it with coarse but snowy cloth
and bringing the dishes from the kitch-
en- as she talked. ''Yu mus be pow'ful
hongry if 20 got yore brekfus to
Whites. They do say they hain't never
nothin' fit to eat there. Strange how
yu missed tn road to Jim lannon's
leastways th' place what he runs fur
some eastern man; hits bout five mile
frum here, up t'other side tn Maple.
Hope tn gentleman hain't havin' no
trouble findin' tn feed. Theys a-plenty
out there. Jerry-that's my son-went
over to town this mornin' an hain't
got back, an my Of mans out a-hunt-
in. They hain't nothin' Dan Holten
loves better'n snoopin' 'roun' with his
gun, less'n hits a-playin' on his fiddle,
or readin' story book. Missoury Hell
eny'-going into the kitchen-"is them
taters a-bfiin'? That gurl"-coming
back TO place dish of sliced cueumbers
on the tablets jest like her pa fur
readin' ev'ry scrap O. print she kin lay
her hans on, an she's crazy to git a
edication an learn music. / let's her
go to school when they is any, an she
knows bout as much now, as tn las
teacher, though she hain't but 16 las
May. Her pa named her fur tn state
we come from an liam wher Bony-
part wuz shet up to keep him out'n mis-
chief. Well, reckon dinners ready if
yu air." and she brought in platter
of stewed chicken which sent up an ap-
petizing odor.
Passing shyly in and out, assisting
the talkative woman, was Il slender,
fair-haired young girl in a faded blue
calico dress. She scarcely lifted the
long dark lashes yelling pair of deep
blue eyes, and slipped away to her in
terrupted reading the moment the
meal was ready.
Hugh Ramsey, young New York
lawyer, and his sister, Mrs. Zadhh Nor
rison, were on their way to Omaha,
where Mrs. Morrison purposed SPEND
ing some time with former school
mate before joining her brother III
Colorado, where he was going to look
after some mining property. At a
small town, between Sioux City and
Council Bluffs, they left the train, that
bright August morning, to visit farm
a dozen miles or so distant, which had
been left to Mrs Morrison by an uncle.
After an unsatisfactory breakfast,
they hired pair of horses and an open
buggy and, installing the direction,
wandered about until noon found them
very hungry, at the Holten place. They
had not expected much from the APP
pearance of the house and it's mis-
tress. and enjoyed all the more the ex-
celient meal so soon ready for them,
after which they proceeded on their
way, taking the right road this time.
Hugh, do you remember Missoury
Heleny, the pretty girl where we got
such a good dinner the day we were
lost on our way to my Iowa farm?''
asked Mrs. Morrison, the evening after
her arrival at Colorado Springs.
II remember the ridiculous name,"
answered Hugh Ramsey, lying at ease
on lounge in his sisters room, land
the woman, and, best of all, the din
ner; but I can't say that I remember
much about the girl. thin, colorless
little thing, wasn't she?"
Mrs. Morrison laughed and, drawing
her low chair nearer, ran her fingers
through his curly locks.
"You We're hungry, not to notice
such pretty girl! She is rather thin
and colorless now, but she will be q
beauty one of these days, / promise
you. was hungry, too, but there was
something so sweet about her, and
what her mother said about her desire
to learn haunted me So that went up
there one day and arranged for Lena
I won't call her by that dreadful
name-to enter st. Mary's, at Omaha,
for two years. Her mother, who is an
old-fashioned Methodist. objected at
first. She was afraid them Catholics
would 'prosserlite' the child; but Mr.,
Holten, gentle, really refined sort OF
man, was very grateful for the op-
portunity offered his daughter, and
spoke up with, Judging by his wife's
look OF astonishment, unusual firm
ness, and she gave in. Jerry-a blond
giant, combination of his energetic
mother and easy going father-was on
our side, and there Lena is, at st.
Mary's, studying like everything, and
happy as the day is long. am only
afraid of her working too hard; she is
SO anxious to improve every moment. !"
Dear old Zadah, you are always do
ing good to someone" murmured her
brother, pressing her white hand, to his
lips.
Hugh Ramsey was tall, exceedingly
good.iooking young fellow-about 25-
with dark hair and mustache and dark
eyes, which, Outlines. did more ereru.