Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1901-03-09
The Feud of the FergusOns
BY KATE NJ. CLEARY.

III / don't believe something's gone |
wrong with the gear!" She was peer |
ing eagerly between the sitting-room |
curtains of warm red chenille. Come |
here. an see, Lessie-ycur eyes are |
younger'n mine"
But the girl sitting listiessly by the |
little open stove did not stir nor |
speak Her bright bit of knitting had |
fallen neglected on her lap. Upon Ii |
Ter slender brown hands lay clasped |
IN the idleness of indifference.
Seems like you don't take Interest |
in Eothfn' since you been up to Cart |
willie to visit" went on her mother ir- |
ritably. She sent a sharp glance In the |
direction of her daughter. Then she
turned again to the window. Its |
broke or something she enunciated |
with brisk recurrence of curiosity. |
THE mans comm this way. He's
leading the horse. He's comm straight
herei"
It was comfortable, common little
room that wherein mother and daugh-
ter sat. The rag carpet had mellowed
to dull tones and tints SO subdued as
to suggest the wonderful weaves of the
Orient. There was glass lamp on the
crocheted mat of green wool which
ornamented the round walnut center
table. The couple of wooden rockers
had crazy-work cushions and head
rests. On the shelf which did duty for
q mantel was clock china dog, and
two frost-white glass vases decorated
with scarlet roses. The yellow light
of the winter afternoon came in be-
tween the chenille curtains, and gave
to the oval cheek of the girl by the
hearth an almost peach-like translu-
cence. Except for that skin of child
Of
her long gray eyes. LESSEE Ferguson
could hardly have been called a pretty
girl. Her face in repose was sober
almost sombre. But when she was
pleased. gay, animated she quite took
the palm from the other girls in that
part of the county. Just now her face
reflected her mood, which was that OF
downright melancholy.
Mrs. Ferguson. still sentinel at the
window, kept issuing bulletins. Hes
got far as the rye patch now. First
/ thought t was Ellis Dix. but it amt
Ellis don't come here much since you
got to putin on airs after gittin' back
from CartviI1e. This one is taller'n
Ellis-he's got a moustache too. He
don't belong in these parts. You go
ito the back door, LESSEE. I'm skeered
of the wind in my face with the neu-
You can tell him where's the tool
chest in the barn if he wants to fix
his harness. There-he's knockin'!
Mrs. Ferguson looked frowningly
after the slow-moving form of her
daughter.
4 wish I'd never let her go visitin'
to Cartville!' she was muttertng to
herself in accents of annoyance.
'P'raps il 1 hadn't told her she
shouldn't have had anything to say to
that Rene Ferguson she'd never have
thought of lookin' at him. Like as not
t was just the contrairiness of a girl
that made her take up with him. An
then, to come home and throw over
Ellis Dix like he wasn't worth wipin'
her shoes on-him with the likliest
bunch of steers of any man in the
township Sayin' shed marry Rene
or no one. An now mopin' away
like the life was throwed after her.
We've had trouble enough with them
rergusons of Cartville. If they was
blood relations instead of only hap
PENN to be folks of the same name,
their family and our'n couldn't have
got on worse all these years we been
dsalin' up to Cartville!'
Leslie, opening the back door, saw
silhouetted against the white expanse
ure In great-coat and SLOUGH hat.
IT you need the tool box" she be-
gan with perfunctory politeness.
you'll find it in the right-hand--'
She broke or with little gasp-her
heart plunging.
I.essiel" said the stranger. MY
girl-Lessie."
Then the slim little form in the blue,
gcld-braided gown was swallowed up
in the fervent grasp of two powerful,
rough-coated arms
.sOh, Rene!" Her voice was sweet
tremulous- "Oh. Rene-how dared
your
He kissed the loving reproach ON her
lips to silence
For you." he answered I've
driven over from Cartvflle to see your
father. I'm going to ask him for you
And If he refuses-'' The masterful
look that came into his blue eyes was
good thing to see
sBut-Renet Father has gone to
Iowa And even when he is at home
he has nothing to say IL mothers
around
But he's been keeping up the feud
between the families all these years.
and"
Mono. Its been mother. Father
has only fired the bullets she made. If
you can once get mother to favor you
hush, here she ISL
Lands sakes. know now who that
young man is" The voice OF Mrs
Ferguson preceded her like q herald