Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1901-07-06

from your wild goose chase after gold
and poorer than when you left, I'll
warrant" replied the old man gruff1y.
I've seen something of the world,
at least" laughingly responded Nc
Farland, land that is better than hav-
ing nothing and seeing nothing which
would have been the case had stayed
at home
well, you're back in good time, y
chuckled the old man. There's going
to be~a pretty wedding here this morn
ing and if you're civil you may get the
chance to salute the bride"
Good luck to be sure. And who
may be the happy MANI"
The old man Strengthened himself.
81 am, sir The ceremony will be per-
service
Its glad I am for you, Mr. Hen
messy, but who is the bride?''
You saw her go in moment ago
Mollie Wescott.'
"Mollie Wescott! Impossible"
why not?" snorted Hennessy. as
there anything strange about a fine
young woman fancying man with a
thousand acres of land and a good
bank account? Especially" he added
with a leer, when her father is bank
rupt.''
DO you mean that Wescott has lost
his farm"
Yes, or would have lost it if a good
friend had not stood by him."
You old DEVIL" cried Mcfarland,
advancing upon the other with clenched
hands. so you've got Wescott in a
tight place and are forcing him to give
you his pretty daughter to save him
from ruin
Travel doesn't seem to have i'm
proved your manners, young man.
should advise you to be more civil or
you may not get a chance to taste the
wedding cake
The old man went chuckling up the
church steps leaving his young rival
sweating with impotent rage. Could
it be that this fair young girl who had
been the hope of his life ever since
they were playchildren together was
willingly sacrificing herself to this
miser's gold? No; he would not be-
lieve it. 1t must be for her fathers
sake. If only he was sure of this he
would go into the church and forbid
it. He had not come back empty
handed and could easily help Mr.. Wes-
colt out of his difficulties. But sup
posing she had thrown him over for
Hennessy. He paced back and forth
before the church door listening to the
priest droning out the service, unable
to settle on any definite plan of action
"Wud We like to know something
that wud stop the weddin', sor?" whis-
pered a hoarse voice in his ear. Turn
ing. he saw the old man Hennessy had
left in the wagon pulling at his sleeve
I've been wild him since before he
left New York" continued the shriv-
eled little fellow He's been a hard
master to me all along. but this morn
in he beat me like a dog because
told him he ought not to ruin this
young girls life If you would save
her, sor, go in and ask him what has
become of the wife and children he
left back there in the city. He can't
| deny it. sor.'
Glorious old fellow! Cad, 1 could
hug you
"An 1 ask ov you, sor. Is that you
don't let him know it wuz me that told
ye. He'd kill me If he knew"
Never fear, I'll take care of you all
right Climb back in the carriage and
| look dumb. I'll attend to the rest OF
it"
Mcfarland threw his hat into the all
| for very joy of his feelings and then
smoothing the smiles out of his face
| walked solemnly ---o the church The
couple were already at the altar and
| the priest was preparing to say the
final words that should make them
man and wife when the young mine,