The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-05-20
The wElpEsTApT SKELETON.


vas q senior EeGico. She went II" foI
blood and breeding as tangible assets
AID boosted OF her descent from a revo-
lutionary sire who had bled and died az
| yorktown Webb's penchant for curios
souvenirs relics and antiques was his
besett;ng sin from 4 social point or view,
De was forever dragging friends and &C
| Quaintanees into his den 70 show his
stun Re would inevitably succeed n
detecting the trend OF any conversation,
10 matter how il started or WHITTIER /.
set, into his channel.
katherine. on the other hand, while de-
spising al kinds. classes and conditions
| CT inanimate antiquities. was abncrmaliy
Keen about family trees 'heraldry, pa
! tTonynics and all the dry and dusty lore
! pertaining TO human genealogy- He and
she quarreied regularly every Saturday,
! and mutual determinations about each
| others facs always followed.
| katherine" he would say. drawlingly.
i sometimes wish you didn't know who
your parents We're.
This a the end Of a long. rambling dis
I sertation OF family history. would bring
/ g nush OF anger 10 the fair checks OF
! The girl and she would hy at him with:
J 1 presume you're glad you don't know
/ who yours Were You. with your musty
{ cid skeletons and hateful stone hatchets,
I 1 suppos- that you arc willing 10 for
! get what your ancestors did between
} their arbori1l days and the Spanish war.
! Probably they collected bones and buried
them. II they lid anything nOhler J
/ should think you'd be willing to admit tt
We'll, anyhow, Katherine. I'd ike you
| just as Wen Il your sreat-grandfather
/ had been hod-carrier instead OF 4 revo-
/ lctionary hero OF course, I ike you
anyway, but
Who cares whether you like me or
rot?' she would snap. I'm sure your
likes and dislikes ara matter of perfect
! Indifference 10 me"
Why, thon, DO you object 10 my liking
rC'ics2 Now. take that mummy from tho
elf dwellings. It"
Bother your mummies. you're a boor
That's what you are" And away she
would hounce across the campus. leaving
Webb STinnins at the grass IN doubt
whether he loved or hated her.
Katherine, Katherine. Il you'd only let
up on those ridiculous ancestors, think
l could learn TO love you"
As a matter Of fact. neither of them
! knew how fond was the feeling between
them until commencement day had come
and gone and they were standing to-
Getner saying gDod-bv al the little sta
ttcn near the university settlement
"Good-by Katherine" he was saying
IS they stood in the shadows holding
hands, I'm going to make a try fer
some revolutionary relics this summer.
| and. who knows, maybe I'll drop in at
Ncrristown. You wont object, will your"
Object. Steve?" she said. nesting up to
him. Ia be delighted. I viii make YOU
acquainted with mother and Brother
Conrad. and I'll promise. Steve, to
To what, Katherne?'
To never mention my dead ances-
tors"
"Oh, thanks-I mean, don't mention it."
But on one condition. Stephen If you
come you are not 10 breathe word 10 me
about yoar collection. We might as well
be frank ! don't like your curios and
you don't Ike my weakness for lineage.
so we must make mutual concessions
and be dumb on those subjects.
All right. Katherine. Not word about
relics nor about revolutionary heroes"
The train swept down toward them and
IN another moment she was waving adieu
from the vanishing platform.
We'll, he sighed, that was a happy
thought. Under the conditions think
viii visit Norristown. I can rest safe
from any OF the Old monotonous tales
about 'Great-grandpap Konried Wedei-
stadt. who distinguished himself at Tren-
ton and 81 Yorktown. who fought with
Washington et-cetera.
And sure enough. about the middle OF
Looking trunks were lined up on the sta
ticn platform at NorristOwn. and with
In an hour the medical student antigua
Tian was sitting at the tea table with
Katherine. her mother and Brother Con
rad With pretty consciousness she avoid
90 the two topics which had been the
tCte noIr of their university companion
ship. and Stephen had become quite fond
OF the whole family before X was time
for him tn retire TO his hotel
The next morning. while the dew was
cold and the sun was just peeping over
the eastern hills. Webb was proving
through the lanes and fields about the
village with old Caspar Defenbaugh, the
town drunkard aud historian. Steve call
ed on the Won Weidelstadts that after
noon. bat Katherine noticed that he was
nervous and distraught.
Something on your mind, Stephen?
she whispered when he was leaving.
Yes, katherine. But 1 can't mention
it You know We promised" And he was
gene.
That night was moonless. but the clear
air enhanced the radiance Of the stars
TN phosphoresce1t glow seemed 10
whitcn without illuminating the land
scapc. Caspar Won Weidelstadt. who was
ar alderman in the village. was coming
home from a late session OF the council.
ard. noticing the orchard gate unclaimed
and open. became suspicious OF marau-
ders. RE stallled stealthiy along the
fence and at tast. 81 the dense gloom
made ~ a low houghed apple tree, no
saw the shadowy form OF a man bent
over mound OF earth. as II digging.
"Hi. there. What are you Up to2' he
shouted WhereuQ0n the pTowler made
Of with n ciank and q clatter that set
an the dogs in the neighboThood b1Thinr
when Conrad told his story in the
morning Mrs son Wei3elstadt laughed.
Unless he was burying A treasure. Z
den't see what hc could End worth dig
sing for i1 ogr orchard she said
But Katherine turned pale and SAID.
Wasn't there an Old grave out there
somewhere?
II believe that old mound near the
crah-trce was grave. mother. said
Caspar Eut when. after breakfast. they
Sailed cGr u inspect the sCene, ther
f3cn5 Only a freshly turned heap q SOD
and sol ard the footprints 81 the mid
night digger. katherine vas pale and
startled ai that morning. hut az noon
Stephen. his face radiant and lau-hter or
his lips came % take her walSiag When
fAey had corne 20 an cid cclirchyslr4 in
the outskirts II tfe village she said
S-eph r yea were 81 orr orchard dig
e-ar. lass n.eht what tli yun mad
Iio leaned ae1irF1 tie v.ne-clai vali e
crurubbng stone aed laughea 'iAe q iaan-
LecE 1rt. Na-e ne Els7ed - last,
that's dangerous Erourdi Have you FOR
gotten oar pram
-Buf THIS has nothing 20 do
.ch yrs Is has = hiss 40 ID with
beth yor- fad ard ml1e ard re must
change tre sshislL Ther Pc tol1 aar'e
lis acst rto-es ard theT Walked feT
sam inta the saE re klssse mr. 80