Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1903-09-30

| ms lace, ana, misunderstanding the
! cause of it, appealed to his mother
to know if she had not said that
their journeys end was but short
distance beyond Hintonville.
''Wen, it amt an awful sight furth-
err" she answered, ''but it's mostly
hill"
Mrs. Becraft had been welding
large, loosely jointed fan energeti-
cally for most of the nine miles
they had traversed, and was we'll
nigh in state of collapse. A little
rill of perspiration was making its
way down her rounded face just in
front of each ear. There was a ring
of heat about both of her eyes, and
yet she did not complain"
You look about done up, Ma"
said her elder son, transferring his
attention from Rossiter.
She smiled at him resignedly.
II don't knows I'd care to go on
many more miles like this" she said.
Il guess we'll all be glad to get
there
Some of the young men were an
Xious to pause for a drink of beer,
but the driver informed them that
if they did so they would have to
follow on foot, as he should not wait,
consequently no one quilted the wa
! gon. AS they left Hintonville behind
the ground began to rise in a long
slope, for instead of pursuing their
way along the valley in which the
town nestled they bore to the left
towards lofty range of hills. The
| Ivy
yond the brooding vale where the
winding Oskenonto flowed on the
crown of the first abrupt rise Ros-
sitter saw the slanting rays kindle to
golden fire the spirc and vane of the
old college chapel. At the sight of
| the shifting wind-indicator one of his
student pranks flashed into his mind,
a thing that had dropped from his
memory for years-how in the lazy
spring afternoons he used to place
chair in the deep window of his bed
room and, having lowered the upper
sash, pepper away with his revolver
at the veering arrow.
"NoW that I'm so near" he
thought, his eyes still upon the spire
and the trees that hid the other col
lege buildings, II must walk over
some Sunday and have look at the
dear old place"
little breeze sprang up as they as
cended stirring the leaves in the APP
ple-orchards, and causing the foliage
of two ancient poplars that lowered
where the road forl1ed to glisten here
and there like quicksilver.
do you see those trees?" exclaimed
Jack Parmelee, suddenly turning to
his weary wagon load. 'Well, from
the way they act we're goin' to
have rain afore tomorrow mornin',
an mighty big blessin' it'll be tool"
A peacock with spread tail paraded
it's vanity before them as they
passed this point, and as they were
bending to the right gave a long,
raucous cry which was the occasion
| of a vast amount of amusement
among many of the young people who
had never heard the birds peculiar
call before.
Nov, we're sure of it," said Jack
Parmelee, mister Peacock's an au-
thority on the rain question. It's
luck all around-better hops an bet
ter pickin'."
What good1l the rain do the hops
now?" one of the prospective pick
ers inquired. 'They amt goin' to
grow any more, be they?"
It'll cool the air an keep 'em
from mouldin'. I've been mighty
scarf Of 'em for day or two,'' an
swered the driver. "Such spell O.
heat raises thunder with 'em some
times"
Several hop fields had already
been passed, and there was now a
yard upon either side of the road.
Everyone began to regard the vines,
each pole with its hops like swarm
of bees at the top, with an increased
interest. When these fields had
been left behind Mamie Bccraft and
a number of others commenced cram
ing their necks as though they
thought that their destination must
be in sight.
There's the housed" cried one
Il can see the hopkins ex-
claimed another, and in spite of the
uncertain motion of the wagon over
the stony road several mounted the
seats for the purpose of obtaining
better view
YES" Jack Parmelee remarked,
we're about there, and reckon sup
peril be ready"
This announcement was hailed with
various comments of satisfaction.
The faded horses seemed to raal;za