The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1904-04-01
Three Times
and Out<<
By ELENORA E. REBER

I Ohm BENTON was in despair. He
had borne up twice under like
affection, but the third was little too
much even for one of his proven long
suffering disposition. His trouble con-
sisted in nothing more nor less than the
fact that his sister. who had been his
housekeeper but one short year, had
just told him of her intention to marry
Timothy Martin.
Great Scott, Mile, l thought you
said you would not marry if brought
you out here"
81 did, John, but wise men sometimes
is every woman's prerogative, especial
ly in a case like this"
"But what am 1 to do?"
"Send for Janet"
mot I. l have brought the last sister
I am going to out here, just to have them
marry when 1 begin to think they are
going to stay by me-"
well, then, why don't you marry
some one yourself and be sure of always
having a housekeeper?
"Sure of nothing. She would prob
ably elope with the first strange settler
that took a claim within rs miles. Tim
Martin can't give you half as good a
home as you have here, Mile" he con-
tinued. You'd better stay with me. q.
81 know, Jack, his house isn't muca
more than half as big as yours. and
there isn't tree anywhere near it, and
maybe he won't ever have as many acres
in his farm as you have, but 1 love him,
Jack, DEAR" she whispered into her
brothers ear, "and 1 know 1 shall be
happy with him, and I know that I
couldn't be happy, now, without him.
You don't understand, Jack, how it is.
1 wish you would fall in love with some
nice girl, then you would know. will
come over every week and clean and
bake and help you all that can, but L
I can't stay"
And then John stroked her hair gently
and told her it was all right, and said
he would get on we'll enough, for Mile
was his favorite sister, and he could not
bear to see her distressed.
Martin is a good fellow and doing
well, and if she must marry 1 would
rather it would be him than any of the
others know around here But it is
rather hard on me, just the same" he
thought
John Benton was one of the first set
tiers in that section of the country, and
he had the best location the land around
afforded. A creek cut his farm in two,
and he had acquired several sections
skirting the stream on both sides, thus
Ooffip0
and also securing a little timber, and
some of the wild fruits which grew
along the stream. 1t was a really beau
tiful place, and he had built good, SUBJ
stantial buildings upon it, instead of
mere skeletons, IS most people did at
first. When everything was ready he
asked his oldest sister to come out and
live with him. She did so and stayed
with him two years, then married a.
neighbor. Another sister was invited
| to take her place in his home, and she,
too, married after time. Now Mile
| was also preparing to follow in their
| footsteps.
Il would marry some girl if I knew
one who could keep house decently and
who would be willing to go into it on
| business basis; but these girls are so
| silly and care more for little senti-
ment than they do for a good home
There isn't anyone around here that I'd
| want, though. and can't go travelling
| around the country looking for one, so
| I suppose I might as well settle down
into a confirmed bachelor, and learn to
| do my own housework," he unused to
| himself that evening.
| The next morning he was driving
across the country on an errand to a
| neighbours when there suddenly came
| into view on a little knoll in front of
| him a woman, who, when she arrived at
| its top, looked around in every direction.
then, seeing him. waved her hand and
started toward him.
Some tenderfoot who is lost" unused
Benton. as he drove toward her.
| How DO you do" the woman, who
| proved to be a young and pretty one,
said, as she came within hearing dis
lance. 81 wonder If you can tell me
/ where l am. / am boarding at Mr..
Whites, and / guess the unbroken
wilderness of this prairie must have con-
| fused me, for / am lost. / started for
the schoolhouse, but am sure have
gone farther than it is from the house. !"
You don't mean TO say that You have