The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-03-29

Oh the &AlLACA
to the wilder and the fatherless. Make
tFet old boss step lively
To whence"
I asked no further questions. In the
Territory of Oklahoma the fewer ques-
tons We ask the quicker the suspense
is over. While kiverin' the distance
spoken of I felt myself quite buoyed
up by the knowledge that had never
set fire to an orphan asylum nor rob-
bed church. The most sinful thing
] could find agin myself was winnin' Il
jackpot of 81 on a pair of tens. and
i was hopin' to be forgiven that when
we stopped in front of a shanty erected
without regard to the rules of archi
lecture. A woman came out to greet
US She was 80 years old, and Natur
had given her a nose that turned up,
a mouth like pancake and eyes that
We're on the squint. Nay, she was not
fair 10 look upon-not even fair to
medium, and I was rejOicin' that fake
had not made her my blushin bride.
when the leader OF the gang turned
and said:
IT'S Just this way old boss. Here s
a pore and good-hearted woman who
has lost two husbands by death and a
third by his runnin' away. She has
nobody to love; she has nobody to
sorrow and sympathize with her; she
has nobody to call her fond names
and throw the arm of purtection
around that ample waist O hers. Is it
right. Pilgrim"
Not skassly.'' replied.
That's what we say, and we are
goin' to make it right. There's got TO
be a turtle dove a-singin' around this
shanty before the day is out or some
body's got to hang. It's a case that s
been appealin' to our feelin's until we
kin stand II no longer
The wilder smiled and tried to fiirt
with me, but I frowned upon her girly
ways and asked:
And how We goin' to git the turtle
dove2''
We've got him, old hoss-got him
right here
''Meanin your"
Not by the whiskers of Caesar.
It's meainin you! You are goin' to
marry this pore. heart-broken wilder
or be pulled up to the limb of that
tree. You amt a heap to look at. and
your teeth will be fallin out in three
or four years more. but you viii have
to answer for the occasion. Wilder
Skaggs, what dye think of the crit
ter?"
Purity nigh all skin and bones, but
I reckon he'll have to do" she an
swered. tryin' to hirt with me Some
more.
yes. he'll have to do. as he is the
only critter we could git hold of.
Come old boss. There's a preacher
right here and the weddin' bells are
waitin' to ring. We amt none of Us
contendin' that the wilder Skagss is
bewtiful to look upon, or that her form
IS like the wild gazelle that boundeth
DER the grassy green, but she's solid
on her pins and her heart is as big as
a cabbage-head. She is yourn, old
man-she is yourn-'til death comes
along TO separate you. and if you amt
the happiest critter for a thousand
miles around it will be bekase you
have a pizen mean disposishun."
"Look-a-here, wilder and critters
ALL I said as I felt my hair crawlins
up and my boots pullin at my feet
don't deal the keerds too fast. TIC
begin with, she amt no real wilder
but only one of grass. Her third hus-
band simply ran away, and 1 amt
sayin' I blame him any. 1t would be
agin the law for her to marry
THE law never interferes in the case
of a pore. heart-broken woman re-
piled the boss.
IN the next place, I've got an old
woman myself back in Wisconsin. Its
true haven't lived with her since she
sold my yoke OF oxen to git an o.:tfit
to go to the circus with. but we are
laxally hitched, jest the same