Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1904-09-28

standing on the kitchen steps, lighting
his pipe
who was that fellow, El,' he asked
Fred Taggart?"
Yes, father
Il thought So Come to say good-by.
didn't he? Well, I'm sorry for old man
Taggart; he sets the world by that boy.
An tbs pity, too. Fred was the smart
est feller round here at one time, for q
young chap, an seemed to have the
maxim of something uncommon But
the smartness has all frazzled out now
in kid gloves an squeakin' boots; an
he's goin' up to the city to work for six
dollars week, when his fathers got the
finest farm round here. an Fred could
have the runnin' of it in a few years if
he'd stay. Well, well! Fools amt all
dead yet. But here comes Hank. Guess
he wants to see you, Ell
Elsie had been slipping into the house
with heightened color, but turned back.
Hank was the son of their nearest neigh
Dor, and was good, whole-souled fell
low, with clear head and energetic hab-
its, but woefully difident and slow of
speech. Elsie liked him, but had never
cared to analyZe what Hanks feelings
might be toward her.
AS he approached them the young man
nodded to her father, who was moving
away toward the barn, and then turned
to her expectantly, with the color rising
slowly to the roots of his hair. But not
until her father was out of hearing did
he speak
Elsie" he began then, bashfully,
Fred just said good-by to me. He'll
be gone for a. long time"
Yes" tentatively, "he said good-by
to me-"
There's that rehearsal to-night-Sat-
urday night, you know, Elsie" he went
on. It's quite long walk, and-and
you'll be needing somebody to go with
you thought I'd better run over before
any Of the other boys got round"
i can go alone just as well as not,
Hank. It's bright moonlight"
Eyes, yes, know it's" desperately.
But there's rehearsals next week, and
church tomorrow night, and-and
there's all summer long, and all next
winter. 1t won't be moonlight all the
time. You'll need somebody to walk
with you. OF course amt asking you
to keep company with me-" hurriedly;
"only-only you'll need somebody till
Fred gets back, and I'm handiest'
I'm not engaged to Fred" proudly.
mo, of course not. l know that-or
thought so. But he sort of kept company
with you, and-and-I'm handiest, Elsie,
and you'll sure need somebody, and
and you and 1 will understand
She looked at him thoughtfully.
Yes, you and | would understand,
Hank" she said, "and maybe will need
somebody sometimes. Yes, you may
come for me, Hank"
The rest came about naturally Hank
became Elsie's steady company, as the
neighboring young people said; but
Hank and Elsie themselves understood.
And Fred, when he returned home for a
few days at Christmas, understood, too
and he wrung Hanks hand and called
him good fellow for protecting his girl
from the other boys. q.
Before the end of the next year there
was a rumor that Fred's father was not
quite satisfied. The firm had not adj
vanced Fred as. it ought He was still
receiving six dollars a week, and money
had to be sent from home to pay for his
clothes; then his letters were filled with
theaters and the proper things in high
life, with nothing about his work
By this time Hank had developed into
a TALL broadshouldered young man,
perfectly capable of managing the farm
which was now almost wholly under his
care,
Then one day Fred suddenly appeared
among them, jaunty as ever, and home
for good, as he said. The city was too
crowded and unsatisfying; and besides,
his father needed him to manage the
farm. And all he brought for his two
years work and the money sent him was
large diamond which flashed upon one
of his fingers, and experience
The very night of his arrival he
dressed himself with all the elaborate
ness of his city knowledge and went
across to Elsie's home. She received
him in the parlor, in the pretty white
dress which he remembered she was
having made for her graduation. AS
she entered the room, something in her
bright, winsome beauty, SO different
from the chalky compilations of the
shop girls he had become acquainted
with, made him step forward impul-
sively.
why, you're beautiful, Elsie" he ex-
claimed. 81 had no idea. It's fine to be
home again. Amt you glad to see me?"
Eyes, indeed am, Fred she answered
frankly, as she gave him both her hands.
'It will be nice to have you with us
again"
Fred laughed complacently and settled
himself comfortably in the easiest chair
in the room. "Oh, by the way, Elsie"
he said presently, mother told me there
was to be party over to HulPs Wednes-
day night Shall we go? haven't got
my invitation vet, but it'll come soon's
fhov boar I'm home -