Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1904-02-05
TheTaming
of Hiram ~
BY HEBER WILSON


sseessseseeessssssssssssse
tcopyrishs. 1905. by Daily Story Pub. Coz
F. you girls amt keerfui Hiram
i Perkins will carry one of ye of
Just thing We know" and Dame Will
zins gave vent to a series of chuckles
more or less pleasant and hcbbled
away from thezgroup OF fresh young
girls, nursing her rheumatic legs most
sarefully.
Not me, not metz rose a chorus of
yirlish voices.
why not?" asked a baby-faced
lamsel, innocently. I'm sure he looks
likely enough. and they tell me he's
got no end of money"
Then a great chattering of explana-
ion ensued as the home girls told this
stranger maiden with the pink cheeks
and the big, round blue eyes about
Hiram Perkins, his history and his
character.
Hiram Perkins was the son OF "old
Sam Perkins" and had inherited all
The cussedness OF the old pioneer, to-
gether. it seemed, with the meanness
and smallness of Aunt Phoebe" his
wife. Hiram had assumed charge Of
he family at an early age (old Sam
having been abruptly removed from
,urther responsibility in a saloon
3rawD. He had completed the crush
ng of his mother, spoiled the lives OF
his sisters and drove his brothers, both
older and younger. into the world. all
If them being glad to get away from
him at any price. Then he had pro-
| ,eeded to marry the likeliest and most
competent girl in town and had bullied
Ind harassed her into the green ceme-
cry on the hill in just three years
In the meantime he had managed his
financial affairs with consummate skill
and had become the richest man in the
parts. Before his wife died he had
moved from the farm into town, where
| he had built a. big house, still uncom-
pleted when his wife died. He had
| gone ahead and completed this house,
| furnished it grimly and sparsely and
| had lived there alone ever since. He
had gone on increasing his holdings
until he owned more land than any
other man in the county. He owned
plenty Of mortgages, too, but his favor
| ran to land. 1T can't get away" was
| his favOrite motto. He was now about
| 10, not i'll favored excepting for his
heavy jaw and the general air of I'M
| compromising overbearance and grim
aess which hung over him.
I'D as soon marry old Bluebeard
himself remarked Ann, finishing the
| story.
"'d as soon go to Jail for life." put
| IN Susie.
nh he
| est
All excepting Sally Johnson, the girl
whose query had started the story.
81 don't believe he's so bad as he's
painted" said she, demurely, land he's
quite handsome
But you wouldn't dare marry him, ''
said Ann, scornfully. You'd last
about three weeks
"Oh, 1 don't know" replied Sally.
I've notion to do it. He don't look
so dangerous to me-"
| And do it she did. She was an or
phan recently come to town and living
| On the bounty of maiden aunt of I'M
certain temper. And Hiram was rich
and had a big house. And, as Dame
Wilkins suggested, Hiram was looking
FOR a wife-and a young one.
Pinville. gasped at the nuptials and
then settled down to await the inevi-
table result. like a greedy vulture.
Hiram Perkins took his young wife
home in great glee. She was only -
As fresh as daisy and perfect child
| as anybody could see from her baby
face and wide, blue eyes.
I'll just train her into my ways
without any trouble chuckled Hiram
So Sally became installed in the
| Perkins home, and right good start
| she made, and Hiram grew better
pleased with his bargain every day. TIC
be sure, she shivered a little when she
first saw the great barn-like house
with it's bare rooms; but she took hold
at once, and the toothsome breakfasts
she prepared for her 1iege lord and the
dainty dinners, quite warmed his heart
Hiram was very fond of good living
The best Of it was she did 1t all on the
most economical plan. And she con
trived that Hiram should get the ten
derest parts of the meat, and OWNED
his likes SO readily that she really was
| Jewell Then, too, she was so entirely
| pliable to his slightest desire that life
assumed a new Joy to him. OF course
1 he jawed more or less. but she took IL
as meekIy as he could wish.
/ This was during the first fortnight
| Then a slight cloud arose Hiram
was in the habit Of arising at very
early hour, eating mis- breakfast. doing
/ chores for an hour or SO, then reading
his paper and going to his office about
i tho time other uaeusf1id
| Sally was expected to rise long
before him to get breakfast ready by
1 the time he was dressed. One day she