The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1904-03-22
JOHNS DAUGHTER

around the small station at Finley, nonde-
script teams Of horses and mules coming
and going, or backed up against the plat
form with loads OF oranges and truck
idle negroes sloucning contentedly about
bantering talk with any one who would
notice them. and jeering such Of their
numter as had accepted a job and were
hurting through it with an exaggerated
show Of zeal and activity: gruntng razor
bacls and NANCY ours dsputing favored
positions under the platform, or moving
nstcssly across the hot, open sand be-
TWEEN the station and the isolated, out
lyf,g stores; negro children everywhere,
an of all sizes, and here and there re-
liyying the monotony of the sand, great
bltck stumps that the inhabitants had
n4t found time to remove On the plat
firm itself were long lines Of neatly
rlcked crates, and orange boxes, and
snong them the owners with stencils and
PAINT pots, making sure that their mark
t-lgs were all right and waiting for the
abroad official in the jaunty cap TO make
heir entries and give them receipts.
Presently there was a percepuble has
'tening Of movements. and the loungers
in front of the stores came leisurely
across The open space and ranged them
selves comfortably about the platform
1 Several men left their work among the
crates and went to the heads of their
horses Or mules and began to stroke the
animals soothingly. A sharp, quivering
wsistle was heard in the distance, then
-sa line Of pale blue smoke began to rise
above the sea Of palmettos to the east
The Ioungers became less apathetic as
they watched the line rush TREMENDOUSLY
across the dull green, and finally curve
Indirectly toward them. There was a roar
and CULVER. and the great gasping engine
rushed by and came to a slow stop as the
passenger cars gIided opposite the plat
form
Among those to alight was a young girl
of It or IS, plainly but extensively dressed,
and with q bright. eager air Of eXpecta-
ton. A quick glance about the platform
brought a shade Of disappointment to her
face After a moments hesitation she
approached a man with a broad, low flap
ping hat, who was leaning against some
orange boxes he had just finished mark
ing.
Can you direct me to Mr. John Aus
tins placer" she asked.
Mr.-John-.Austin." he repeated re-
fectively; why, no, 1 don't-or, yes, Of
course; Booty John" He stopped alb
ruptiy. as he noticed the inquiring look
on her face. Yes. Ireckon l know. Are
you some of his kim"
i am his daughter" she replied. won
der1ng a little at the startled whistle
which came to his lips. and which she
noticed he checked Lack ALPHABETICALLY
Il have been at boarding school ever
since ] was a little girl. This is my first
visit to Florida
An does your paw, Mr.-John-Aus-
tin know you're comin'?" He spoke in
evident perplexity, and with a look of
conservation on his sood-natured face.
NO; but I haven't heard from him in
almost year. Father doesn't like to
write, but he never allowed my letters to
go unanswered SO long before. 1 feared
eomethils might be the matter with him
or the boys, and he would not write. l
just had to come. l am so glad that you
know him" she hesitated. and then she
asked in a lower voice, as though she
feared her question would he answered in
the negative. rs he-welI?"
YES. fur as sickness goes. Your paw
is one o the hugoGes' and heaithies' men
know ! low he an the boys never had
a sickness in all their born days They're
puffectly well al on EN-. I know. for
their place iines mine" lie spoke rapidly.
as though glad to be able to say that
much bat his eyes rovod uneasily about
the platform, and never by any chance
met hers.
why. reaIly?" Her face grew radiant.
''Their nearest neighbor, And YOU know
the bo-s and all about them? Dear little
fellows! 1t seems strange that | should
never have seen them. You see, when
we left town. father sent me to the board
ing chool and then came south. That
was twelve years ago. and have been at
the school ever since. Little Tommy is
almost g. and Predict me see-Fred is :. !
Is he place far"
about half mile"
Are you going out soon?''
'Arter the train leaves
Wen. IF course. can so with YOU
II so and see about my baggage and he
tlclz directly. Won't they b. surprised?''
and, leaving him staring blankly ut a
Lno,hcle I'm the platform. she hurried
away after her trunk ana valise.
Half minute passed. then the man
raiscl his head with a dismal, express
siye whistle. 1t was echoed by another,
equally expressive from the other side
Of the orange boxes.
wal. you're in for it now. for a fac
said the owner of the second whistle,
sarcasticauy What are you goin to
do bout it,
Goodness only knows" groaned the
man in reply. Reckon mebbe III have
to tel her
Reckon mobbe YOU viii. 50. dryily. You
better have told her plum straight in the
fust place
How could T." Indignantly; AN she
almost the same age as my Cindy. Lord. /
sake alive. man; dye s'pose / was such !
= brute as to tell her that Mr-John-
Austin wasn't nobody but Booty John. /
nor fifteen to be father To nobody: an
that he's been sent to prison most a year F.
ago for stealing. an that the boys was
IN the po7rhousc. an mat the place want +
wath the brinsin [ Of an auctioneer to /
sell it, For soourcss sake. Thompson, 4
tel me what I am To do appealingly
jest give ii To her straight. that's what .
Id do. You're too ALTERED Chickeu-heart-
Cd. Williams. H'sh. here shec ONES now
At this moment the train began to move .
away from the station. and the girl .
watched It until it disappeared in the .
mass II palmgttos and cabbage palms. +
then she walked eagerly toward her new
acquaintance.
your landscapes are 50 quaint and
beautiful" she said, with flushed cheeks
and sparkling eyes. i know / shall like
to live here. Wen. / am all ready. Can
Won -.ho my trL-nk ana Nalise IN Nonr