Western Kansas world., 1909-03-06
Don't you remember

said"
shut up!" Twas Scudder who got
purple now. 1t looked to me like the
invalid was having all the fun He
seemed to be expecting something and
playing for time. guess Hartley
thought so. too. for he says:
That's enough of this. It's plain
that he doesn't intend to accept. Mr..
Scudder, you have given him formal
notice. Come on"
Then Washy broke down. He
shifted and half cried and wanted to
know things. The work would kill
him in a day or SO, of course, but he
didn't mind that When he thought
of his poor fatherless children
THE children will be provided for" /"
says Martin. Il told you that. Mr.
Morton will care for Editha and the
baby
Mr. Morton? Morton? Seems to
me I've heard that name afore. Amt
he the gambler? The one that come
near being run out of town for stealing
a bedquilt from the poorhouse, or
something like that? Is he the man
to trust with innocent little children? ?"
There it was again. The minister
was red as a beet and stammering
about 'impertinence" and black
guardism.' 1 thought he'd lick that
consumptive right then and there. 1t
took another five minutes to calm him
down. And SO far we hadn't gained an
inch.
And just then horse and buggy
come rafting into the yard. The
horse was all over lather, like he'd
been drove hard, and the buggy was
white with dust. Everybody looked
out of the window. Sparrow looked
and his face frightened up. I ca1'late
twas exactly what he had been hoping
and waiting for. Martin Hartley looked
and his eyes and mouth opened. So
did mine.
Twas Lord James that was driving
the buggy, and there was a young
woman with him. The young woman
was Agnes Page:
Agnes jumped from the step and run
to the kitchen door. In spite of the
dust and her clothes being rumpled
and her hat shook over to one side she
was as pretty as a picture. The next
minute she was in the room, staring
solemn at all us men. And her eyes
seemed to look right through feller.
"Why, Agnes-Miss Page!" ex
claimed Hartley. why are you here?
What's the matter?"
She didn't answer him. Just turned
to Washy. And says she:
Am 1 in time, Mr.. Sparrow? I didn't
get your letter until nearly nine, be-
cause James was delayed at the of
fee. But 1 hurried right over. 1 was
so afraid 1 would be too late. Am I?''
The invalid looked at her. And, if
he'd been the picture of misery afore,
he was a whole panorama of it now.
He coughed afore he answered. She
shivered, kind of, at that cough, and
l don't wonder. If ever there was a
graveyard quick-step, Washy Spar
rows cough was it.
mo, ma'am,' says he. 81 guess not,
but don't know. The shock of it, and
and all, has pretty nigh finished me
up, I'm afraid. I don't callate I'll pull
through. but may. Let's hope for the
best, anyhow. But, rna'am, if you'd
heard the things that's been said
to mel"
She whirled around on us and her
eyes flashed chain lightning.
Amt you ashamed?" she says.
Great strong men, every one of you,
and all banded together to torture
poor helpless invalid
A feller's conscience is the biggest
fool part of his insides. Now l knew
that what we'd been doing was exactly
the right thing to do, but / felt as
mean and small as if I'd been caught
stealing eggs. / kind of shriveled up
as you might say, and tried to scrouge
back into the corner. Maybe I'd have
got there, only the rest of the crowd
was trying to do the same thing.
All but Hartley. He was lot set
back, but he spoke up prompt.
Miss Page said he, I'm sure you
don't understand. We
She was back at him afore he'd be-
gun.
4 think that is exactly what 1 do
understand she says. "At any rate, /
mean to understand thoroughly. Mr.
Sparrow, what have they said to your"
Washy cleared his throat. When he
answered twas in a sort of beg-pardon
voice. You could see how he hated to
speak ill of anybody. He wouldn't hurt
nobody's feelings for the world. Bless
him. he was cute shyster, if ever
there was one.
Its like I wrote you, ma'am,' says
he. They've offered me place to go
to work, and I've been awful tempted
to take it. I want to take it. My land
how 1 want to- But 1 don't feel able
to dig cellars. 1 wouldn't last at it
more'n a few days and then what
would become of my fatherless chill
dren with nobody to look after 'em?
And because / think of these things
and can't bring myself to-to-passing
AWAY from 'em so soon I'm going to