The Surprise Post from Surprise, Kansas • 6

lain here? and what's the trouble?" make no noise, and he half feared the well known here sinoe ehe came out aa a IBB COBN SONG. "It's my hip, answered Janie, Inr eyes dilated, and still only half re debutante two years ago. About a year ago, with rer Bister, Mrs. Ralph Hicox of Cleveland, 0 she left the Unit gwine ter give yer a you oan jes look for it. That's th' kind er stuff th' Blevine' is." It was several days after this before Mose turned up at the springs a grain.

WHITTIKtt covered rroni tne mgnt the captain's un expected entrance had given her. "I fell ed States for a trip to Great Britain and and broke it; but one of these days tne continent. After visiting Rome and other places on the continent, Mies may walk again when I get a doctor to rickety Btairs would give way beneath what he styled his "unoommon heft." At the far end of the first landing was a room with the door ajar. The captain approached and listened, a boyish voice was saying: "Now then, let's eit right up in our little bed and see what we've got for a nice Thanksgiving dinner. Up-a-diddy that's it! Now then, what's in this bundle, we wonder." The hall in which the sturdy captain was standing was almost as dark as it.

But please don't blame poor Bony, Bir; he meant novwrong, I'm sure. We want to be honest people, indeed we do, sir 1 "Well, well," Baid the captain, gruff ly, "the first thing's to get some dinner Stager went to England and was presented at court. She had many invitations from society in London and it was at a boil given in her honor that she met Lord Butler. Miss Stager afterwards visited at Kilkenny castle in the county of Kilkenny in Ireland, the county seat of the Butler family and the Marquis of Ormonde, and received many attentions. It is understood that while there Miss Stager became engaged to Lord Butler, but the engagement was not announced down both your throats.

Throw that pitch, but a window at the nd of the stuff away there. Come on, my boy." little room into which he peeped enabled him to see the boy he had been pursuing. He was, whil talking in this He was accosted by his friend, the visitor, who aooused him of being coward in his dealins with Bill Simpson. "It wuzn't that," replied Mose. "Bill hez a large family, an I hain't roun' makin' widdera an' orfune." "Now, Moee, I'll give you a chance to show your grit." "Wall, now, jes1 keep talkin'." "I'll bet $10 to 10 cents that you oan-not and will not bite that hound's tail off close up" pointing to the mongrel lying near "and I dare you to take the bet." "I'll jes' go you," replied Mose, picking up the hound with both hands.

He clutched his teeth on the caudal of his houndship, and with a vigorous snap cut the tail square off, showing the wonderful strength of his jaws and displaying, as he remarked it, the "old-fashioned Blevins grit." A large crowd witnessed the performance and acnlaud- Marshal Hawksworth on his way from the Btation house to his Thanksgiving dinner, suddenly enoountered Captain Whippleton striding along by the aide cheerful strain, also lifting from a of a small, ragged boy of about 10 bed or rags th9 emaciated form or a young girl. until she returned to America. Miss Stager arrived home three weeks ago, and was followed by Lord Butler, who arriv At first the captain thought her a mere child, but when she spoke he found himself mistaken. ed on the America on the 22d. Miss Stager's fiance, Lord Butler, is the third Opening the handkerchief, the boy son, but as his brother next older is dead and the present marquis has only as between them they carried a great market basket which evidently taxed the captain's herculean strength, for it was evident the boy's share of the burden was only a mere pretense.

For the first time since he peered into Janie's narrow room, his conversation concerning his terrible threats aa to tramps and thieves, recurred to his mind upon seeing Hawksworth's face. "Halloo!" shouted the marshal "what's up?" Heap high the former's wintry lioap high the golden ooru! Ho richer gift has Aatamn poured From oat Uor lavish horn! others lands exalting, gloaa The apple from the piue. The orange from its glossy green, The cluster from the vine; "We better love the hardy gift Our ragged vales bestow, To cheer as when the storm shall drift Our harvest fields with snow, Through valos of grass and meads of flowers, Our plows their farrows made, While on the hills the sun and showers Of changeful April played. We dropped the seed o'er hill and plain, ueath the snn of May, And frightened from oar sprouting grain The robber crows away. All throbgh the long, bright days of Jane, ltn leaves grew green and fair.

And waved in hot mid-summer noon Its soft and yellow hair. And now with autumn's moon lit-eyes, Its harvest time has ooms, We pluck away the frosted leaves And bear the treasure home, Hero richer than the fallon gift, Apollo showered of old, Fair hands the broken grain shall sift, And knead its meal of gold. vapid idlers loll in silk. Around their coBtly board; Give us the bowl of samp and milk, By home-spun beauty poured. Where'er the wide old kitchen hearth.

Bends up its smoky curls. Who will not thank the kindly earth. And bless our farmer girls? Then shame on ill the proud and vain, Wi'OBo folly laughs toBCorn The blessings of our hardy grain, Our wealth of golden corn! Let earth withhold her goodly root, Let mildew blight the rye. Give to the worm theorchards's fruit, The wheat field to the tiy; But let the good old corn adorn The hills our fathers trod; Still let us, for His golden corn, tjend up our thanks to God! held up some fresh looking buscuit, the remains of some broiled chicken, a few fried potatoes and a mass of potato daughters, he will succeed to the title, and an American girl will be Marchioness of Ormonde. skins.

ed Mose as he triumphantly walked off 'Now vou see, Jnnie," he ran on, "I'm wun tne staKes. a-goin' to hyper round an' git a smart BULLIES IN TENNESSEE. fire in no time; then I'm a-going' to boil these parin's an' have a feast. Rich folks, they don't mind how they peel 11 i Incidents in the Lives of a Queer Class of "Oh, we re bearing away to a shallow port, sort o' loaoing up for a fresh Men The Famous Encounter Between potatoes; wny, mere mos naif the in cruise," shouted back the captain with Mose Blevins and Bill Simpson. Louisville Courier-Journal.

side left on these skins." out stopping. "Where did vou get these nice things, The mountain bully is not like his When Janie's astonished eyes beheld the wonderous supply contained in the ntie nrotuerr" kind met with elsewhere, in his habits, which instinctively formed by circum The voice which put the question was great basket, her nrst remark was "Oh, how splendid! now what tmn, weaK and anxious. stances and surroundings. He "Oh, I ketched them up in a kitchen Thanksgiving dinner Granny Beers shall navel just in time to save somebody the trou Die tnrowin them out." "Who Granny Beers?" inquired the A few years ago there died in a mountain county of East Tennessee, a man who was a noted bully. He was a splendid specimen of physical manhood and was in every respect a fighting bully.

He would fight at the drop of the hat and could knock out a half-dozen ordinary men in one round. He would fight for the fun of it, and he who would dare cross his path was indeed a reckless man. In the old days of state militia 'and "musters" he was aprominent man in bis neighborhood and colonel of a militia regiment. On muster days, when the drill was over, he would proceed to clean up the regiment. When he shed his coat, twisted his huge fists around a few times, and yelled at the top of his voice: "Hide out, little 'une, I'm a comin'," there would be a general stampede.

This was how he came to be called "Old Hide Out," in after years. When the late war came on he joined "Oh, Bonny!" said the troubled voice, captain. 'don't you know the dear Lord will be She was an old bed-ridden woman on grieved if you do so! I couldn't eat things you took without they was give the next floor above, who at the time of her mother's death, years before, had you. Why didn't you ask some been very kind to Janie. "I tell you 'twas only leavln's." in abounds in large numbers throughout the east Tennessee mountains, and generally makes his headquarters about the summer resorts, country stores, elections, shooting matches and wherever there is a crowd gathered.

He is always "spiling" for a fight and frequently gets his satisfaction, usually from some quiet-dispo-sitioned person who "haint much to say." The mountain bully gets about half full, goes to a shooting match, chews tobacco, blows about his conquests and his ability to lick the best man in the state, runs upon a "eay-nothin' sort of a feller," who puts a head on him and an end to him and his braggadocio talk. Nearly every frequenter of Mcntvale, Impelled by some sudden impulse, sisted the child, "things as was pitched Captain Whippleton told Jarde to keep into an old Dasin to be heaved out. wnat ne liad urougnt, it was all for her THE vvliEAT OUTSIDE." Hope you don't call that nothin' wrong. and Bony. He would attend to Granny JJeers.

takin' what was goin' to the piggies. Why, you ain't got no idea, Janie, you ain't, what feasts rich folks throws away, Slowly ascending the creaking stairs he reached another miserable room, where but like's not if I'd a-asked they'd a- a confedera'e regiment and made a brave fearless soldier. During a slight skir a very old woman, with the face of a saint, was slowly fading out of life with sent me away without even the leavin's." Captain Whippleton easily recognized mish his company had with the federals down in Georgia, he took his gun by the muzzle end, with his old time watchword. the remains of his abundant Thanksgiv a charming resort in Blount county, knows or has heard of Mose Blevins. Mose is something of a fixture, and has consumption.

Before Captain Whippleton had sat by her side fifteen minutes, he had heard ing breakfast, and not being used at all to such scenes his eyes were getting Hide out, little 'uns, I'm a comin 1" been for many years. He scorns work, rushed into the midst of the federal sol more of christian thankfulness, and seen more of real resignation and content than ever in his life before. blurred disagreeably, and a great lump in his throat seemed threatening to choke him every moment. But the low voice and puts in his time squirrel hunting or trying his skill in a shooting match. Almost any day during the season he can diers putting them to flight, not, however, without receiving a serious wound Then he remembered all at once, that in the head, which put him in the hos began again: in his cellar was some rare old wine of a be seen somewhere about the grounds with his long rifle and coonskin hunting "You know, little brother, mother, she pital for months and permanently injured his mind.

vintage of so many years ago that some knew all about the Bible, and nierhts. When he returned to his native coun thing of its accumulated strength might possibly be imparted to this dying disciple of the great Master, when she lay a-dying, she used to repeat things she knowed to me, and I pouch. He is nearly six feet four, angu lar, raw-boned and shabby -looking. He wears his hair long, and his face is covered with a Bhaggy black beard. He swaggers as he walks, and swears like a The housekeeper declared afterwards try he was not the fearless bully as of old, but a much broken, stomp shouldered and crazy old man.

He would stroll through the neighborhood aimlessly and seeming unconscious of his whereabouts, that "Captain Whippleton, dear soul, did act the queerest that Thanksgiving remember, ma, she used to eay as 'twas better to starve than to take what wasn't our'n, and Miss Limpsey, my Sunday School teacher, she said what I've often and often told you, Bony boy, we must trooper. To every man who will listen he unfolde stories of his prowess and his victories at the shooting matches, of how Golden Rale. "I tell you Hawksworth, I know what Fm talking about, and I don't believe in any chicken heartedness when it comes to a clear matter of justice; and if I caught tiamp, beggar or thief on my premises, and could prove he'd been taking anything belonging to me, I'd how him no mercy whatever." And Captain Whippleton brought his atrong fiat down on the railing by which he happened to be standing with a thump which made the metalB ring again. He was on his way home from the Mariner's Club rooms, and had encountered the chief of police, Marshal Hawks-worth, who had been telling how some young thieves were destroying the peace of some of the residents of Prince avenue, but how hard it was to arrest mere boye. Captain Whippleton's fine house was a little way out of the city proper, and now, aftrr having chatted with several friends on the shipping news at the club he was on the way home to eat Thanksgiving dinner.

The captain was rather given to bluster and flourish, but was strongly suspected of being a kind man at heart, though some wondered that well off as he was he never seemed very charitably disposed. His housekeeper dispensed small charities occasionally, but the captain, a bounteous provider where his own table was concerned, thought but little of the wants of the "Great Outside." of anything she ever heard. Running about with first one basketful of provisions, then another, until she "certainly thought the man had gone clean crazy." he "fetches a Equirrel from the highes' obey the Lord first of all, and He certainly will care for us." tree top in the mountings" with a rifle, and how he beat Bill Simpson for the There was a tremble in the poor voice J3ut sucn a lnanksgiving dinner as best hind-quarter of a beef at the last the captain eat at last! He said he never really knew what food and drink meant match, "knockin' out th' center a hundred steps 'thout rest," and such other before, but he found out that day, thank the good Lord! wonderful feats aa his memory or im agination could produce. When Captain Whipple' oa started out the next dav to consult his doctor about Now, the aforesaid Bill Simpson was a splendid shot himself. He and Mose anie, and to call again on Grandma always muttering to himself as he went, "Hide out, little 'uns, I'm a comin'," Little boys and girls would make sport of him, and "Old Hide Out," as they called him, paid no heed to their mockery.

He had become perfectly harmless. At last the old man became mortally ill. He was alone in a lit'Je cabin provided for his use by an old comrade in the army. A few friends who had known him in his better days had gathered around his humble couch expecting the end. It was now late in the afternoon, and the old fellow had not spoken for days.

He was rapidly sinking, and some one had remarked that he would go down with the sun, which was then pouring its last rays through the chinks and crevices of the cabin wall. Just then his face seemed to lighten up, his eyes twinkled, and he opened his lips: "Hide out, little 'uns, I'm a com But he never completed the sentence. He had gone. Beers, he came upon the minister and Marshal Hawksworth, aud the latter began sportively were jealous of each Mose being far the most jealous of the two. One day a visitor at the springs concluded to have a trial of Mose's grit.

"Well, captain; caught any thieves or "See here, Mose, Bill Simpson says if you say you can beat him on the shoot, tramps yet? I thought myself something of the kind had you pretty well in tow yesterday." vou he, and he can lick you with one To the marshal's surprise the tall, hand tied," is the way the visitor put it to Mose as he stood near the sprint? powerful captain flushed visibly through loading his gun. nis swarthy skin, then coughed a little confusedly, andfinolly replied with a huekiness which claimed his hearer's "How's that?" "Just as I tell you." "Well, I've been a wantin' ter walk in gravest attention "Yes, Hawksworth, I suppose I did catch a little tramp or something akin to one, yesterday, but it was only that the Aimigntv, wno Kindly feeds us all, which made Captain Whippleton swallow so hard he nearly strangled in his efforts to suppress a cough. "Bony," pausing in the midst of the fire he was making asked in a voice so piteous its tones lingered in the Captain's memory long afterwards "Why don't your teacher ever come to see you, I'd like to know; and say, Janie, 'you don't 'speck the Lord wants a cove and his poor, sick sister to starve, do you I worked like time'n CiMar all last week an' only got money nuff to buy these chips and coal, for I Wonf let you freeze, anie, a nice ole sister that's took careo' me from a baby, when I warn't nothin' but a bag o' bones an' got named after my own 'pearance. Why! bless you, Janey girl, I could a-fleeced those rich folks like sixty There warn't no one in the kitchen, an' there stood a big chickenpie all ready for the table my! how she looked, and how it must a-tasted!" Bony paused, a dreamy look of some delicious imagination transfixing his far-off gaze for a moment, then he went on; "And then there was vegetables, or-angos, nuts, puddin'E, pies. Gracious You never saw anythin' like the things they had but all I took was a pan o' ole leavin's.

You don't call that bad for a hungry cove, do you? Thanksgiving Day too." Only to God alone was known the heroism involved in the sick girl's reply "I'd rather you'd take them back again dear little brother." "Well, then, I will impetuously burst out poor Bony, gulping down a great sob. "I'll take 'em all back and beg 'em "No, you won't thundered the captain, bursting pell-mell into the little room; "no, you won't, because I won't have it You just come with me little feller, and I'll give you half that chicken pie you saw, a few slices of turkey besides. Then you shall have some potatoes and turnips and squash and onions and cranberries. I'll sling in a pie and a taBte of pudding, too, a few oranges, and jim cracks, like tea and sugar, for Janie over there. "Come, we'll start right nlong.

You' needn't look so frightened; I only hollered like a hurricane because my throat hurt, ai'd I couldn't master my voice somehow; and I tore in wilder than a nor' easier because I I was in a hurry." Then he added in a voice tender as a woman's taming to Janie: "My poor child, how long have you Dr. Jones, who practices in a suburb of this city, has an elaborate machine for making pills. The doctor's practices in a suburb of this city, nas an elaborate machine for making" pills. The doctor's practice is quite extensive, and when he puts the machine in operation the result is enough to scare a nervous patient into convalescence or fits. Not long ago Dr.

Jones made several quarts of pills, and waited for a bright day to dry them. As soon as he got a good look at the sun he spread the pills carefully on the roof of a convenient outbuilding, and drove off to see his patients. About half an hour after the doctor's buggy disappeared, Mrs. Jones heard an unusually vociferous squawk from the boss rooster of the back yard, but the had not curiosity enough to investigate the case. If she had looked ehe would have seen the rooster perched on the roof of the outbuilding eating pills as though he was laying up for seven years of famine.

Attracted by the rooster's summons to the banquet, and his confident enjoyment thereof, one or two hens flew up to the top of the shed and proceeded to devour tbe pills. They cackled a little after satisfying their appetites, and more hens came. Then there were still more hens and less pills. might teach me a lesson. I believe, now that vengeance is not always justice; what looks like justice is not generally what God calls mercv." Then he added with charming humility from such a towering figure: "Here I've been taking God's bounties for years andjyears without ever a truly thankful feeling in my sinful old heart.

Since I gave up the seas I've often fretted over not having enough to do. Bless your heart, man, some of the best, most graceful and loving of God's creatures are all but starving within eight of my own door! I've found occupation. From this time forth I propose to recognize some of the claims, human and divine, which in nfy ignorance of their existance, I've shirked like a thief heretofore." "They do say," remarked the city marshall, a few months later, "there ain't a kinder or more charitable man in the place than old captain Whippleton. He didn't used to be just like that, but I guess something kind of woke him up about Thanksgiving time. I suppose he knows all about it." Yes; the captain knew ''Rather a strange time to be talking of justice and tramps," said the minister as he cheerily joined the two men at the railing on his way home from church.

hope," he added, a genial smile overspreading his benevolent countenance' 'we shall not forget the Giver of all good gifts this bright Thanksgiving Day," and the minister passed on. Marshal Hawkworth started for the 'station, and Captain Whippleton turned towards home, visions of a savory meal -preoeding his heavy footsteps. A. short distance from his own door his reflection received a sudden shock as he saw a boy dart out of the side gate, a suspicious looking bundle in a handkerchief dangling in one hand. The boy "without looking either to the right or left darted along the road, soon turning into a Bide street.

I'll catch you, you young ras- cal," said the captain to himself as he sprang along with surprising agility considering his weight. -The boy, still without turning, sped along, the captain following with equal swiftness. The child led bin a long race, and many persons along the lower part of the city where he was now traveling gazed curiously at the large, well-dressed man evidently bent on reaching given point within a limited time. The narrow streets grew still narrower as the boy, apparently fancying himself more secure on his own soil, slackened his pace, so allowing his unseen follower to gain upon him rapidly. At length he turcel into a contracted court, and entered a door just a3 Captain.

Whippleton entered the alley. The boy also disappeared round the top of a flight of stairs just as the captain entered the outside loor. For two reasons the captain went over -the stairs gradually. He wished to ter that goldurned galoot ever sence I knowed him, an' I swar right here, stranger, that I hain't a' gwine ter leave enough o' his skunky carcus to turn up at the funeral. Whar is he? Dad-burn my skin I'll fix him.

The Blevins' has been hyar fur fifty years an' nary livin' man hes ever made one o' 'em take a back seat yit. They's th' best grit about cher, an' don' cher furget that "Well, Bill is looking for you, Mose. and he is prepared, too." "He'd better be, th' yallar-ekinned, knockedkneed, lyin' purp! he hain't in fur tacklin' a Blevins nohow. Ef he was ter see me right no fv he'd run like a sart hound pup. Hits his natur." With this Mose started off "lookin' for Bill.

He would a6k everyone he met if Bill Simpson "hed b'n seed 'round anywhar," at the same time explaining the object to be attained by an interview with the said Bill. By a preconcerted arrangement Bill appeared upon the scene with a huge) club in one hand and a stone in the other. Mose began to turn pale and started to explain, but he hadn't time before Bill made known his business. "Looky here, Mose Blevins," he began, "I've hearn ez how you're a-goin' ter clean me up. Ef yer ready, pitch in.

I hain't th' kin' o' stuff 'at 'lows people ter talk ter my back." "Lor" Bill, yer a jokiu', haint ye!" stammered Mose, trying his best to look surprised. "I hain't a jokiu', nother. Did ye say ye was a goin' to lick mo, Mose, the fufct time ye seed me?" "Somebody's been a lyin' to ye, 'kause I hain't hed nothin' ter say about ye; 'pon my word I hain't. But look here, Bill, you know me. Ef I ever sez I'm jtliss Stager's Engagement.

The engagement is announced of Miss Ellen Sprague Stager, youngest daughter of the late Gen. Anson S. Stager of Chicago, and Lord James Arthur Wellington Foley Butler, brother and presumptive heir to the Marquis of Or Great Bend Reijhter. The G. A.

R. post, Women's Relief corps and sons of veterans of this city are making preparations to dedicate their new hall on Main street, with a camp fire supper and ball on the 1st, 2d and 3d of December. All old Boldiers and their families should make arrangements to attend. A program will be published in due time. monde in the peerage of Ireland.

The engagement was a surprise to Chicago society, in which Miss stager has been.