The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1869-02-18
Bread Cast Upon the Waters.

Please, sir, will you buy my chest
nuts 2"
"Chestnuts. MOI" returned Ralph
Moore, looking carelessly down on theup-
turner face, whose large brown ey es, shad
owed by tangled curls of faxen hair, were
Appealing SO pitifully to his own, "what
lido I want with chestnuts?"
"Bu; please, sir do buy EN-" pleaded
the little one,s treasured by the rough
i kindness of his tone. Nobody seems to
care for them, and--and-" sh## a4
She fairly burst into tears, and Moore
who had been on the point of brushing
carelessly past her, stopped Immediately,
Are you very much in want OF the
money!" aa -
Indeed, sir, we are" sobbed the child,
/ mother sent me out, and"
'Nay, little one, don't cry in such a
| broken hearted" said Ralph, smoothing
her hair down with careless gentleness
81 don't want your chestnuts, but here a
quarter for you, if that will do you any
good" A4
He did not stay to hear the delighted
incoherent thanks the child poured out
| through rainbow of smiles and tears j,
but strobe on his way, mutterlng between
| his teeth IA l.
"That cuts off my supply of cigar for
the next twenty four hours. | don't care
though, for the brown-eyed object really
did cry as if she hadn't a friend in the
world. Hang it Iwish was rich enough
to help every poor creature out OF slough
of despond = pas a2ab 80
While Ralph Moore was indulging in
these very natural reflections, the dark
orbed little damsel whom he had comfort
ed was dashing down the street, with
xuick elastic step, utterly regardless OF
| the basket of unsold nuts that still dan
ged upon her arm. Down an obscure
| lane she darted, between tall ruinous rows
of houses and up narrow wooden stair
case to a room where pale CHASTITY look
ing woman, with large brown eyes like
her own, was sewing as buslly as if the
breath of life depended upon every stitch
and two little ones were contentedly play
| ing in the sunshine that temporarily sup
piled the place of the absent fire.
"Mary back already? Surely you have
not sold your chestnuts so soon =
ooh, mother, mother, sect" calculated
the breathlsss child. "a gentleman gave
me whole quarter Only think, mother,
whole quarter! &
If Ralph Moore could only have seen
the rapture which his tiny silver gift diff
fused around it, in the poor widows pow
erty-stricken home, he would have grudged
still less the temporary priYations of cigars
to which his generosity had subjected
him.
Years came and went, The little chest
nut girl passed as entirely out of Ralph
Moore's memory as if her pleading eyes
had never touched the soft spot in his
heart, but Mary Lee never forgot the
stranger who had given her the silver
/ piece.
x
The crimson window curtains were
closely drawn to shut out the storm and
tempest of the bleak December night
the FIRE was glowing CHEEKY in ihe well
! filled CRATE and the dinner table all in a
glitter with cut glass, rare china, and pol
ished silver, was only waiting for the
+ presence of Mr. Audley.
WHAT can it be that detains papa?'
said Mrs. Audley, a ia +, handsome. mat
ron of about thirty, as she glanced at the
dial Of tiny enameled watch. six O'Clock
and he has not made his appearance
There's a man. with him in the study
mamma come on business said Robert
Audley, a pretty boy eleven years old,
who was reading by the fire.
"I'll call him again, said Mrs Audley,
stepping TO the door
But as she opened il, the brilliant gas
| light fell upon the face of humble look
ing man, in worn and threadbare garments
who was leaving the house, while her hus-
apparently relieved to be rid of his visit
or. -....t. s'
"Charlcs," said Mrs Audley, whose
cheek bad paled and flushed, .who is
that mainland what does he. want ~
His name is Moore, believe, and he
came to see if I would bestow upon him
the vacant messen gership III the bank
"And will you =
/. a don't know, Mary must think
about it, =
t"Charles, give him the situation"
''Why, my love q aa
"Bccause / ask it of you as a favor, and
you have said athousand times you would
n0tdeny me anythin e." 9it
'And Twill keep my worci Mary said
/ the lover husband, with an a1fectionate
kiss "Iil write che fellow note this
very evening. believe I've got his ad
dress somewhere about me.
An hour or TIVE later, when Bobby, and
Frank and little Minnie were tucked
,snugly in bed, il the spacious nursery
above stairs, Mrs. Audley told her husband
why she was interested in the fate Of a
man whose faceshe had not. seen for twenty
years. a AZ sssaa
! That's right, my little Wife," said her
j husband, folding herfondly to his breast,