The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1880-02-06

The gulf thus opened between fathe
and son in the latter's infancy widene,
between them, until Martin had nothin.
left for his father but fear.
On Martins thirteenth birthday il S,
, happened that the famous character Dai
e Rice was spending a day in Hampton
and Mrs. Ferret persuaded her HUSBAND
: to allow Martin to go to town, just II
: see the elephant and horses Mr. Ferre
2 concluded it would not be wrong for hin
t to &c, provided he did not go in tht
show, and pay money 10 such "a wicked
crew. The Ferrel family went TO town
. and Martin lost track of his father anC
fell in with The Black boys and wen
with them TO the show ground, though
, he had no more intention of going int
the show than lie had of committing sui
eide.
, Now, Martini said Sam Black
keep right with US. We must all gel
seats together. Won't it be jollyi"
"oh! Pm not going in" said Martin
'WhyT'
maven got al 1nOilS-
"Wait here till | come back" and
Sam went to the ticket wagon, and when
lie came back, he pretended TO discover
that the ticket man had given him four
tickets, instead of three"
That's bully!'' said Dick Black.
"We'll take Martin with u.s."
"Oh. no. must not''
But you shall, though" answered
Dick, and thrusting one of the tickets
into Martins hand and taking him by
the arms, just as the musicians struck
up lively air, the Black boys marched
him into the show, little thinking what
the result of their kindness would be.
Once inside, Martin forgot everything,
and for the first time IN his life enjoyed
himself as other boys always did
When the show was over and Just as the
four happy boys came out of the tent
Sam Lack saw Martin stop and turn
deathly pale as he exclaimed, "Oh,
| Sam!'
Sam looked in the direction of Mar
tins frightened gaze, expecting to see
al the wild animals in the whole show
making meal of human flesh, but saw
nothing but Martins father. Mr.. Ferret
moliOned Martin to follow him, and
walked away Ia his team, and as Martin
| got into the wagon and took up the lines
his father merely remarked, we have
been waiting for you an hour and ii
half" Not Il word more passed between
father and son rs they passed home
Once Martin looked around at his moth
or and saw tears in her eyes. His whole
soul fairly boiled with Indignation, and
tuning to his father and giving HIM
one look of defiant hatred, tried TO
speak but cholod down, and his mother
turned his head gently away. On reach
ing home Martin unhtched the team
and began his evening chores, knowing
well tliat as soon as he was through his
Iath"r would punish him with an I'M
sparing hand He had been severely
whipped for far less o!Tensas of late, and
he knew well that any excuse lac might
offer, any mercy hc might beg for, would
avail him nothing lie saw his father
go 10 the orchard and cut 4 cruel look
ing apple sprout and deliberately trim it
rs he went back to the house 1t was
dusk when Martin finished his work.
and going To the house he found his
mother in the kitchen getting supper
and silently crying. Marlin threw his
arms around her, pressed one lingering
kiss on her trembling lips and as a SIM
gle choking sob escaped him he picked |
up the water bucket and went out the |
door. Mrs. Ferrel's courage gave way,
and sinking into chair she cried as she |
had never done before. How long she |
sat crying she hardly knew.
At last she was startled by hearing by |
hearing her husband in the back yard |
calling Martin-once, twice, half doz- |
en- times, and as his voice raised in pro |
portion to his temper, great dread |
came over her and opening the door the |
light fell on the empty water bucket
setting by the well, and something SEEM |
ed to be whispering gone, gone-iorev-
er gone" The poor mother staggered |
to her bedroom and sinking down on |
the bead tried to pray; but prayer
brought no relief, and time brought no
Martin to her aching heart.
y week passed and Sam Black came
over, and watching his chance to find
Mrs. Terrell alone, told her that while
leading horse to water at the creek the
night of the show, Martin had come to
him and asked him if he would go to
his mother in Il week from then
and tell her something. Sam said he
would and promised not to tell living
soul anything about it. Just tell her.
Sam, that some day iii come back to
her, but never TO hem, and say Good bye
couldn't do it, SAM" and here Martin
had broken down, and tears blinded Sam
and he begged Martin not to 90, but
when he got his eyes clear again Martin
was gone.
''Was that all? Did he say where he
was goingg"
No, mann; that is all OnIy-I-
think he said (and here Sam hung his
head) kiss her for me-"
Mrs. Ferrell caught Sam up in her
arms, fondly kissed him and cried as
though her heart would break.
Have you told any one this:" she
asked
"OE, no, mann! l told Martin
and don't think ever shall"
If you don't mind, wish you would
not" she said.
"Oh, no! ] won't mind" answered :
Sam. Its no trouble to me to keep a
secret like to-"
This much Mrs. Ferrel and Sam knew. ,
Nj the rest of the neighborhood knew
nat Martin had gone after bucket of
water and had not yet returned. The
nan Mr.. Ferrel sent after the show to
'ring Martin back returned without him.
And as weeks and months and years
vent by Martin dropped out ofthe neigh
'orhood talk, but never dropped nor fad :
d from his mothers heart
Things went rather badly with Mr..
'errel after Martin left. He had no end
# trouble with hired boys and men.
hey usually left him at the very time
rhen he needed them most. Worse
till, Mrs. Ferrel slowly changed. First, h
ot so strong as she used to be, and then
unwell, until Mr.. Ferrel was
breed to keep hired girl, and his fam
y expenses were so increased that in
iead of making money he had as much
he could do to keep together what he
adj.
Thus matters stood three years from
he time Martin left, and then came the
lange which makes all humanity