Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1880-12-16
THE LITTLE WAIT.
~ HARRIET +. S. CREssY

Mr.. Jacob Pirkham and Mrs. Adele
Bronson were neJr neighbors, and, as
jacob was bachelor and Adele was q
widow. and both were avout of an age
many thought it little surprising they
Ill not marry; others thought it would
be still more surprising if they did, as
Jacob was, in their opinion, confirmed
bachelor. To be sure he was yet in the
forties, and looked younger than many
others of his age, but his habits and
tastes were those Of n recluse, and the
solemn, mOrOse. old housekeeper who
had lived with him since the death of
his mother, ten years before, was caleu-
lated to repress rather than encourage
any attempt at sOciability.
He was well aware that his neighbor.
the bright cheerful little widow. was
quite the opposite of that old ogre. and
the moments he had passed i'm her COM
pany he recalled as pleasant ones. still
Inc would never put himself out of the
way I'm the least To meet her. Once or
twice he had Overtaken her i'm a rain
storm, and offered her the greater share
OF his umbrella, and they had enjoyed a
chat, the abrupt ending of which. as
they reached her gate. he greatly re-
GREETED. Indeed, to have continued
walking in the rain all day i'm such
companiOnship would have been agreea-
BILE to him. But lac went home and set
tied down i'm the same old routine to
which he had been so long accustomed.
and the widow kept along i'm her own
cheerful course neither seeking the fa-
vOr OF the other. lie passed her house
daily, and sometimes number of times
IN day, and they bowed To each other
the same as to other acquaintance, but
seldom exchange word; and if any
one had limited to either that they would
one day become intimately acquainted,
the possibility Of such thing would
have been denied. But i'm spite of their
incredulity, such state of affairs was
brought about i'm the following way:
One day a terrible railroad accident oc-
CURED in the city, caused by the engine
Oi ono train running into the rear car
OF another. and killing and mangling
thirty or forty persons. Jacob hap
pened to be near by at the time, and
made himself very useful i'm caring for
the unfortunate. I'm the midst of it all
u lovely babe was thrust into his arms.
and there 1t elung about his neck with
tenacity that compelled him to care
Tor 1t. The train man said that il be-
lOnged to lady and gentleman who
then lay dead at their feet. The sight
OF the mangled bodies of the parents
and the helpless little creature that had
seemingly come to him for protection,
awakened his sympathy, and he believed
1t his duty to do all he could for it.
Il will take it right home" he said.
and leave it with my housekeeper until
can hire some one to come into the
house and take care of it."
So he walked home with the babe in
his arms, rather curious proceeding
for n bachelor, he thought. and. when
he reached the door, his housekeeper
met him with anything but a pleasant
greeting.
II shall not take care of that little
brat" she said, ''nor could / live in the
house with its squalling; so you had
better take IL. Mr. Jacobs, over To Mrs
bronson; she has nothing in particular
to do, and it won't hurt her to take
care of It."
Here was dilemma. He could not
bear to see the child suffer. nor for a
few minutes did he think money could
hire him to take il over to the widow
Rut ne was la " hurry 90 90 back 10
the scene of the wreck, so he ma as Inc
was advised. asking her to take it m
charge until he could find some one
who wanted il. and whom he would
pay literally for caring for it.
Mrs. Bronson assured him she would
be delighted to takeif. She had thought
sometime of adopting child. and her
only fear was, in this case. that after
she became greatly attached to it some
one would claim it.
Mr.. Jacob was quite pleased % find
SD good harbor for the little stranger
still he did not like the idea of giving
IL UP entirely. lie was conscious that
ne mad conceived something of a liking
Tor It i'm the few moments IFS LITTLE
arms had chung so lovingly about his
neck; so he said, with blush and the
,aintest attempt at a laugh. Il do not
Know Mrs. Bronson as l can quite
renonnce my clnim."
well, you have really the best RIGHT
70 1t of any one" said Mrs. Bronson
and you may claim just as large a
share as you choose" Whereunon tha
child reached out its little arms TO him
with look which seemed to saw. and
either" '''i' Sllafe
slow nld a, cl;l.t II,
he asked.
About 8 months, 1 judge, aud now
come to think, she must very soon want
some sustenance; and pray Mr.. Jacoh
ny whom am / to send for n nnrsino'
no'tle Tor her. cannot 90 with her
IN my arms, and Jane, my Girl, has
gone nome for the day"
All am going down street. and
iCanem-can get one. suppose
Then the thought of n bachelor of
ms standing asking for such an article
caused him to blush quite to his eaS-S
put duty again forbade that he should
DO otherwise so he Fastened 10 the
nearest store, purchased one. and ira.
mediately returned with II. Bv thSs
time the babe was SCREAMING with
munger, and he stayed to witness the