Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1881-12-22

opposite Number 40. He lays hi,
hand on his friends shoulder. 'Look
here, Brad Johnson" he says, "we are
going to find that wife and those chill
dren pretty soon, 1 suspect. And
you've got to keep cool. Dye hear p
What do you mean?' gasps the
sailer.
| The eye of Mr.. Halliburton Todd is
quietly lifted TO the window of the
second story opposite. His friends
eye follows, and falls on the picture
we saw little while ago-the neither
intent upon the book. the children in.
tent upen the mothers face.
There is no outcry, but the father
lifts bis hands, as if to heaven, stag
gers little, and then plunges across
the street. Mr.. Todd is after him,
and seizes him by the collar just as he
reaches the foot of the stairs.
"HOld on, manp he says, decisively.
"You mustn't rush in on that woman
in this way. You'd kill her. She's
none too strong. Wait here few mo-
ments, and I'll break it to her."
You're right" answers the father,
pressing his hands against his temples,
and steadying himself by the wall.
"But you won't keep me waiting long,
will you?"
"Mr. Halliburton Todd knocks at the
door and is let in by Ben.
"Oh, Mr.. Todd, how good you arel
Thank you hundred thousand times!'
cry both the children at once.
1 .GIVoll I'm OIod x,n,,Sx,o on;1xoI - -,
little gifts" he answers. "But I've
been thinking that your good mother
ought to have little of the cheer of
this Christmas as well as you"
"Just what we said," answers Ben.
Mrs. Johnson colors a little, but be-
fore she can speak, Mr.. Todd goes on.
pardon me, madam, but what your
minister told me yesterday of your
affairs has led me to take a deep inter-
est in them. How long is it since your
husband left home?'
"More than two years." answers the
lady.
"You have had no direct intelligence
from him since he went away?'
"NOne at all, save the painful news
of the loss of his vessel. with all on
board"
"Have you ever learned the full par
ticulars of the shipwreckp" ?"
"No; how could II" Mrs. johnson
turns suddenly pale.
"Be calm, 1 beseech you, my dear
lady. did not suppose that you could
have heard. But met just now, in
the street. an old friend of mine-and
of yOurs-who knows a good deal
about it. And 1 want to assure you,
before he comes in, that-that the story
as it reached you-was-was consider
ably exaggerated, that is all. Excuse
me, and will send in my friend"
Mr.. Todd quickly withdraws. The
colCr comes and goes upon the mothers
face. "Merciful Fatherw she cries,
s3hat does itsail mean?"
tSne rises from the chair; the door
that Mr.. Todd left ajar gently opens,
and quickly closes. We will not open
it again just now. That place is too
sacred for pTying eyes. 1t is a great
cry of joy that fills the ears and eyes
of Mr.. Halliburton Todd, as he goes
softly down the stairs and walks away
to his hotel.
"Isn't it." ventures Ben, timidly, as
if the words were proclamation, "isn't
it about time for dinner?"
Indeed it is, my boy,.' answers his
mother; "and I'm afraid our dinner is
spoiled. Open the oven door, Ruby"
Ruby obeys, and finds the poor, for
gotten chicken done to a cinder. "Nev-
er mind" says the mother. sour dim
ner will be little late, but we'll find
something with which to keep the
feast"
Just then, there is a knock at The
door opening into the new neighbor's
apartment.
"What can they want?" says Mrs.
johnson. perhaps, my dear, you had
better answer the knock. They are
newcomers to-day"
Mr.. Johnson pushes back the bolt
and opens the door. The room is hung
with a profusion of Christmas green's.
A large bright fire blazes on the
hearth. A table in the middle of the
room is loaded with smoking viands.
A smiling colored waiter, with napkin
on arm, bows politely when the door is
opened.
"Ef you please, sab, dinnah is ready,
sahr'
"Whose dinner?" demands Mr.. John
son.
"YOur dinnah, sab. De folks din
nah n dis yer front room. 1t was or
dered fo' dem."
"Where was it orderedp"
"Copeland's sah,"
"Who ordered it?"
"Gem'Pm'n with gray liberated coat
on, sab; l seen him kim up to your
room bout n hour ago. 1 was to git
it all ready'n' call you jes' half-past
two"
Another of Todd's surprises" ex.
claims Mr.. Johnson. "Well, my .dears
the dinner is here: and we should be
very ungrateful not to partake of il
with thanksgiving"
By and by, when the cloth is re.
moved, and they are seated around the
open fire, Ruby says, musingly; "Papa
did yon really and truly know Mr.
IOQu Wnen you were DOyF
Certainly, my darling, why do you
askY
81 can't quite think" says the girl
"that he is real man. I seems to me
as il he must be al angel"
While she speaks, the angel is knock
ing at the door. They all fly to him
the father hugs him; the mother kisse.
; his hand; the children clasp his knees
"Help! helpP shouts the heart,
lumberman, ~ didn't come here to b.
garroted."
Then, with much laughing and cry
ing, they tell him Ruby's doubts con
, corning him.
"Well," he says merrily, 'I may bt
an angel, but If 30 I am not aware OF
1t. Angels are not generally addicted