The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1881-10-09
p II am poor ana cannot ps-

~ mofe% T. :
The sum named. though not large,
was more than what we were intending
10 ask, IS / told him.
The old man frowned and shook bis
head. 4
Thee shouldn't have told me that.
1 have half . mind to give thee no
more"
Then counting out upon the table
the amount he had stated, he pushed il
toward ms, adding: Z
my name is Thomas. / will be
here Tomorrow morning with all my
traps"
The traps mentioned consisted of an
old-fashioned hair-trunk. and q large
chest, the latter being mainly filled
with books. q
We were not long in finding out thai
our lodger was very odd, though his
oddities were of the most Innocent and
harmless nature. ,
He asked me to substitute Q patch
work quilt for the white counterpane
on his bed; and spent q whole day rum
aging auction rooms to find some old.
fashioned chintz to take the place OF
the pretty muslin curtains on which ]
had spent SO much time and labor.
had taken . rocker for him from the
sitting-room. but spying. one day. an
old leather bottomed chair that had be-
longed to my grandfather, he asked me
to exchange with him, which I was
very glad to do.
Not long after. . chest of drawers,
that was my grandfather's. found its
way back to its old place. together with
the quaint brass-mounted mirror that
always hung over it.
So that. At last, the room looked very
much as 1t did before WI re-arranged il
with so much care and labor.
John and 1 had . quiet laugh over 1t,
but so long rs it suited its present oc-
cupant, we did not mind
1t was Margis who first suggested
that we invite him to take tea with US
INT day, when we had some unusual
delicacy-early strawberries, I think.
HE must be very lonely. poor mani
haps he doesn't have enough to eatl
He spoke about being poor. you know"
After this, he dropped in occasional
magazine Or paper. and reading to NJ
as We sat at work. Finally, it became
an established custom with him to take
t00 Will 4o tWAC0s oA4 uQA4OtAl4C1 buI0v
times q week; frequently inviting him.
coming by the advent Of the market:
boy with . liberal supply of provisions.
all Of the best quality.
science, and she demonstrated with him
one day.
1T is wrong" he said, with q grave
obot~o ~ fka koo1 ss1rr @ozr -.~p.
and ought TO be more prudent"
= He and John were apparently on the
best of terms. yet he was always find
ing fault with him to me.
ITO think of his taking tho entire
charge of his mother, when she hal
other children, and sending money 70
his brothers widowI" he said to me ons
day.
Now. l could never endure the slight.
est reflection upon John, and I defend,
ed him with o spirit and Indignation
that seemed to amuse Mr.. Thomas NOT
o little. .
with thy pretty face and ways, thee
: ought to do better. Ruth" he resumed,
when I paused for want of breath.
mot but what John is good enough.
but he's poor. I've heard that thee 70
fused Mr.. Hart. who is worth . million.
What made thee do such q foolish thing
as that, child?"
Because l didn't love Mr.. Hart; AM
/ do love John"
The silence that followed madc me
turned towards tho door. It was grow.
ing dusk. and the face was partly avert
cd, but I was almost sure that the cyof
wore full Of tears.
In the early spring he was knocked
some internal injury from which b
John. and I took turns in nursing him
Der that he wanted for nothing.
John. Margie and I were there. HI
tad been lying In o stupor for some
hours; now he reused himself aud be
gan to talk, startling Us not o little by
bis strange expressions.
81 was born in this room." he said,
glancing around; "and 1 shall di'
here"
Thinking his mind was wandering, ]
laid my hand gently on his.
'Thee hast thy mother name, Ruth
and her kind heart as we'll, but thu
eyes aE6 lko tuy lht1eI 3. I16 mas Dtcn
here, thanking me for providing fol
his orphan girls. This was our room
when w were boys. Dear old Joe! be
fore the dawning Of another day w!
shall meet"
John and I looked at each other ii
wondering awe. Two years before !
had stood by my fathers dying bed
was it the same mysterious shadow thai
made their faces look so strangely likel
The dying man continued:
THY father and I were brothers.
Did he never speak to thee of his broth
or Tom, who forsook homo and coun
try because n girl. as false as fair, brok,
her plighted troth to wed n richer snit
orr You havo both been very kind 4
the poor old man who came to you
stranger. I have not forgotten it, a
the papers in my desk will show"
An examination of the papers allud
cd to not only proved that my poo
uncle spoke truly, but that he died IL
the possession Of bonds and stock Il
the amount of twenty thousand dollars
ito be divided equally"-so ran thu
few lines that comprised his will--''be
tween his two nieces, Ruth and Marga
ret Gray"
OF course, John and l married. Hi
mother and Margie live with us, and
happier home it would be hard to find
HN| MI. IF--ls-- H-1k