Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1881-02-24

/ uAlDAtl.
81 have heard of such sights as this"
said Kenneth; "but 1 never could
think them real. Why, YOU are freez-
ing to death here, and there's no time
for words. | will be back in mo-
ment."
lie ran down the stairs. and the little
girl. Mary, had hardly had time to ex-
plain who he was before he was back
again. In his own hands he brought
dozen punches OF kindling wood, and
all of these he placed in the little stove
and set them aiire. lie moved the
young lady away from the window to
the stove, and was so filed with sur
! prise that any should be so wretchedly
poor that he did not even notice the
grateful smile that lowered about the
quivering lips. and did not even hear
the low "thank you" which she ut
tered.
y man shortly after tumbled in
barrel of coal. and very soon the room
was warm and the frost began to melt
from the windows.
Kenneth Winnard went again into
the street, and when he returned he had
with him basket of eatables.
There" he said, taking a long
BREATH "you will be ut least partially
comfortable for the night, and will
come in again tomorrow.
lie was hurrying from the room
when little Mary caught his hand and
kissed il.
"Dear SIR she said. eve will bless
you forever and ever"
With these heartfelt words sounding
like sweet music i'm ms ears, he went
back to his sumptuOus home They
were still chatting pleasantly i'm the
parlor. but he did not join them.
The next day he went again to little
Mary's home, and was greatly pleased
to see the young lady look much brighter
than on the night before. with great
earnestness she thanked him for his
kindness. and related to him a little of
her life history, which was the old sto-
ny of wretchedness and poverty taking
the place OF aflluence She had sup
ported herself and her little sister for
more than year 10y her needle. but her
health failed her. and then she saw no
way left for her to live.
Kenneth Winnard was much touch
ell by her simply-told history. and ev-
cry day found him for u half-hOur or
more I'm the little room, which now be-
gan to look cheerful and cosy. lie
/ found many more who were i'm need of
help. and he visited them, and many
hearts blessed him. and many lips her
aided his good deeds.
Claudia soon tired of her new lovers
soft words. and the calm. handsome
face of Kenneth haunted her. sleeping
and waking. She heard Of his noble
deeds, and her new lover seemed insip-
/ i'll by the side of him, and so she drift
ed away from him and treated hin,
with GOODNESS and often with con-
\ tempt.
The winter passed away, and the
glad, new spring came TO send fresh
hopes and vigor into the hearts of tie
poor. Poor Annie Day and her little
sister Mary were now living i'm COM
parative comfort. Annie had regain
ell her health, and was again working
with her needle for their support; but
she had found one friend, and life
seemed brighter and fairer to her. and
she worked with a new gladness in her
heart.
Kenneth Winnard loved her. His
acquaintance with her sweet DISPOSE
ton and cheerful spirit had won his
admiration and affection, and he smil-
ed rs he thought of the love he had
once felt for Claudia DrummOnd, and
compared it to the tender, quiet affec-
ton which he gave to gentle Annie
Day. He did not declare his love, for
he had promised himself when he at
tached the diamond ring to his watch
chain, that never would he place il up
on a finger again until he had proved
the faithfulness of her whom he loved,
If ever he should love again. lie was
rich and Annie Day was poor. Would
she not be glad to marry him, even
without affectiOng He tried TO invent
some plan 10y which, he could learn if
she truly loved h m, and while he
thought and pOndered in vain, Provi-
dence was about to execute plan
which would be sure test.
Kenneth continued to visit the poor.
and administer to their comfort, and. at
last, he was stricken down, and the
doctor pronounced his disease the
smallpox. They all fled from him.
His proud sister-in-law, his niece, and
Claudia Drummond, and q servant only,
was left to care for him who had been
so kind to others; but one day thereon
seemed to grow bright with the pres
ence Of sweet Annie Day.
She remained at his side all through
his sickness; she bathed his brow. and
sung low, sweet songs to him; she did
everything human hands or human
heart could; and when the sickness
was over, and he sat, convalescent, in
his great armchair, she left him. rs il
were, in darkness, and commenced
again her labor with the needle.
He was soon well again, and the
house was once more in order, and oc-
cupicd as formerly.
Claudia DIummond was learning fast
! 10 despise her second lover, and 20 love
Kenneth Winnard with much greater
ardor than before the engagement was
broken; and one day, while he sat In
This library, she entered, and, throwing