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


plsyed the violin? Blue Tom, they
called him, or some such name"
"VtetLrtemps." laughs Ruby, who
knows a lttle French.
"Yes, that's 1t. But couldn't he
make the old fiddle dance, thOughp'
And the boy tits his basket against
his shoulder, and executes upon il an
imaginary Toulade with an imaginary
bow. 1--WE used to have good times
at home. didn't we-when papa played
the violin and mamma the pianO?7 Ben
goes on.
"DOn't" pleads Ruby, turning with a
great sob. from the bri.ht promise of
the billboard
The two children walk on i'm silence
for n few moments-Mr. Halliburton
Todd still close behind them. Ruby
has resolutely dried her tears, but her
thoughts are still with the great sing
ers. and the voice of the wonderful
Swede is ringing through her memory,
for presently Mr.. Todd hears her sing
ing low:
"Angels ever bright and fair,
"Well, my child" he says, in a low
tone, 81 don't think that angels are apt
TO have gray hairs in their whiskers,
nor to wear ulsters but there's an old
fellow about my size who would like
to be an angel just now for your
sake"
While he is talking thus to himself,
the children turn into the hall of a
tenement house. Mr.. Halliburton
Todd glances after them and sees them
enter a room on the first landing. He
walks on few steps slowly, hesitates,
and then quickly turns back. In a
moment he is knocking at the door
which had been opened for the chil-
dren. The knock is answered by the
boy.
81 beg your pardon, my little man"
says Mr.. Todd. Il am a stranger to
you; but l should like to see your moth
er if she is not engaged"
"Come in, sir" said a voice within.
1t is the voice of a lady. Her face is
pale and anxious, but her manner is
quiet and self-possessed.
at is curious errand that brings
me, madam" says Mr.. Halliburton
Todd; "but l trust you will pardon my
boldness and grant my request. These
children Of yours chanced to lie stand
ing with me in front of the same pla-
card announcing the oratorio tonight; !;
and l heard enough of what they said
to know that they have a rare appre-
citation of good music. have come to
see if you will let me take them to the
Music Hall, this evening"
"Oh, mammal" cries Ben.
Ruby's eyes plead, but the mothers
face is grave. "YOur offer is extreme.
ly kind, sir" she says at length, slowly ;
"and the thing you propose would l-iye
my children great pleasure; but"
"You do not know me-" Mr.. Todd
supplies. "That is true; and of course
a wise mother would not commit her
children to the care of an entire
stranger. Here's my card,-'Todd &
Tenpleton, Mattawamkeag, Maine, =
but that proves nothing. However,
I'm not going to give it up so. Let me
see; wonder it | know anybody that
you know in this big city. Who is
your minister y
1--WE attend. at present, s.. Mat
thew's Church, Of which Mr.. Brown is
rector"
"what is his first name?' John. I
think"
"John Robinson Brown?"
ayes, that is the name"
Correct CALCULATES Mr.. Todd,
triumphantly, with n distinct hyphen
between the two syllables of his favor
ite interjection; that fixes it. What
luck this is! l know your minister
perfectly. lie has been up in our woods
fishing every summer for five years,
and we are the best of friends. Can
you tell me his residence?"
III know" cries Ben. "IIe lives
next door to the church, on Chaucer
street"
"All right. Let the boy run up to
his house after dinner and see whether
Mr.. Brown indorses me. Ill drop in
on him this morning. If he says so.
you'll let the children go with me to-
nightY'
81 know no reason" answers the
mother, "why they may not go. You
are very kind"
"Kind to myself, that's all. But 1
shall be Obliged to ask your name,
madam"
johnson"
Thank you, Mrs. Johnson. l will
call for the children at half-past seven.
Good morningp
Mr.. Halliburton Todd bows himself
out with a beaming face, and leaves
sunshine behind him. He pauses a
moment on the landing. The door of
the room adjoining the Johnson's
stands open, and he observes that the
room was vacant. He steps ia and
finds a glazier setting a pane of glass.
1t is a pleasant room with an open fire.
place; the rear parlor- r-chamber of an
old-fashioned house. and it has been
newly papered and painted. 1t CON-
municates with the sitting room where
the children and their mother live.
as this room rented" he asks the
glazier.
"Guess not"
"Where Is the agentp"
Number seven, Court street."
"Thank your Mr.. Halliburton Todd
glances around the room again, mods
decisively, and hurries down the stairs.
What becomes of him for the next
hour we will not inquire. A man is
entitled to have little time to himself.
and it Is not polite. even In stories, to
be prying into all the dolngs Of our
neighbors.
The next glimpse we get of him he
Is sitting in the study Of the rector of
st. Matthews, explaining to that gentle.
man what he wishes to do for those
two little parishioners Of his.
"Just like you," cries the minister.
"But who are the childrenT
"Their name is johnson, and they
live in a tenement house ON Denison
street, number forty-6ve."