Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1882-04-29

were uehFu on tu6 DTOOktYu Slut, tuC
boat bumped against the dock, the
crowd pushed him along, aud he found
himself plodding his homeward way.
He couldn't bear the depressing infiu
ence of the horse-cars, so lie trudged
along on foot, fierce March sleet be-
ginning to beat upon the only high hat
he owned IN the world. 1t was utterly
impossible to buy another, but Pillikin
didn't care. He probably wouldn't
need high hat in the menisl employ
ment he would be compelled to accept
when he was kicked out of Hardscrabbe
Il Co. Is, and had lost the trade of Brown
of Nevada. When he at last reached
home, his fingers were so numb with
cold that lie could hardly get the key in
the door, but this didn't matter III the
least. Several young aud energetic
parties ran to let him in his plump,
pretty little wife took his coat, and
kissed him !; his still plumper and pret-
tier sister-in- law took his hat and cane,
and kissed him; half-dozen rosy chill
dren put up their mouths to be kissed.
The dining-room was warm and cozy
there were bis chair and slippers wait
ing for him by the open fire j; an invit-
ing meal was wasting It's unctuous odor
in the halls below.
"My love-" said his wife, chow late
you are.'
"My dear" said his wifes sister, eve
were so afraid you'd gone off with some
of those horrid customers. You know
you expected Brown of Nevada"
"Jo, dear Jo-mv husband, my love,
my darling-wbat is the matter p
For poor 10 Pilllkin had sunk into a
chair, put his head upon the table,. and
burst into tears.
1t was weak and unmanly, perhaps
but he bad eaten nothing since break
| fast, and had been badgcred and wor-
ried, and on his feet all day; the March
wind had pierced to the marrow of his
bones. To find ail this love and cheer
and comfort awaiting him, to remember
/ how he perilied them all in his talk with
| Hardsorabble, how he had been tempted
/ to drown them all in his ccwardice
while upon the feTry-boat, and, above
II, for his sweet sister-in-law to pelt
| him with the crushing name Of Brown,
Of Nevada, the author Of all lis misery
1t was too much for poor 10 Plllikin.
He wept, not as a woman whom tears con-
sole and comfort as they flow, but as a
strong man weeps when the first keen
ness is added to the agony OF despair.
Pretty Mrs. Pillikin got dow,a on her
knees, and wept on his shoulder, her
sister cried upon bis other shoulder,
and all the little Pillikins set up n howl,
none of them knowing III the least what
| they were crying about save poor Jo,
whose tears ceased to flow when he
found how contag ous they were.
In the midst Of all tuis uproar, a man
mounted the stoop aud rang the bell
but it was Bridget's day out, and in all
this noisy distress none If the Pillikins
heard the bell Pillikin had in his
agitation left the door ajar, and nobody
had thought to shut il. So the stranger
walked into the little reception-room,
hoping tina. nc would soon have an OPP
portunity Of making himself known
] When all this sobbing fell upon his ear,
/ he was annoyed and shocked, and
scarcely knew what TO do. Through a
creyice in the door that separated the
reception from tine dining-room, he saw
10 PillIkin sitting by the table, his
head bowed upon his hands, one pretty
young woman dressed III some soft,
warm, gay material sobbing on one of
4 ,
prettier woman dressed i'll black sob
bing ON the other shoulder. and around
the room, all about the floor and the
chairs were innumerable children, all
howling at the top of their lungs.
Pillikin hastily dried his tears and com
posed his features, and began to soothe
his family. He took one of the pretty
women on one knee, the other on the
other knee, aud gave each of his ten
fingers to the young brood, hushing and
coaxed them into calm.
"There, there" said 10, "don't cry
any more I'm a hearless brute to have
worried you so. But | couldn't help it.
[ feel better now but I never was so
completely broken up in my life. don't
mind telling YOU that I've done very
imprudent thing. 1t has weighed like
a m untain of lead upon my heart and
conscience; but feel more courageous
now that [ know you love me well
enough TO share the burden. But
ought TO have kept my temper. A man
ought to think of his family when his
situation Is at stake, and it was enough
to make Haldscrabble lose whatever de-
cency ne had to sec Brown of Nevada
go into Scrimmage & Co s."
Both the woElan started and turned
pale.
"Oh. Sue p faltered the wife, to her
sister" Brown of Nevada r.
"Oh, Kate" gasped the young
widow, to the wife-" into Scrimmage
& Co'sr'
Brown Of Nevada /" they repeated
together, shaking their heads mourn
fully.
"Yes, Brown of Nevada p repeated
10, also shaking his head mournfully,
but feeling consoied, in spite of him
self, with hls family's full appreciation
of the disaster that had befallen him.
"This was the drop that oveffiowed tho
bitterness OF my cup. Brown has always
been my best card 1t was a pleasure
to sell to Brown. Most of these men
j would skin flea for its hide. But
there's nothing mean about Brown"
J There's something very mean in his
! going to Scrlmmage's, said Mrs.
!, Pillikin.
g / call il avery dishonorable action. y
said the widow.
t NO, said Pillikin, "not dishonor-
Z able exactly; bat / must say, if he
wasn't satisfied wi h me, he might have
. bought his goods of some other con
cern, and not gone over to Scrimmage's s
right before Hardscrabble's eyes