The Delaware ledger., 1883-08-11

as his slave and minister to his every
whim.
Abiel Grimes assembled the high
marble steps in no pleasant frame of
mind.
1t had been long, disagreeable day to
him, because everybody had been too
happy to feel the venom of hate with
which he regarded them.
On the upper step he paused in as
constituent, which soon merged into
rage.
Somebody had left a basket on that
step-a basket with handle TO it a
basket filed with something which the
fast-falling snow had already covered
with a thin, pure mantle of white.
1.-THE Internal carelessness or impu-
dence of some servant Or beggar," NUT
tered Abiel Grimes through his shut
teeth, as he raised his foot and gave that
basket a vigorous kick.
He intended to kick it clear from his
cold, hard marble step-no colder and
hardersthan his own marble heart-into
the middle of the street. But his design
miscarried.
The basket struck against the iron
rail, bounded back, fell over, and a
small bundle rolled out.
Then from the small bundle came a
feeble wall, a human wall, cry of
innocence appealing to Heaven against
the cruel neglect and abuse of man
kind.
"a living child ~ exclaimed the as
founded and somewhat Mortified Abiel
Grimes. "And if I've killed it there'll
be the duece to pay"
Yes, Abiel Grimes, and the Lord to
settle with besides.
For few moments an almost para
lying terror had possession of this man
of iron, while another pitiful wall came
up TO him from that living bundle at his
feet.
What should he do?
Leave the little thing to perish, and
have murder on his conscience, and
the coroner at his door2
Call policeman and have ii removed
and II report reach the press in such a
garhled way us to mix him up IN a ridic-
ulOus scandal 2
And DEMONSTRATING thcught-what
if it had already been fearfully injured
by his brutal kick ?
Might it not even at that awful mo-
mant be dying
1t was cold night, but great beads
of perspiration came and stood out on
the thin, hard face of Abiel Grimes.
At that moment a rollicking party Of
Young men tuIned the corner of the
street, and ca,le singing, laughing and
shouting forward.
In another minute they would pass
his door.
Heavens they have already seen
him, and what if they should hear and
see the child, and find it dying from his
brutality.
There were courts where men were
tried for murder, and Abiel Grimes did
not like even to fancy himself standing
in the felon's dock.
Never did the trembling fingers OF
that man work faster than in applying
the k6y, turning the bolt and forcing
open the door of that palatial mansion.
Then he siezed the child and the bas.
ket, sprang into the marble vestibule,
and shut he world out, just as those
merry young bloods went singing, laugh
ing, shouting, reeling and rollicking
past the dark frOwning windows of his
bachelor abode.
fastening to his own elegant sitting.
room, where his sister sat waiting fol
him, Abiel Grimes fairly burst into the
apartment, white and trembling, with
the living and waiting bundle In one
hand and the basket in the other.
Here, Griselda," cried he, as the
surprised sister started up in alarm
''here's some beggar's child that I've
Just stumbled over on my step, and
want you to see ii killed H."
He did not dare to say he had kicked
it over even to her.
| The poor sister had a kind heart---sht
had been wife and mother, and hat
lost both mother and child-and SHIT
tenderly took the poor little waif, un
rolled it, examined it, and then soothed
and kissed, aud Rugged, and fondled it
I till it opened its sweet little blue eyes
and fairly laughed in her face.
"Oh, you dear little darling! ~ sh,
cried, completely obliylous in her alb
sorbed delight to the presence of he
ogreish brother.
"Well," he snapped out at length
sis the child hurt 2''
"Oh, no she does not appear to be
Able"
"Then throw the she into the fire p
he cried, with a savage stamp of hi
foot.
OF course he did not mean to hav
his sister literally obey his murderou
order, but only to understand that tn
child must be put out of his way, an,
that he would have nothing more to d
with it.
"Oh, Abiel, brother, let me keep it
and rear it, and call it mine," pleade,
the lone-hearted sister. 81 want some
thing to love in my declining years
Let me have this. See, dear Abiel
how sweet the darling looks, and how
smiles even now upon you.n