The Penn's Grove record., 1883-08-11

Abel Grimes assembled the high
marble steps in no pleasant frame OF
mind.
1t had been a long, d~isagreeable 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 loon merged into
rage.
Somebody had left a basket on that
step-a basket with a handle to 1t a
basket filled with something which the
fa~st-falling snow had already covered
with a thin, pure mantle of white.
The internal carelessness or impu-
dence of some servant OIL 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
harderssthan his own marble heart-into
the middle of the street. But his design
miscaIried.
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, a cry OF
innocence appealing to Heaven against
the cruel neglect and abuse of man
kind.
"a living child p exclaimed the as
founded and somewhat Mortified Abel
Grimes. "And if I've killed it there'n
be the duece to pay"
Yes, Abel Grimes, and the Lord to
settle with besides.
For a few moments al 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 a murder on his conscience, and
the coroner at his doorP
Call a policeman and have it removed
and a report reach the press in such &
CARRIED way as to mix him up in ride
ulous scandal ?
Aud then-startling thought-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 a cold night, but great beads
of perspiraiion came and stood out on
the thin, hard face of Abel Grimes.
At that moment a rollickiDg party of
young men turned the corner of the
street, and came 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 Abel 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 key, 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 the world out, just as those
merry young bloods went singing, laugh
ing, shouting. Keeling and rollicking
past the dark frowning windows of his
bachelor abode.
Fastening to his W elegant sitting
room, where his sister sat waiting for
him, Abiel Grimes fairly burst into the
apartment, white and trembling, with
| the living and wailing 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 if l killed H."
He did not dare to say he had kicked
| it over even to her.
; The poor sister had a kind heart-she
had been a wife and mother, and had
| lost both mother and child-and she
tenderly took the poor little waif, I'M
| rolled it, examined it, and then soothed
and kissed, aud Rugged, and fondled it,
| till it opened it's sweet little blue eyes,
and fairly laughed in her face.
sob, you dear little darling !" she
cried, completely oblivious in her alb
sorbed delight to the presence of hel
ogreish brother.
"Well," he snapped out at length,
sis the child hurt 2"
"Oh, no she does not. appear to be,
Abel"
ssThen throw the she into the fire y
he cried, with a savage stamp of hi:
foot.
OF course he did not mean to have
his sister literally obey his murderou'
order, but only to understand that thu
child must be put out of his way. ant
that he would have nothing more to d.
with it.
"Oh, Abel, brother, let me keep it
and real it, and call it mine" pleaded
the lone-hearted sister. II want some
thing to love in my declining years
Let me have this. See, dear Abel
how sweet the darling looks, and how i
smiles even now upon you"
And the little baby did at that mo
ment chance to throw out its httl'
hands toward the iron man, and die
seem to smile at him, Just as babe