The Arkansaw traveler., 1884-01-05
BEAT HER LITTLE CHAIR.
-opie P. Read. in Texas sif,ings !

Old man Bromley lived near the city. His wife had been dead for years, and in a strong, almost passionate devotion for his only child, handsome girl of eigh teen years, he toiled without though, of rest when extrem. old age sh hould come, that his Mary might enjoy the little ad- vantages so highly prized by women. One day Mary went into the city, but when evening came she had not returned. The old man walked the floor inpatient ly, and when the shadows deepened and lost outline with the receding twilight, he grew uneasy and went to the city. He went to several houses and talked with many people, but no one had seen the girl. Cursing a circumstance that should cause him such anxiety, he hastened home, thinking that she might have re- turned during his absence. She had not come, and again he went to the city and again returned to find his home cheer less. Early next morning, after a night of torture, he went into the city A boy met him in the street and handed him a letter. It was from his daughter. "The old. old story of love and deception, were the first words that glared at him. [" know you can have no sympathy for me now, and will not heap affiiction on you by words which you could not so deeply feel in reading as do in writing. am gone to look for him the man who ruined me and your home. If I find him, will EiU him. Steepei in shame, ruined forever, you will never see me again."
 The old man turned and went straigh, to his home. His face looked hard and worn, like weather-beaten wall, and his eyes were colorless. He did not bow down under his great affliction, but went about his work.
 Months passed and no one heard him speak of his daughter. Once, some one, stranger in the neighberhood. asked him if he lived alone, and he replied '' Not entirely. Hell occupies my bed with me"
 One stormy night the old man sat by his fire. A dog stopped near the house and howled. Rain poured down, and the dog came under the window and howled. The old man arose to drive him away. When he opened the door. voice said:
 Father"
 He staggered back. Mary stepped into the room.
 Father, don't you know me"
 "No."
 For Gods sake, don't say that, have come back to you.' sinking on her knees. !" have come back to pray fol help, forgiveness. A just retribu,ion overlook hini. He was killed in a rail- road accident. Let me be your child again.
 .No..''
 My God. father. you will kill me Oh, don't put me out! Oh. let me stay by the fire. Heaven
 He had showed her into the darkness md closed the door. He turned, and catching sight of the little rocking chair ne had given her when she was child he seized it with one hand, held i, aloft and. with the other. beat it until the blood ,rickled from his fingers.
 When he opened the door al morning there were prints in the mud as though some one had been knee'ing on the ground.
 His face grew harder as the days passed on. When he met handsome woman he sneered at her. One day while pass ing a magistrates office, he heard some one say: Ten dollars fine and fifteen lays in lail." Glaneing through the door, way. he saw Mary standing in iron, oi the justice.
 A year passed. He sat by his fire a, night. X snow storm ragged and the wind made the shutters shiver. 4 dog howled and the old man shuddercd. He sat with his head on his hand. looking a, the door. The wind blew the door open and Mary fell into the room.
 70. do not put me out. am dying "a
 He closed the door and drawing the bed near the fire he lifted her up and put her on II. He bent over her. His face no longer looked like m old wall
 'Oh. do not throw me in the snow l"
 No, my poor angel.
 She threw her arms around his neck.
 ". want 10 be buried by my mother She and God have forgiven me-
 And l, the least worthy of all earth. forgive you. When 1 saw you my soul grew warm-my soul that was frozen"
 There is God, isn't there:"
 "Yes. angel, and he has made a heaven of this night"
 She put her arms around him again
 Early at morning, when one of the neighbors came over, he found the old man sitting on the bedside, dead, hold ing the hands of the lifeless girl Her face wore a smile of contentment. and his face was not like an old wall.