Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1884-08-07

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minable walkss" said Isabella one
morning to her father. "You should
warn her about Black Lane. She might
wander into it, and bring home typhoid
fever"
You ought to report that lane as o
nuisance, father, said his wife. at is
a perpetual sink Of filth and vice."
1T is a disgrace to Balls Ferry that
such wretches a find harbor in iti'
added Isabella. They oughtto be driy-
en- beyond the borough limitsl"
Well, well, my dearl 1t doesn't do
to be too energetic" said the squire.
They never had a chance"
lie was reused, however, to mention
Black Lane at Q meeting Of the town
burgesses that day.
Something ought to DO done, or we
will have typhus among us" be said.
Something has been done,' said
Judge Paule. II came through the
lane this morning, and hardly knew it.
There has been a general draining and
cleaning, the dung hills are gone, the
cabins are whitewashed, the women
some.of them-had actually washed theii
faces
What has happened2" asked the
squire.
Il heard the sound of children's
voices singing in one of the cabins. and
the men told mo it was Miss Mary's
class Some good woman has been al
work, l suspect"
Miss Mary?"-the squire's face
grew red, his eyes flashed, but he said
nothing more.
Going home he met Polly coming Ia
meet him. He looked at her with the
eve of a judge. Are YOU the good
Samaritan? Have you been in Black
Lane, my dear?"
She blushed, laughed, and stammered
oh, that was the most natural thing
IN the world, father, You know | was
brought up among colored people ]
know how to manage them. II was
only a ditch dug here and there, a few
panes OF glass and bushels of lime.
They are good, a~ff9ctionate creatures,
and so anxious TO learn"
The matter was driven out of the
squire's mind before he reached the
house, for he saw Tom skulking round
the stable door. He had returned that
day, and a dull weight OF misery fell ut
the sight on his fathers heart. Tom
did not enter the house until late in the
evening, when the family were gathered
about the lawn. He came into the
room with a swagger, unshaven, his
boots reeking of the stable. ''0n pur-
pose to mortify us, thought Grace, Bit
terly.
81 came in to see Joe's fine lady
wife, he said, in a loud voice. Unless
he's ashamed to introduce his scape-
grace brother.
MARY is not here said Mother DEM
ming. "Where is she Grace?"
I'm Uncle Ben's room. She reads
the New York papers to him every day
now. They play backgammon togoth-
er, and they have one of those silly
books of Artemus Wards. l heard
him laughing and swearing harder than
ever, so he must be pleased. wonder
she can stand IT,"
1T is hard to understand her" said
Isabella dryly. MARY is not as care
full of her associations as she should be-"
Tom had been listening eagerly.
Enough said," he broke out, with a
thump Of his fist on the table. "IfJoe's
wife can take thought of that lonely old
man up there, there's better stuff in her
than l expected. I'll go up and make
her acquaintance"
For several days afterwards Toms
voice was heard joining in the jokes and
laughter that came out of Uncle Ben's
room.
Mary seems to have enchanted them
both" said Grace. tom is clean and
shaver to-day, and looks like a human
being"
Perhaps she treats him likes human
being" said Joe.
But even he was startled when Mary
came down that evening dressed for q
walk, and, nodding brightly to Tom,
asked him TO 60 with her. Finish
your book, Joe. Brother Tom will be
myescort."
Tom followed her slouching to the
gate, He stopped there. Shame, de-
fiance, misery looked out of his eyes.
"See here, Mrs. Demming! L reckon
you wouldn't have asked me to go with
you"
Polly's tander, steady eyes met his.
Eyes, KNOW"
"D'ye know Tn a thief? I was in Jail
at Pittsburg for q year"
Polly drew her breath hard. A
prayer to God for help, went up from
her heart in hat second of time. She
held ont both her hands.
Yes, ice told me. Bat this is all
over now-all, all over. You have be-
gun new again Brother Tom, GOMEZ
She put her hand in his arm as they
walked down tho street. He did not
speak to her until they came back.
Then he stopped her again at tho gate.
my sisters never have been seen with
me in public since l came back. I'll
never forget this of you, Mary, neverl'
A month later the squire said to his
wife, "Did you know Mary was going
over his mathematics with Tom? Regu-
larly coaching him. This little girl has
the clearest head for figuring I ever
knew. But what can be her object?"
Mrs. Demming cleared her voice be
fore she could speak. "She has APP
piled 10 some Of her friends in Ken
lucky to give Tom a situation. Father,
/ think there may be a chance for the
boy. he wants to begin his life all over
again among strangers"
"God help him, " muttered the squire.
He surprised Polly when he met her
the next time by taking her in his arms,
and kissing her with the tears in his
eyes.
In the Spring Tom went TO Kentucky
and began his new life. He has not
broken down in it yet.
It was in the spring, too, that Uncle
Ben began to fail The old man was
so fond of Polly that she gave up
most Of her time TO him; so much Of it,
indeed, that Joe complained.
Don't say a word, dear" she said,
"he has such a little while to stay. Let
do what i can"
II say, Polly, was that the Bible you
were reading to him to-day? ?"
yes. He asks for it often.r
Joe began 10 whistle and choked il
down into a sigh. Uncle Ben had been
such q goddess ~reprobate in his youth
that il never had occurred to any Of the
Demmings there was a way to reach
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