Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-02-21


dens to bear. but the greatest most lasting,
and seemingly never perishable one was
Mrs. looks.
Mrs Tooks was not exactly sColding
wife, but she was so superior to
looks in the matter of worldly
knowledge that but for the one promise OF
his life looks would have despised him
self
. Mrs. looks had only married TookI
through sympathy. and but for the fact
that he might have some day forgotten TO
come in out OF the cold and that bis death
would then have been laid at her door,
she probably would have ceased 10 con
Germ herself about him altogether. She
knew she was fool to care
about him at all, but rs women
were made for sorrow she accepted
looks rs her allotted portion. and grum
bled but little save when he snOred or put
his cold feet upon her Mrs looks knew
nothing Of theatres or their applause The
painted gardens and gilded barges that
looks talked of had for her no existence
other than in the speakers mind. and as
for hit, she failed to comprehend it al
all: so that looks promise. like looks
dog. was forced to keep itself as much as
possible from the presence of the MASTER 3
wife
Mrs looks. in way peculiarly her
own, generally contrived to build up a
monument of sorrow against his coming.
in the shadow which he took his meals
looks was tb; ng of this as be plowed
through the hness of the narrow street
leading T. portals of Chary bdis. his
home e had scarcely rounded the
corner .owever, when spe ter. blacker
than the surroundings. planted itself
directly in the pathway. and a voice
welled up from it like a s4ueaky bubble.
saying. IF you please, Mr.. looks, you's
wanted
Tooks was rarely ever surprised Life
to him was sort of fitful dream, gazing
out upon the horizon of which
as picture he saw only two
objects, Vi and that promise. and
but few incidents of any character ever
brought him back 10 the debasing real
isms of the day. However, that he should
be wanted at home mad a tendency TO
awaken him. and though he uttered not
n syllable. his gesture was one of of yues
tioning surprise Yes. sir if YOU please. -
said the diminutive bitof blsCkness before
him as in answer n his implied interro
gatory. ~ is took sudden i'll. and
lUtN "dnltti NpNsS NJ ]. ' /
looks waited 10 hear no more He
brushed by this dirty. squeaking. but
withal plaintive bit of voice. which con
tiuucd muftering as to the frequency of
the doctors visits and the dangerous na
ture of the fevei which had come " on
her.
Tooks lamcness was no hindrance to
his progress. he seemed to fly, and fer
OF lauct tho HypFpi.a RRul1 EAAn
pace with his ambiu little legs The
doors of Chary bdis were fairly burst open
its five flights o. steps were as nothing to
him: and before the imp like messenger
realized that Mr. looks had been spoken
to. TOoks himself stood trembling beside
the fever.ridden couch. away up under
the caves of his towering tenement
Mrs Tcoks said rOthing u on his en-
trance She was of an unforgiving ma
ture. and TO1ks had skulked of late. For
three DAYS he had not ventuTed near the
home This was the only outward sign
Tooks ever gave of his inward sutferings
il was his only rebelliOus action When
the weeds hung heaviest upon Mrs
looks labOriousl erected monument,
and when they sought to wrap their
clammy folds about him. TOoks went
down and out Of Charybdis and up and
into the Chokey raint-luft, among the
cobwebs and spiders. and remained until
little Vi brought peace Offering in the
way of some boiled tripe, or a cheese cake
and rot OF beer
But Vi had not come this time. a'd
TOoks was ash, white when the little
buI ming hands reached out to him from
beneath the coverlet and the parched and
fe7erish lips said. Papa looks, why
didn't you come"
\ great groan lifted itself clear up
against that little hipped roof and the
shriveled right leg bent and the body
lowered itself down and across the little
bed. but looks said never a word Mr..
TOoks knew all The doctor was there.
but he questioned him not. the silence
Lad 5; oxen as it were and looks knew
all He saw then the little black box that
went out two days later covered with its
sOmber rail- heard the hollow rumble of
the clods as the earth closed in upon it,
shutting out forever from his 81 hit those
golden ringletS snd laughing eyes and
the little hands that used to pluck imagin-
ary nose IVys from the painted fields of
canvas away up on that old paint frame
and in Wis grave they laid looks heart
The overs still bloomed in the win
dow garden up there in barybdis The
geraniums blossomed in the tomato can,
while the dusty miller and wandering
Jew fought for supremacy in the old soap
boz, Just as of old: but the prodding of
the dirt about their roots reminded looks
OF the grave diggers grind and their once
delightful OdOrs now smelled to him but
of the tomb 20 upon the third day.
looks and snip went down and out of
Charybdis again. but the promise fol
low them not Again the darkness found
Mr. Tooks up in that mysterious laby-
rinth of ropes a d croSsbeams but his big
brush swashed slowly over the canvas,
and his tawdr PAINTINGS seemed more
lusterles than ever. The day wore on
apace though night came slowly enough,
Still Tooks murmured not The great
light across the way tiiCkered uneasily
awhile and went out, but looks made no
sign The palette was cleaned in the
stock jars. the few stubs of brushes
washed. and Sullie stole nOiselessly away.
Mr.. looks was at last alone.
Suddenly he looked, something had
startled him lie gaIed out into the
darkness and there was that promise.
only few feet away. but clearer and
palmer aud brighter than ever before. 1t
DtChOutu VII lOOhS anu nC lOilOhCu-
In triCe he was down upon the stage.
He heard the murmurings of vast au
dience then their applause Palm sounded
against palm. and there was stamping
of feet and the usual uprOar from the gal
lery Then tie curtain rose. q full blaze
Of golden light burst in upon the scene.
aud Mr. Tooks heard his own name called
As from thousand thruatA He felt him
self gently but irreSistibly led on. and as
a soft voice whispered 10 him he lifted his
eyes and saw vi
apa Tooks had waited many years,
but his hit" was made at last From
out the darkness he had been called and
the promise fulfilled, brighter ON account
of its sorrDws and most enduring because
81 ~ oil