Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1886-12-29

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"wHAr THE DICKENS DO roU wAXrr'
day become a. sour nisanthrope. he discon-
timed his business; he closed his dwelling;
be Stunned his old friends and associates.
To them aud to the world of trade and so
cicty he had become as dead CO though his
name and his former virtues were catl-
Iogued on the granite Of the cemetery.
SO long had this been his condition that
IL had ceased TO excite remark When he
passed his former companions, often cross
ing the street 70 avoid them, they could
only look ut him in mournful silence.
But at a social gathering aboat the time
referred TO, when this subject was brought
up, and the opinion had been expressed
that there would never be n change in Obel
Sproule till the day Of his death, Silent
listener Observed
- Has any one tried to break through this
she'll OF pride and hardness, and reach the
real man withinri
a Red D,aHfn was the incredulous answer.
"Therc 10 none. The man has been given
over for years to incurablc bitterness and
wrath We have all seen his condition,
and we all know how hopeless IL is. OF
what use 70 court rebuff and insIlt by try
ing 70 change iti"
"Wo who knew him in his better days
can not shirlI our responsibility in this
way was the gentle but firm reioinder.
"Tho question may one day be asked Of you
and me. 'whoro Is thy brotherg What
shall VIC soy IL we have made no effort 70
rescue him from his worst encmics-tho
demons within hint"
A brief silence followed, and the painful
subject was not resumed; but one Of tho
party went TO his home that night resolved
that the attempt for which he had pleaded
should be made.
II was made upon the very next night
II wan a bitter one. clear, starlighted and
beautiful, but with an dir as keen as invis-
, lille dagger points. The solitary nguro OF
Obed Sproule, mufIied almost from ears 70
heels in his cloak, was sxulking with the
step Of a thief through the gateway of his
dcsoIato home when hand was laid upon
his shoulder.
"what tho dickens DO you wantir was
his rude salutation.
The man who had arrested his steps car
ried In his arms what looked like a largo
bundle
{" Here is a poor litue child that have
picked up" he said "She is homeless
and destitute. Let me warm her by your
hre.p
"No-bo of witS ysur vagrantsI Take
her to the aims house aud warm her
there. I don't keep open house for pau
pers.n
"Do you remember met"
Sproule looked the other in the face, and
replied, pettshly:
- used to know you, when knew any,
body. You are Silas West, suppose"
When you knew anybody, as you say,
/ was ono Of your best friends. i did you
many valued favors, and was always wei
come TO your home. How, whcn ask shell
ter, not for myself, but for this forlorn
waif. l defy you to refuse Yes, Obod, in
the naIac Of our old friendship, say you
dare noii'
He was shivcring with cold, but was moro
affected by this blunt appeal. His hard
face, or what could be seen OF il, did not
soften; but he uttered brief "Bciug her
in" nnd made for the back door, followed
by the man with the burden.
Inside the house, tho latter was intro
duced into n room whore dust, litter and
confusion prevailed, where costly furniture,
rare books and ornaments were heapcd
about in utter neglect A frc smouldered
in the wide, old-fashioned fireplace
I Sproule stirred it and threw on wood from a
! pile that 10y on the carpet, and the ruddy
blaze soon cracked and famed up the
! chimney.
Ar West removed tho wrappirCs which
cnvelopcd the form OF his charge, and re-
Walled 70 the uRgracioas host beautiful
Little girl Of perhaps six years, golden
haired, bluc-eyed and red-cheeked, dressed
| coarsely but very comfortably, as became
the season. SprOuie looked ut her and do
manded harshly:
what mummery Is this. Yon said tho
child was picked up by you. This is no
vagrant."
II told the truth picked her up tonight
at the orphan asylum and brought her
horo.n
'You said she was homeless and desti
tute
titled TO a better one; and she will be desti
tute so long as the love that she should
have Is denied herr
Aharsh, forbidding reply was on SproriSi
lips. Something restrained IL. His eyes
were arrested by the child's face; some
thing in It hold them there. Could it b
possible that his hard face softened as h,
looledi he held out one hand, and said
grufny:
"Comc here
IL seemed mere wonderful stlll that tn.
little one was not repealed, but she came e
him at once.
"Humphi" he said. "what's your
nameP'
Bessie, sir"
He started. and looked from her 10 Mr..
West He seemed balancing between anger
and curiosity, hesitating 70 ask another
question, when the confidence and talka
tiveness that nature had given to the chilt
decided the natter