Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1886-12-30

passed his former companions, often cross
ing the street to avoid them, they could
only look at him in mournful silence
but at a social gathering about the time
referred TO, when this subject wis broueht
up, and the opinion had been EXPRESSED
that there would never be change In Obei
Sproule till the day OF his DEATH a silent
listener observed:
Has any one tried To break through this
shell OF pride and hardness, and roach tho
real man withinp
neal fadS!" was the eincredulous answer.
There is none. The man has been given
over Tor years to incurable bitterness and
wrath. We have all seen his condition.
and We all know how hopelsss IL is. OF
what use to court rebuff and insult by try
ing to change iti"
I'VE who knew him in his better davs
can not shirk our responsibility in this
way" was the gentle but firm rejoinder.
The question may one day be asked OF you
and me, where is thy brotherr What
shall we say If we have made no effort to
rescue him from his worst enemies-tho
demons within himi"
A brief silence followed, and the painful
subject was notresumed; but one of the
party went to his home that night resolved
that the attempt for which he had pleaded
should be made.
1t was made upon the very next nisht.
IL was bitter one, clear, starlighted and
beautiful, but with an dir as keen fss iuyts-
ible dagger points. The solitary figure OF
Obed Sproule, mufaed almost from ears, Ia
heels in his cloak, was skulking with tho
step OF a thief through the gateway OF his.
desolate home when hand was laid npon
his shoulder,
"What the dickens do you wantm was
his rude salutation.
The man who had arrested his steps car
ried in his arms what looked like a large
bundle.
Here is a poor little child that / have
picked up,n he said. "She is homeless
and destitute. Let me warm her by your
fire."
"No-be of with your vagrantsi Take
her TO the alms-house and warm her
there. 1 don't keep open house for pau
pers."
"Do you remember mef-
Sproule looked the other in the face, and
replied, pettishly:
" used to know you, when knew any
body. You are Silas West, SUPPOSE
When you knew anybody, as you say,
Twas one of your best friends. ! aid YOU
many valued favors, and was always yves-
come to your home. Now, when ask shell
ter, not for myself, but for this forlorn
waif, defy you to refusel-yes, Obed, in
the name Of our old friendship, say gou
dare mott"
| He was shivering with cold, but was more
| affected by this blunt appeal His hard
| face, or what could be seen of Il, did not
soften: but he uttered brief "Bring her
in,n and made for the back door, followed
by the man with the burden.
Inside the house, the latter was intro
duced into a room where dust, litter and
confusion prevailed, where costly furniture,
rare books and ornaments were heaIped
about in utter neglect. A fire smolldered
in the wide, old-fashioned fire-ptana-
Sproule stirred it asd threw on wood from a
pile that lay nsthe carpet, and the rnddy
blaze soon cracked and famed up the
! chimney.
Mr.. West removed the wrappings which
enyeloped the form of his charge, and re-
vealed to the ungracious host beautiful
little girl of perhaps six years, golden
haired, blue-eyed and red-cheeked, dressed
coarsely but very comfortably, as became
the season. Sproule looked at her and de-
manded harshly:
"What mummery is this' You said the
child was picked up by you. This is 40
vagrant"
| II Uolu Ine trubn plcKeu ner up tc-hlsht
at the orphan asylum and brought her
here"
"You said she was homeless and desti-
| tute.n
''That is no home for any child who IL en-
titled to better one; and she will be destl.
tute so long as the love that she should
have is denied her."
Aharsh, forbidding reply was on Sproule's
lips. Something restrained it. His eyes
were arrested by the child's face; some
thing in it held them there. Could IL be
possible that his hard face softened as he
looked3 He held out one hand, and said,
grufiy:
| "Come here.n
1t seemed more wonderful still that the
little one was not repelled, but she came 10
him at once.
"HumphW he said. "Whats your
namei"
"Bessie, SIR"
| He started, and looked from her 20 Mr..
West. He seemed balancing between anger
and curiosity, hesitating TO ask another
question, when the confidence and talka.
tiveness that nature had given TO .he child
decided the matter.