West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1888-12-20


As he spoke he glanced at the little
/ pokey hole in the cabin, where a faint
light glimmercd, and turned again to the
dark line of the water front.
/ "She was never the same after he went
away-neyer the same bouncing gal that
used 10 'liven up the old house like a
sunbeam. Twas that TUX all the 90 out
o. her. And l had 10 get tc work and
blame her for sulkin' when her heart wus
breakin'."
lie took tho pipe from his mouth and
absently. showed it in his pocket
''lt might "a been all right" no went
on. ut might a been all right eff /
hadn't carried on as did till house and
shop and everything went TO smash
But | had TO keep goin' while the
money lasted, aud now-now,n he
repeated with n solemn inclination of tho
head, 'it's gone.n
He swung about TO resume his lone
some walk. but the glimmer in the cabin
brought him TO a standstill
"She's there" he said. and there was
sorrow and femorse in his voice 'sShe's
there nussin' his baby and thinkin of its
father, maybe cryin' her eyes out about
him. And she a-dyin' by inches"
The rumble of wagon came from the
land side, and the sound Of horn away
off in the streets sent down TO the silent
wharves a reminder of the holiday jollity
going on ashore. The man started as he
heard it.
''She won't be without her supper. -
he said. {" Not while this here toys lyin'
around"
He groped a moment in his pocket
and drew out ring--a plain gold cir
clet, evidently the symbol of consum-
mated union.
81 had TO sneak it away unbeknownst
to her." he muttered, turning the shin
ing trinket around in his fingers. - Pm
afraid she'd take on deal if she knowed
ii, for she hangs on to any. keepsake Of
his for bare life But what's, the use ~
And the ring and hand that held it went
down into the pocket again. whats
tho use o. bein' senteementai and snick-
erin over sich things when square
meal can be got for il, and p'raps-
p'raps drop T. drive away the chill.p
he glanced, half frightened, half
apologetically, at the lite window as he
spoke, slipped carefully by on tiptoe as
though fearful Of being confronted by
the occupant of the cabin, reached the
side, looked back again and then stepped
out upon the pier and SUNK away.
IL was only moments space after
when there sounded among the low.
harsh whispers of the river something
that seemed deep in the darkness. but
not OF it-Sometbing suggestive of heat
and light and home. and not of this
black food and these great marine phan-
toms standing so solemn in the gloom.
IL was the cry Of n child. Low and
weak, suppressed as soon as uttered,
it still had a strange shrillness in the Ell :
lent p ace, and of all the sad voices Of
tide and timbers, IL seemed by far the
saddest. IL came from the cabin Of an
old canal boat, came only for an instant
and died away in what fancy involunta-
rly pictured a mo,her's kisses and ca
resses.
O.d Tom heard it half way up 60 the
wharf. lie heard it and arrested his
cautious footsteps and brought his face
about in a twinkliDg to the tiny.li0hted
space in the cabin that barely reached
his eye where nc stood. The cry was
not repeated. But he stood there for
over minute with his whole soul. il
seemed. intent upon that m 0limmer-
ing pane. His hand mechanically crop.
ing in his pocket, touched the ring aud
II seemed TO startle him. Ho took out
tho little trinket and looked at it care
fully, rs though making sure that il was
really there. aud brushed Il with a
rough, greasy sleeve. Then, without
glance at the street on which he had
been walking, he passed back along the
pier, crossed TO the boat again and
walked straight up TO the cabin and en-
tered.
a ships lartern hanging from the roof
showed q rough table couple q boxes,
a tarpaulin, some ends OF rope and on
looseDed and slanting berth an infant
with woman knccling beside it IT,
was a pleasing face she turned up TO the
old man as he came pleasing, and 10
bad been very lretty-bnt there was
sad gauntucss about 10 now and tho
dark, tendcreyes looked out from bluelsh
hollows
Where have you been, rathcrg7 she
asked "Baby has been restless again.
I'm afraid that the child is growing
worse" This with 70 look of infinite
soliciiudo % the tiny creature beside
her. 'And its so hard TO sec the poor
dear suffering and be able to do moth
ing Why, father, what is the matior5n
hc might well ask. The poor man
was standing. with his head sunk upon
his breast, and great tears we're rolling
down bic faded checks Ills eyes were
fixed upon tho little cabin window. but
3, was clear that bis mind was far away.
llo started as she spoke, aud when he
answered 10 was in q voice broken with
sobg.
3" ibb'o he said, ''my poor gal, I've
been q bad father 10 you. q reg'la bad
'un, aintI7 I've ruined tho little home
you oughtof be 10. aud brought you and
your child to This know chat ainit
tho wnst. neither. drv him away that
would be q support sud comfort tyou,
and left that icctol crcctur ithout q
father I've donenll that. aud ] was A.
roin 20 DO more. God forgive mc. this
very night only for hearIn four baby
cryin'. ! meant it ioF The best J did, bui