Wichita eagle., 1889-02-12

In California, but they don't believe it, but
just keep on expectin' of him"
In the meantime the boy approached, and
the old man, becoming so intensely absorbed
IN his thoughts, had forgotten h1m. He was
tall lad, poorly dressed, but with an air Of
complete independence.
Good evening"" he said, coming up close
and placing one foot on the platform.
The old man gave start on being thus
suddenly disturbed, and, quickly glancing
up, looked for moment on the face before
him and the color all went out of his own
and he sank back without word, although
his lips moved and he tried to speak. The
boy did not notice this for he had caught
sight OF the faded sign overhead and was
engaged in trying to make it out in the
gathering shades of night In lit e while
the old man recovered, and he asked:
''Boy, what's your name?"
'Sam Hicks. That was my fathers name,
too, and he was your son.
Yes, yes" the old man said, rising with
great effort and steadying himself against
the building. II thought So l can see it in
your face You look like him-like Sammy.
mean. But you say he ,Uas my son. What
do you meanH' and ne took the boy bv the
arm and looked into his eyes as if he ex-
pected to read the answer there. "What
do you meant" he repeated
''Then you do not know. He is dead.''
The old man sank back on the box with a
great gasp, and he became so pale that the
boy was scared. But he soon recovered.
How did it happen that you came?n he
asked
81 was left alone when father and mother
died, and they sent me back to you-the
people did. l came from California with
Silas Hudson who lived back over the hill
there, and he told me where to find you and
sent me here"
"And Silas Hudson has come bacl1a 1
that he was dead-killed In mine,'
''No; heard them talking of that, but it
was mistake. 1t was my father who was
killed.
''Mg boy killedr' the old man exclaimed,
sand it is thus have Kept my promise to
Lindy. It was / that drove him away, and
that killed him! Poor, poor Sammy"
The boy stood motionless for moment,
and then turned to go away
"Hold onr' Hicks cried, tottering down
the road TO where the boy was standing.
What are you going away fori''
'You say you drove my father off, and
mistreated him. If you did that can not
y L
any thing of yours after that
"Didn't you know before you cames
Didn't they tell you and teach you to hate
meP
'No, sir; they did not They taught me to
love you and to respect your name They
never said any thing bad of you," and again
the boy took a step forward, but the old man
held HIM fast.
Don't go, don't go, child,' he pleaded,
and his voice was so weak and falteriny
that it touched the boys heart and awoke
his deepest sympathy. "Don't go away aud
leave me, for Pm so lonesome and sad.
treated your father mean, but if you will
stay and cheer me up with your presence l
will live different life. / know that I've
done wrong, but I've suffered for it. Don't
leave me. l can't spare you. won't let
you go''
Sammy could not refuse the heart-broken
old mans request, and the few years that
they remained together were happy ones to
Sammy, anG through the old mans sorrows
there came many streaks of bright sunshine
to break the gloom Of his sad life
THOMAS 2. MoNrFoRr.