Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1889-12-19
pressing, honest opinions, ''you can leave

| "1eS, and it looks lonesome up there,
too, but it is old-fashioned and clumsy
answered his sister.
81 like old-fashioned things, and old
fashioned people if they have good
hearts like hers and do good with their
money as she did," said Bessie.
''Wen, we'll, let's have some games
! and music" said the old man with gruff
good nature and soon the entire family
engaged in a game of blind-man 's-buff
to wind up the evening.
BE very careful of yourself, Silas, -
said his sister; you may be robbed or
murdered some of these nights going
home
Il haven't a cent about me-" said the
old man, hastily, but not without shud-
der
DO you want me to see you safe home,
Uncle Silas?' asked Bessie, who had re-
covered her good temper.
NO, Miss Spitfre, not tonight. Your
old uncle's got some fight in him yet.
It's only two short blocks to my house
and l have a good cane in my hand"
Il wish you would rent that house and
come live with u.s." remarked his sister.
She was in independent circumstances
herself, but not rich. She wanted her
brothers money when he was done with
it, not sooner. But she never saw a mill
of it, and his fine offer of the writing
desk to Bessie was all bravado and she
knew it. He had never given the child
present in his life.
But he talked poverty, poverty, all
day long, and declared that the hand
some house in which he lived alone, and
where his wife had died-as some said
for lack of the necessaries of life-was
mortgaged to its full value. Bessie had
often gone to him knowing that he had
Golfers of gold-and begged money for
some Christmas tree or charitable enter
tainment and it always pleased him
he liked SO we'll to deny her. When he
was gone and the door closed after him.
shutting out the awful chill of his pres
ence, which seemed to intensity the cold
night air. Bessie sat down and waited
patiently for her mothers lecture. She
felt sure it would come and was not dis
appointed. The younger children had
gone up to bed, so there was no inter
ruption.
Its perfectly disgraceful.' her
mother began; you know your uncle
expects to leave his money to us, and
you treat him in such manner that he
will go and endow charity with it,
Il wish he would, mamma" answered
Bessie; I'm sure his money will never
do US any good. He will hate to see
anybody spend it. I asked him for ten
dollars for our Christmas tree for the
poor, and he danced up and down and
declared he hadn't so much money in
the world. Mamma, he is very poor
Poor! Your Uncle Silas poor? Why,
child, he owns blocks of brick houses on
the avenues and he has enormous sums
out at interest,"
''What does that do for him? When
he wants good dinner he comes here
and gets it. Every Sunday and every
holiday he eats at our expense. and when
l ask aim for a paltry ten dollars he de-
MES -iaving it. hate Uncle Silas.'
go to bed, miss said her mother,
angrily; you are wanting in respect to
your Uncle Silas and to me-
Not to you, mamma. DEAR" said the
child, softly; ''there is ano. her crows
foot-let me kiss it; every time that
Uncle Silas comes here he leaves crow
feet and wrinkles, if not on our faces in
our hearts,
''Silly child" said the mother, but in a
softened tone. There was look of her
dead father in the girls face that dis
armed the mother of her anger. Then
she was such brave little thing, daring
to speak the truth and do the right.
They parted with another caress at the
foot of the stairs.
Silas Marks went home looking at
every shadow, peering into dark places,
and with his stick dubbed in his hand
ready for any raid from the highway as
Sassin. Nobody molested him, and he
ran up the steps of his house just as the
sonorous tones of the bell in the city
tower rang out ten. He was a little con-
fused, missed counting the strokes and
wondered what the bells were ringing
for that night.
He ratified his latch-key in the door of
his house and then he stopped to listen.
Steps-inside the house, coming slow
ly and draggingly down the stairs to
meet him!
: ''Pshaw"' he said, whistling cracked
tune to keep up his courage, lit is the
echo of somebody walking next door.
rol-de-ro-de-rol-do!'
He struck match on the wall. No
body there. The dismal, faded hall and
stairs looked just as they always did.
He lighted the candle that stood on
the hat-rack-gas was too dear for him
to burn-and then he locked and double
barred the doors and fastened the burg
lar alarm.
Once upstairs in the room that he al
ways used for his parlor and sleeping
apartments he felt at his ease again.
First he inspected strong box-that
was all right. Then he unlocked the
great iron safe-all right there, too.
Money, bank bills, gold, securities, bonds
he gloated over them and petted them
with fond appreciation.
The door-bell rang and startled him
terribly; once, twice, then ting-a-ling
in rapid succession. 1t must be his man
of business. He locked up his safe, cast
a careful eye around the room and went
the burglar chain he peered out into the
night. Nobody there. He looked down
and saw something that in the lamplight
looked like miserable child.
'sWhat do you want, elf?" he asked,
angrily.
''Somethin' to eat, please. I'm most
starved"
Nonsense! How dare you come around
here disturbin' folks at this hour of the
night?'
''Me mothers very sick an me little
sister has broken back"
81 don't believe it. What does your
father do?"
s'Please, sir, he drinks"