Wichita eagle., 1889-05-26

vowed he would never enter, and when the
doctor came and examined his wounds and
bruises, he expressed the opinion that the
Squire would recover in time, but that his
confinement would be long and tedious, and
that 1t would be weeks before he could be
removed to his own house.
The Squire groaned when he heard this,
and mentally resolved that he would go,
and that no power or combination of cir
cumstances could compel him to remain an
incumbrance on one whom he had always
scorned, and to whose claims for assistance
and protection he had turned a deaf ear.
But he soon discovered that his will was
greater than his physical strength, and
that, however much he might rebel against
the idea of being an unwilling guest under
his daughters roof, he was forced to SUBJ
NIT to it.
The Squire had no family save an aged
relative who acted in the capacity of house
keeper, and who for years had contended
against a severe attack of rheumatism, and
was therefore poorly qualified to assume
the duties Of nurse. Thus it fell out that
the nursing came to Mary, and she was well
fitted for 1t after all she had done for poor
Bob.
At first the Squire was reluctant to have
her near him, and if she did not divine his
wants and supply them voluntarily he al
lowed them to go unqualified. For several
days he spoke TO her only in answer to
direct questioning, and then his words were
as few as possible TO convey his meaning.
Mary seeming ely took no notice of all this,
but devoted herself to him with all the ten
derness Of her loving nature, and in return
for his curt, gruff words gave him SEN
fences full of kindness a. hope.
Two weeks passed, and the Squire was
rapidly recovering, when one evening Aunt
Manda Golf came to see him, and as they
were alone together for few minutes he
saidi
AUNT Manda, your bookkeeping has
been a great misfortune to me in one re-
spect, as [ shall have to go on crutches the
rest of my days; but somehow l don't
mind it so much. It's set me to thinkin',
an I've come to the conclusion that I've al
ways been fool. That's putin it tolerable
strong, but it amt any past the truth,
is itP'
oval, that amt fer me to say, Squire"
Aunt Manda replied, ''but 1 do think you
hain't never acted none too sensible"
i've been a fool, that's all. And Mary,
Aunt Manda, she is almost an angel"
eyes, I've knowed that all along"
81 know it now, though If I'd been SEN
sible l might known it sooner. But that's
past. Now, want you TO do me favor
j want you to tell her what I
think, and that l am willing
TO admit that l was always wrong, and
want to be friends from this time. Eve
tried to tell 'er myself, but can't do it. 1t
makes me feel so little and mean when she
is by"
"G'll do what l can" Aunt Mauda replied.
The result Of it all was that Mary and the
children accompanied the Squire home and
while ne supplies them with the comforts
of life, they give him equally as much in
the way of pleasure, kindness and love
There was a great change in the Squire,
and instead of the proud, naughty nature he
once possessed and which made him so dis
agreeable to those with whom he came In
contact, he grew to be gentle, considerable
and almost childlike in his behavior towards
others; and those who had known him so
long found it hard TO reconcile the hard,
cold, distant man of old with the tender old
man who now hobbled about on crutches
with Mary's two children for his compan,ous
and friends.
However great the change, the'neighbors
all noted It with pleasure, but none found
more satisfaction in it than did Amt
Manda Goff, who. though she said nothing
OF 1t, knew quite well that the happy trans
formation dated from the day of her wood.
chopping and that 1t originated in that
event THOMAS P MoNTFoRr
Burdette and the Collector.
1--WE were sitting IN the sauctum of the
Burlington Hawkeye, Bob Burdette and II
says Hon. Frank Hatton, when a collector
came in. Bob sat on one side of the table
and | sat on the other. The collector came
through the door with bill in his hand and
blood in his eye as he asked if Mr. Burdette
was In. Bob looked sadly at him. aud an
swered in the affirmative. The collector
presented a coal bill. and Bob looked at il
very deliberately, and finally said: 4 be-
heve that this bill is all right. THIS is Fri
day, let me see, next Monday is our pay
DAY. Please be kind enough 10 be here
Monday evening with your bill The .uaye
manner and confident tone disarmed the
collector and he bowed himself out, but
promised very sincerely 10 be on hand Mon
Gay evening. AS soon as he was down.
stairs, and the rattlefy bang OF his hob
nailed shoes ceased 10 sound in our ears,
BOP looked IN