River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1889-12-19
murdered some OF sao.e nights going

H uON SOoutF- DIt Snc never saw 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
a 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 alter him,
shutting cut 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 disgracefulw her
mother began; you know your uncle
expects to leave his money to US, and
you treat him in such a manner that he
will go and endOw a charity with it,"
II 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. / 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 a good dinner he comes here
and gets it. Every Sunday and every
holiday he eats at our expense. and when
| ask him for paltry ten dollars he de-
mics having it. hate Uncle Silas."
60 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 a 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 ne stopped to listen.
Steps-inside the house, coming slow
ly and draggingly down the stairs to
meet hint
''Pshaw" he said, whistling cracked
tune to keep up his courage, lit is the
echo of somebody walking next door.
Observation-Disclosures
He struck a 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.
Gv,aa usofr In ha kAaN ha al
ways used for his psrlor and sleeping
apartments he felt at his ease again.
First he inspected a 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
careful eye around the room and went
downstairs. Undoing the latch but not
the burglar chain he peered out into the
night. Nobody there. He looked down
and saw something that in the lamplight
looked like a miserable child.
what 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 a broken back"
Il don't believe it What does your
father do?"
please, sir, he drinks"
And you expect me to help you, do
you? Well. I'm a poor man myself, and
| don't drink, an won't help any man
that does"
Hes blind and begs for pennies in
the saloons. an the nice gentlemen like
yourself gives him drinks to make him
sing"
Every time he tried to close the door
the elf as he had called her, thrust a
miserable, ragged arm in and prevented
him.
''I'll ring for the police" he said. saw
agely, If you don't go away"
''Oh. please, sir, give me little some
thin to keen us from staryin'-a hit of