Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1890-07-04
.sPLEAsE 49, go -,
How a Brute OF a Grandfather Got EzIs
just Deserts,

When Iige Page moved into the Elk
Horn neighbOrhO0d, the peOple-at
least those who saw him and noted his
repellant face-declared that the COM
munitv had not been benefited by his
selection Of it as his place Of residence.
Page was a contradiction Of the adage
that old age is honorable. His WhIsk-
ers were gray and his hair was almost
whI5e, but in his eyes there lurked
vicious expression, and about the corn
ers of his mouth there seemed to fall
the dark shadows Of meditated violence.
He had no family except a grandson,
small, delicate boy, A mere glance at
the child was enough to reveal the fact
that he was miserable. One day, while
old Mark Lane, as kind hearted old
fellow as ever lived, was going through
the woods, he suddenly came upon the
boy, lying asleep under tree. Before
he could speak, the child sprang to his
feet with the cry, please don't hit me,
then, biushing, he said.
Il thought you was gran'pa,"
Great Lord" exclaimed old Mark,
would your grandpa hit yOu?"
He always does, sir, when he
ketches me asleep, an he always hits
me when he wants to wake me up in the
morpin' %
"Ho, John, oh John!" a voice loudly
called.
Hes calling me now, said the boy.
81 know he's gOin' to hit me"
"IlI 60 along with you" old Mark
rejOined. They soon reached the cabin
where Page lived. The old man, with
a cane in his hand stood near the door.
He paid no attention to old Mark, but,
when the boy shrinkingly came within
reach he struck him with the cane
Then, in the twinkling of an indignant
eye, Mark hauled off and knocked
Page down. The old fellow. scramb-
ling to his feet, turned upon Mark and
exclaimed:
"What the devil did you hit me for ?"
"TO knock the devil down" Mark
quietly replied.
q am a great mind to git gun an
shoot you.
Eyes, rejoined Mark. "and several
years from now somebody riding by
here would muse: This is the place
where ole Mark Lane killed brute
that was trying to kill him Say. I
want to know what makes you treat this
pore little boy so mean.
"NOne Of your business"
"SOrter appears to me like it il
what right have you got to come
round here medIin' with my affairs
When I want you I'll send for you.
Hear me?"
"Gittin' along in years, but I amt
| deef, What makes you treat the pore
little boy so mean 2"
Got a right to treat him like I
please"
what right?"
Eff you must know, I'll tell you. One
time my daughter ran away from home,
and when she came back, nearly dead,
! she fotch a scrap of baby with her. She
died in her disgrace, but left me livin'
in mine. Sense then it is my duty to
teach the boy that he is no count and
that his mother was no count.
"The poor child can't help that.
q can't, either.
If you had q soul as big as a turnip
seed you'd treat him better on account
of the misfortune of his birth.
"Wall, now, you needn't talk to me
no more, for I'm gOin' to treat him as I
! see fit.
Look here, old teller, if know Of
you hittin' that boy again, me an a
| pOssul of the neighbOrs viii come over
! here an hit you hundred OF your naked
back"
eyes, an somebody'u get hurt.
"Ah, hah, an you'll be the somebody.
Mind what I tell you. Good day"
A few nights later one of the neigh
bors, while passing Pages house, heard
some one cry:
"PIease don't hit NE.
"Then he heard the sounds of blows,
/ and then came sounds that made him
/ shudder. Looking through crack he
/ saw old Page choking the boy. The
/ man knocked on the door. Page seized
his gun, and the man, unarmed, ran
away. A half hour later old Mark
! Lane and several others went to Pages
/ house. They knocked at the door.
/ Page came out with his gun. Mark,
with surprising quickness, took it away
/ from him and threw him down. The
men tied him. The little boy lay on the
/ floor, dead. Mark tenderly placed the
body on the bed, then turning to one of
/ his companions remarked:
Get that rope over there and make a
| moose in it.
"Wbat are you goin' to do?" hOwled
old Page
eve are going to hang you,
"You can't do it. Unite me.
ooh, yes, we can do it. Tie the rope
/ over that beam.
Old Page raved, ond then begged for
/ his life.
"I didn't go to kill him. gentlemen;
swear to God I didn't. Got mad an
grabbed him an the first thing I knowed
/ he was dead.
cliff him up" said Mark
Gentlemen. for Gods sake don't
/ hang me: Let me live and T."
lift him dp.
"Let me pray, then.
@Let him pray, said Mark.
The old man sank down upon his
knees, and after vainly endeavOring to
pray, involuntarily uttered these words
"PIease don't hit me-"
Lift him up. That's 1t. "
"For Gods"
"Shove him up. There, let him