Wichita eagle., 1890-02-21
DADDY JIM.

OhbO1 u Lilo
You would never have thought of calling
him Daddy" for he didn't look more than
Is years old In fact, when he first told me
he was married man / thought he was
joking
He worked in the same Office did and as
his desk was near mine we had become quite
friendly, although not intimately acquainted.
1t is odd, isn't itl how men can sit and
write side by side or shoulder to shoulder
day after day, each knowing nothing of the
others life or interests and but little of his
tastes and disposition.
All hurry through work like SO many au-
tomatons, then rush each in bis own direc-
tlon, rarely stopping for an exchange of
words and never for an exchange of thoughts.
Writing, writing all day long. Little won
der they have few ideas when night comes
beyond catching the first car, burying them
selves in newspaper and doing away to-
ward their homes
Now, am sociable sort of creature,
just the least bit inquisitive, too. l catch
myself listening to conversations in the street
car and wondering where the people live and
what they are like in their homes. In other
words, haven't yet got to regarding men as
mere machines, and confess to a good, whole
some curiosity about them and their affairs.
When first came to live in the city l was
extremely interested in every one about me-
and when to nay well meant advances got
short but not unpleasant responses, thought
people took me for meddling sort of fell
low, and rather drew back into my shell
and kept to myself. But now understand
term cranky l set him down as dead tired
and let him alone, and that's how it happened
that after working for nearly year in the
same room with dozen men James Murray
was about the only one with whom l had
even common acquaintance.
Somehow took fancy to the young fell
low from the very first He was tall and
thin, smooth faced, with regular, clean cut
features and dark eyes and hair; boyish look
ing, but dignifed and very quiet.
l had done him few friendly turns, such
as men working together often get chance
to do one another, and we had become pretty
well acquainted. At least he must have
known me and my family history pretty
well; but he was rather reticent, and beyond
telling me he was imam of family" as he
expressed it, he had never talked of his own
y, j
family might consist of.
One night he invited me home to dinner
with him, and, as you may imagine, l accept
ed with great prOmptness.
His home was at the outskirts of the great
city, not in one of the pretty suburbs, but in
3 thinly settled, bleak looking neighborhood,
where there were many vacant lots, with
mere and there fair looking apartment
aouse OR block Of flats, but no houses that
looked like permanent homes.
The buildings all had that cherries look
seen in the neighborhoods where renters
change often; a sort of transient air. as
though the houses themselves might be port
able; and one would hardly be surprised to
see the great furniture vans, that are always
coming and going with immense loads to and
from these localities, carry away houses and
ALL
My friend apologized for the distance, say
ing that cheaper rent had taken him so far
cut, because now his family needed more
room than he could afford to pay for nearer
town.
''His family" again; well, in few min
utes should see for myself. A ring at the
door of an upper fat brought a neat little
maid servant to the door, and she showed us
into 4 cory little parlor, empty for a mo-
meut then filed. it seemed to me, by lively |
little tot Of two or three years. Daddy Jim, !
Daddy JIM" he called, as he climbed on him |
and over him, and hung on his coat; and |
then the pretty girl mother entered, and |
Daddy Jim proudly presented me 10 his fam |
ly.
We had merry meal Everybody talked, |
even the baby. They both ratified away. and |
soon knew all about them. Her name was |
Kittie, baby's was Ned She called her hus-
band Daddy JIM" because baby had begun |
it, and 1t sounded so funny. Both were
was 23 and she was 10. She had |
married at 16, because her mother had died |
then and left her alone and Jim wanted to |
take care of her. They had been engaged |
ever since they were children; and 50 as
heard their story became more and more
Interested in them, and | resolved then and
here TO be q sort of father TO them. Not
hat was 50 awfuliy old my hair has always
been thin Fthis way-early badness runs in
our family bpt they seemed such infants to
De all alone in the world.
think thew must have liked me, too, fo-
con an invitation to dine with them or
Sunday became 50 much matter of course
hat I should have felt hurt had il been
omitted | became their confidential friend,
IND was consulted in 50 many Of their plans
hat felt myself quite important, / assure
Tou. helped Kittle select Jun's birthday
md Christmas gifts. and gave Jim the BEN
fit OF my experience in shopping when Kit
lie sent him for purchases at the great dry
FOODS stores. In fact, I began TO consider
myself one of the family.
Now there was employed In our Office as
ype writer q Mrs Wyman, a very hand
oIrs woman Of about % years Of AGE. a
elative of one OF the firm. her story was
veil known among the men in the Office.
shs had been left 81 orphan with consider
Ole money. and at the age OF 10 tad mar
red against the adysce or her friends: her
husband had abused her, spent her little for
rne, then died leaving her To support her
elf
She was, as have said, beautiful, bat very
litter and sarcastic, and feeling that she
wed the world a grudge, sne was not apt 20
pare any one think tee men were rather
fraid OK her sharp tongue, and sae WAS not
q particularly good tsrcas with anv of them
Keep. Jim. and from II. first day she came
ne seemed 10 take fancy IS him
She was not bad hearted woman, asd. ss
afterwards found cut sac didn't know jim
Tas q married man; nut she seemed TO save
sort Of 9 fAscsEAsinl Ter hin which caused /