The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1890-03-06
which the cook has been trying to draw

err: when his feet hurt him less he'll
tell mo all about himself, I'm sure. Dry
his feet with this towel. and then help
me wrap them up with cotton and tur-
pentine to relieve the soreness and
swelling. | really fear he's going to
lose them both: see how fast they are
turning dark"
With this the boys tears began to flow.
and as he wipes them on his sleeves he
says: I'm no trarap; I'm only runa-
way"
"A runaway Is Dad enough replies
Mrs. Medford. From whom or what did
you run away?' Again no answer.
Ills your mother living?.'
NO. ma'am Then. after a pause.
.Its because wouldn't break nv prom
Use to her, when she died, that had to
run away
Instantly Mrs. Medford was interested.
| A boys promise to dying mother drives
him from home. She must know more
about it. Drawing chair near to him,
| she says:
Now tell me all about it. ! am .
| mother; see, have boys. too. | want to
know your troubles. What was your
| promise?''
Il PROMISED her for certain. sure. that
| Id never drink beer nor liquor of any
kind, nor sell ii. nor help anybody to
sell il. and had to run away or break
my promise"
.'fIow was it? tell me"
I'D rather not, madam" and his eyes
glanced toward his young listeners. in
i I,,l;
| her mother.
"You needn't mind telling all of us
about it, continued Mrs. Medford. my
children arc sorry for boy who got
| into trouble because of SO excellent .
promise as that to a dying mother. Now,
| lets hear just how it was.''
well. then, it was this way. NV pap,
he keeps saloon, and here lately he
got little lame with the rheumatism,
and told me to stay out of school and
wait on his customers. SOS he needn't
be on his feet 50 much. Then l had to
| tell him about my promise. He said that
was all foolishness, and that was to do
his bidding. told him would in every
thing but that. Then he got very angry
and said DO you mean you are not GO
| ing to wait on my customers, to help me
while I'm lame| and answered, i can
not break my promise, ="
''Thcn he came at me with a cane he
was using for his lameness, and said:
| III thrash that nonsense out of you,
mighty quick, sir, and he beat me until
| turned SO sick with pain that fell to
! the floor. Then he dragged me into a
room by myself and left me. The next
morning, before daylight, came away.
l think pap had taken more than usual
on account Of his rheumatism, or he
never could have been SO rough with
me. But it makes me hate the stuff
more than ever, If it can make q man SO
hard on his own child
That's just what it can do, you poor
boy" said Mrs. Mcdford. ..Sec. every
ono here is in tears: they are so sorry
for you.' Then she added:
/ Now. you know there are very bad,
designing boys, sharp and scheming,
who could manufacture such story as
yours for the sake of getting shelter
and care: but I'm inclined to believe
what you've just told me-"
%, ma am cried the boy. with wide
eyes and excited voice. every word I've
told you is true. l can give you the
names of people who knew my mother.
Besides. Ill show you my back-its sore
and lame yet" and of came coat and
vest in a twinkle, leaving the poor back
almost bare, SO imperfectly did his torn
shirt cover it.
And what sight met their gaze
Julia had turned away, on seeing the
rapid movements Of the boy, but the
united EXPLANATIONS of the others turned
her quickly about. The back and shout
ish purple and red blotched welts and
ridges where the blood had settled along
the line of the blows, and where the
broken skin had let the blood ooze
through it.
"iou see," the boy exclaimed in
tremulous tones, I'D be afraid of him
after that, and SO l had to run away. l
amt used to begging, and didn't know
how to get along without money.
and when l reached the city last
night ! didn't know the ways that city
gamins have to keep from freezing: and
the weather turned colder after l went
i
how froze my feet"
1.-THE keeping Of that promise has,
indeed, caused you cruel suffering, .
says Mrs. Medford with Drumming eyes,
but I'm sure you'll be rewarded in the
end. You shall be nicely taken care OF
right here until you are we'll. and |
know of many noble women who will be
. glad to help you in the future. For the
present the cook, here. who has been Sc
kind to you, will bring cot from the
bedroom and make You comfortable,
even to a change of clean underwear
from Burt.s wardrobe. and doctor will
soon be here to see what else you need
: Now, children, come, we'll 20 up and
see Arthur, who feels his penalty sc
; keenly he keeps to himself"
; But no Arthur is there. He has not
been to breakfast. The serving maid
. called him before clearing the table
, but he had not answered.
Hes pouting," says Burt, and the
grieved mother goes up to talk with
him. But she is startled to find the
5 room empty-more SO when she discov
ers that his overcoat, polar cap, fur col
lar and mittens are gone. Burt sud
denly gets very sober, and whispers
"He said he was going to run away.
She is now thoroughly alarmed, fearing
the boy has had time to get far oat O
the city.
So Burt is hastily dispatched to hi
, fathers Office with the sorry tidings
) and there learns that his father had
only looked in that morning for some
papers. saying that he should return
. about noon. This news at home is to,
much and the tension of anxiety give.
way to bitter tears. Mother and boys
with arms about each other, weep to
gether. Suddenly Burt darts of Il
| find his sister. She had fled to her room
as soon as she felt sure that Arthur hat
| left the house. Burt found her crying
t and wringing her hands.
Julia" he says, .you are to blam
S for this. You might have known bette