The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-04-16

even buds.
ats too bad-too bad!" he muttered
"How she would er liked 'emr'
He stood up. He brushed a mist from
his eyes that made the headstones look
as if they were not straight.
Something that felt cold and wet, like
ice, touched the hand that hung down
by his side. But he did not notice the
touch untllit was repeated, this time ac-
companied by a whil-e. Mr.. Marsh
aroused himself and patted the lean, un-
happy looking cur that stood beside him.
'Hullo, jack he said, "where's your
little mistress."
Jack wagged his tail and made as if
he would trot back home, but as Mr..
Marsh did not follow him he returned
and licked his hand again. He went
through these movements so many times
that the man at last walked after him,
the dog continually looking behind. un-
til he had led his friend to the back door
of the Ryder house. This door stood
open.
Mr.. Marsh had not heard that Tom
Ryder was son spree, and he expected
every moment to be greeted by the own
er of this place, whom he despised and
whom he always wanted to kick every
time he saw him.
Instead of masculine voice, however,
a piping, feeble treble sounded from one
of the front rooms.
"Oh, Jack, don't you leave me too!
Don't you go n leave me too!''
Reuben Marsh stood suddenly still
from sheer weakness. His great, tender
heart seemed to choke him. He heard
the dog winning joyfully and scuttling
about. the room he had entered. He
breathed long breath and pushed the
door further open, apparently taking but
one stride from the door to ''trundle
bed" which was in a corner. On the bed
was child who stared wildly for an in
slant at this intruder, then a flush of
joy overspread her face. She put out
two bony arms to the man bending over
her. She laughed.
Give jest ben pray in for friend"
she cried feebly. II KEEP a-prayin' SO
hard that God had to hear finally"
Mr.. Marsh gathered the child to his
breast. His heart glowed. His eyes
sparkled as he felt the frail form leaning
conhdingly against him.
He took a frayed blanket from the bed
and wrapped her up until she was like a
mummy. He was smiling all the while
he was doing this.
"Where's your father"
81 d know. He's been gone ever so
many days, guess"
''Ain't you hungry
81 was hungry after ct up all there
was, some bread n sausage. Then got
faint; then was so awful kind of sick"
The child leaned her head on the mans
shoulder and shut her eyes. He held her
yet closer.
Cpl take We right home" he said.
He stepped out into the mild, damp
air. He held his head very high, and
his eyes sparkled more than ever. He
walked down and into the village street
as if he had been soldier coming from
a victory. He nodded at the few ac-
quaintances he saw, and who looked at
him wonderingly, but he would not stop
to speak to any one.
The storekeeper saw him, and said to
a customer that there was Reub Marsh
with Ryder's little girl, n he guessed
Reub d ketch it when he got home.
Mr.. Marsh still held his mead up when
be entered his own kitchen, tracking in
good deal Of mud as he did SO, for he did
not pause at the huskmat, nor yet at the
rug by the kitchen door.
Bring me a cup of milk with drop
IF hot water in it," he said, sitting down
in the large rocker by the stove.
Jack had entered also, and he also had
brought in mud. He sat calmly on his
dirty launches on the shiny oilcloth by
the chair which held Mr.. Marsh and his
mistress.
Mrs Marsh stood moment in bewild-
erment; then she brought the milk.
Her face softened somewhat as she
ooked at the pinched features on her
husbands shoulder.
'She is starving" said Mr. Marsh,
shortly.
We'll give her good meal, n then
you en- take her right back" remarked
Mrs. Marsh. with her usual decision.
She added that Reuben could go right
over to Mr.. Wallis, who was one of the
and have the child taken to
he poorhouse that very night.
In ten minutes the girl was sound
asleep Mr. Marsh laid her on the lounge
md covered her with a shawl He fed
Jack, who ate very hastily and with the
Utmost greediness and then curled up on
he floor by the couch.
Reuben Marsh rose from his bending
position over the lounge. He looked his
wife squarely IN the face, thing he
lad not done for years.
She gazed back at him with some
hing like CONSERVATION slowly growing
n her mind.
I'm goin' to do one of two things,
)'rindy," he said very slowly, land it's
or you TO say which it'll be. I'm go;n'
o keep Tom Ryder's child if he don't
axe her away from me, n l guess he
Won't. I'm goin' to keep her here If
7ou're willin'; if you amt willin' l sh'n
20 where l can keep her. N she's goin'
o De treated Wei too. Now which shall
t be, D'rindy:'
Mr.. Marsh, with that delicious love for
he child in his heart, looked very big
nd manly.
Mrs. Marsh mechanically brushed the
he stove hearth with a turkey wing be- |
ore she replied.
Il ruther think. Reuben" she said. |
you nights well keep her here. New
Iork hibune.