Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1892-06-16
A BEGGAR WOMAN.
The Kind Deed That Crowned a
Broken Life.

brOKen LILO.
A strong breeze, sharp with the cold
suggestion of coming winter, swept up
from the bay and tossed the crcalsing
boughs of the old button woods that
stood along the roadside until they
laborcd in the wind like ships at sea.
The last of the fog was just disap-
pearing and curlcd flerccly up from the
woods and waters, rolling away in
great, soddcu masses. In the north
long line of snow clouds were sluggish
ly moving forward There was some
thing pcculiar-nlmost sinistcr-in their
slow, heavy formation, and the weather
wise fisherman of shore watched them
uneasily and began TO draw in tackle
and make preparations TO seek harbor.
On the land the farmers shook their
heads and FASTENED TO get the last Of
the pumpkins and apples under cover
OF their own accord the cattle left off
grazing and sought the barnyards
Now and then stragglcrs from some
frightened flock Of wild geese flew
toward the south in anxious search Of
their mates.
NtNT Nilt tllu vi bIt bNIttN VI Nllt Nv
tie fishing hamlet was n weather beat
en-, wood colorcd homestead Of one story
and loft, surrounded by n fence al
most rs old as the house itself; but as
one passed through the gateway and up
the grass-grown walk into the smoke.
painted kitchen the poverty of the out
side surroundings was forgotten in con-
temptation Of the profusion inside.
At least this seemed to be the case
with the little old woman who hobblcd
| painfully up the path TO the half open
kitchen door. There she stopped irrcso-
lutcly, but the savory smell of cooking
was irresistible, and she pressed slowly
forward into the low doorway. The
| kitchen was fragrant with the odors of
| the Saturdays baking; from the stove
at the far end Of the long room came n
cheerful suffering and Kissing and over
| II women bent in impatient suspense.
| Her back was toward the door, and she
| did not notice the great hungry eyes
/ that were fastened ON the loavcs OF
/ bread and the pics and cakes and
cookies that loaded the pine table
| Such profusion made the wistful eyes
| glcam and the withcrcd form trcmblc
| with eagcrness. But she did not venture
| TO cross the threshold.
On the floor two children were play
ing. They had watched the woman's
approach with childish curiosity. The
youngest rose to his feet and toddlcd
toward her. After gazing at her few
moments with his big, wondering eyes
he held up the cookie he had been nib
bling She hcsitatcd, then took IL and
ate it greedily.
The boy laughed and went 10 ret an.
other, but at this moment Mrs. lIartcn
looked up Her face was flushed with
heat and vocation. She was ubout 10
speak sharply To the children when she
caught sight of the bent figure in the
doorway, and her wrath was turned.
OF all things she hated bcggars the
most. During the summer months
many OF them driftcd up from tho
ncighboring sc aports and proved con
slant source of loss and vcXati,n to the
fishermen and farmers, Mrs. Barton
had suffered with the rest. and MS She
turned from the stove her lips were
drawn sharply over her strong white
teeth. She did not see the wistful eyes
and patient smile. What she saw was
n covering beggar, with some outland,
ish kind Of head covering and ragged
shawl closely drawn about the slight
form,
"wcll2" she said, in sharp, inter,
rogative tone.
The old woman shivcrcd as though
something had struck her, but her face
remained perfectly blank.
IA furriner!"
Mrs. Barten sprang forward and
drew the children from SO dangerous q
presence. To her n foreigner seemed
all that was dangerous and dcpraved
A sudden sputter recalled her TO the
stove, and by the time she was again a
leisure trace OF her natural kindly
disposition had come TO the surface
Taking generous handful OF cookies
and one Of the loaves Of bread, she re
turned to the door But the old woman
had already passed the riclsety gate nnC
was hobbling slowly down the street.
Mrs. Barten looked after her regret
fully.
81 wish I'd a-give her suthin'," sh'
muttered, as she replaced the food OF
the table. but lands sake alive" she
continued, briskly, after a moment
thought, why sh'd feel sorry? Like
as not the old tramp was jest spyinl
round arter suthin' 10 steal Most like
ly she'll have a dozen snacks gin he
before night. Here you, Rob n
Liza, come back TO the house this min
ute, and don't you dare 20 trApezin' on
ag'inl" And with mind at rest an
conscience satisfied, Mrs. Barten re
turned TO her compounds of fragran
odors.
Slowly tho afternoon wore away tn
pies and cakes and cookies disappeare
from the table and were replaced Q
pans Of crisp doughnuts and heav
spherical loaves Of brown bread. wit
raised lines encircling themi with pla
ters Of Juicy meats, Drowned 70 u
| - HanEe