Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1892-07-14

here by the name OF Kershaw?~ began
the tall tramp standing beside the two
boys
Both remained sitting on the grass
One shook his head The other said:
NO
The tramp was silent for a moment
Then it occurred to him that his mother
had taken his stepfather's name and
his sister might be married Therefore
he asked:
ssHow about a family named Coates?f'
"None here.'' replied one of the boys
But the other said: s<Coates? That's
the name Of Tommy Hackett's grand
mother. Don't you know, Dick-old
Mrs Coates"
The tramp drew and expelled
quick, audible breath
Then he said. ''this Mrs. Coates
must be the mother of Tommy's moth
er. Do you know what Tommys moth
er's first name is?''
81 heard Nom call her Alice once"
The tramp's eyes glistened-
"And Mr.. Coates?' he inquired
''Oh, never heard of him. I guess
he died long ago"
''And Tommy Hackett's father, who's
hep"
Hes the boss down at the freight
station. Agent, l think they call him.
''Where does this Mrs Coates live?"
''She lives with the Hacketts- Would
you like to see the house? Me and Dick
| has to go past it on the way home. Well
| show you"
Eyes, I would like to see the house."
The boys arose, one of them rather
sleepily. They led the way across the
L ,rsc 10f han 1lO a
| sparsely built-up street, and around a
corner into more populous but quiet
highway. At the corner was a grocery
and dry-goods store; beyond that were
neat and airy two-story houses, fronted
| by yards closed in by iron fences One
of these houses had little piazza, on
| which sat two children From the
| half open door and from two windows
came light
That's Haclzett's house." said one of
the boys.
Thanks, very much" replied the
| tramp, continuing to walk with them
The boys looked surprised at his not
stopping at the house, but they said
nothing.
At the next corner the tramp spoke
up: Il think III go back now. Good
| night, youngsters
The boys trudged on, and the tramp
retraced his steps. When he reached
the Hacketts' house he paused at the
gate. The children, boy of eight and
a girl of six, looked at him curiously
from the piazza
''Are you Mr.. Hackett's little boy and
girl" he asked.
The girl stepped back to the hall
door and stood there. The boy looked
up at the tramp, and answered: eyes,
sir"
lis your mother imp"
mo, she's across the street at Mrs.
Johnsons."
'She1l be back soon," added the girl.
Grandmother's in. though" contin-
ued the boy. Would you like to see
her?"
No, no! Don't call her. 1 just
WANTED to see your mother
do you know mammal" inquired
the girl.
''We1l-noi knew her brother, your
uncle"
I'VE haven't any uncle-except Uncle
George, and he's papa's brother said
the boy.
What! not an Uncle IL Uncle
VIII Kershaw?"
oh! yes assented the boy. did
you know him before he died? That
| was long time ago.
The tramp made no other outward
manifestation of his surprise than to
be silent and motionless for. time.
Presently he said in trembling voice:
''Yes, before he died. Do you remera-
Der when he died?'
''Oh, no. That was when mamma
was girl. She and grandmother often
talk about it, though. Uncle VIII
started west, you know, when he was
fifteen yeass old. He was standing on
bridge out near Pittsburgh one Gay
and he saw a little girl fall into the
river. He jumped in to save her. but
he was drowned, cause his head hit a
stone and that stunned him They
didn't know it was Uncle VIII or who
it was, at first, but mamma read about
it in the papeia and Grandpa Coates
went out to see il it wasn't Uncle Will.
Grandpa Identified him and they
brought him back here. but, what dc
you think, the doctor wouldn't allow
them to open his coffin, and so grand
ma and mamma couldn't see him He's
buried up in the graveyard, next Grand
pa kershaw, and there's little monu.
ment there that tells all about how he
died tryin' TO save a little girl from
drownin'. / can read it, but Mamie can't
She's Fay little sister there"
The tramp had seated himself on the
piazza step. He was looking vacantly
before him. He remained so until the
boy, frightened at his silence, moved
further from him toward the door.
Then the tramp arose suddenly.
WELL he said, husiily, II won't
wait to see your mamma You needn',
tell her about me bein' here. But, say
could 1 Just get look ATT your
grandma without her knowing any.
thing about it?7
The boy took his sisters hand and
withdrew into the doorway. Then he
said: why, of course You can see
her through the window
The tramp stood against TIE edge
of the piazza upon his toes, and craned
his neck to see through one of the
lighted windows So he remained
for several seconds Once during that
time he closed his eyes. and the mus
cles Of his face contracted. Then he
opened his eyes again. They were