The Red Cloud chief., 1892-11-11

"What shall I tell him?" asked she. |
"Tell him to go about his business"
returned the doctor. cncrgetically stir
ring the fire until a red stream Of
sparks flew up the chimney.
Mrs. Fengrove closed the door, and
went back to the kitchen porch.
Milo" said she, my husband will
have nothing to say 70 you"
II don't blame him much" dejectedly |
responded Milo York, who was. in
deed, an unpromising-looking subject
enough, with his unkempt hair hang
ing over his brow, his garments In
rags and the end of his nose chilled
and purpled with the bitter night air.
but it's u dreadful night" softly
added Mrs. Fengrove. "Wait mi here
the porch will shelter you from the
rain. The coffee-pot is on the stove
yet, and I'll bringy a plate of bread
and old meat and % bowl Of coffee"
"Thankee. ma'am," said the tramp,
gathering himself like IA heap Of Tags
into the corner, TO wait.
He drank his coffee and ate his sup
per like n famisbed hound, and then
Mrs. Fengrov- gave him n tattered old
shawl, long since cast aside by her hus-
band.
Take this" she said. "and lie down
In the barn loft; there's plenty Of good,
sweet hay there. But be sure you're
off before the doctor comes out in the
morning"
"Thankee, ma'am," again uttered
the man; and he disappeared like q
shadow into the bowling tempest.
where have you been all this
time ?" suspiciously queried the doctor,
as his wife came into the softly Hum
mated arch of the Chinese screen
again. Mrs. Fengrovc turned scarlet
under his penetrating glance.
IL only gave Milo u ~little-some-
thing 10 eat and drink" she faltered.
"You know the Good Book says; Turn
not away thy face from any poor
manl'"
YES" dryly coughed the doctor,
"but l guess the Good Book don't make
my allowance for tramps. And I tell
you what, Dolly. it isn't safe to harbor
these miserable wretches, with Aunt
D%orothy's silver tea-set in the house,
let alone your own spoons and forks,
especially as l am obliged to be SO
much from home."" -
Mrs. Fengrove sewed on In 81.
lence; she was almost sorry she had
told poor Milo York about that
snug orner in the hayloft, but she
lacked courage to confess the whole
truth to her husband.
at will be all right, I dare say" she
told herself "But Milo York mustn't
come hanging around here any more"
In the dead of the tempestuous night,
there came n ring ut the doctors night-
bell. Old Mr.. Castleton was very ILL
dying, perhaps! The doctor was wont.
ed at once!
With n yawn, our good Esculapius
rose out Of his warm bed, dressed him.
self and, saddling old Roam, set for his
midnight ride Of six long miles. But
when he reached Castleton court, all
was still and dark. He rang two or
three times before n night-capped head
popped out of the window-that Of the
old squire hi uself.
"Dear. dear!'' said Squire Castleton.
"What's the matter? Nobody i'll, l
hope"
"Why, you are, aren't you?" testify
demanded DR.. Fengrove.
81? Not q bit of i'll" said the squire,
In surprise.
Didn't you send for me?"
mo, l didn't!' said the squire. "And
II you've got anything more to say,
you'd better come in out Of this sleet-
storm and say it."
"No," said DIR. Fengrove, setting his
teeth together, "Ill not come in, thank
you"
ut amt o joke, is it?" questioned
Squire Castleton.
"I'm afraid it g something more seri.
Gus than a joke" said DIR. Fengrove.
"Good night"
And, turning old Roan's head, he set
spurs to him and trotted rapidly away.
Evidently, the night call wns a con-
certed plan-a plan devised % leave his
home unprotected and h, mind
turned, with keen distrus., to Milo
York and his tale Of distress.
God keep Dolly and the little one
safe until l get home again!" he NUT
tered between his closed lips. Easter,
Roam, faster!" with a touch Of the
whip. which was scarcely needed, SO
thoroughly did the good horse enter In
to the spirit of his rider. you know
not how much mny depend upon your
speed tonight"
Meanwh lille, Mrs. Fengrove, who had
Just fallen into a restless slumber, after
locking the door behind her husband,
was unwontedly startled nee again
by n low, steadily continuous sound
like the rasping of some hard instru.
ment. She sat up in bed and listened
q minute. Under her window the
sound Of mufled and subdued voices
was audible, even above the rattle
and roar Of the wintry storm.
"Burglars!" she gasped TO herself.
Sand my husband is gone-and--Oh,
Milo York Is at the bottom OF this!
How wrong 1t vas Of me to give him
shelter in the barnr
S~pringing to her feet, she threw on a
blue flannel dressing gown, and hurried
to the cupboard, where her few simple
treasures were bept, besides the square,