The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-10-07
RECONCILIATION.
Why the Old Line Fence Was
Torn Down.

Torn Down.
1t was close, sultry summer after.
noon, with scarce breath Of air Stir
ring, while the sun poured his scorching
rays from cloudless sky. All about
! the old Burton farmhouse deathlike
! stiffness reigned. There were no sounds
OF voices from within, no creaking foot
steps on the uncarpeted floors; while,
\ without. even the songs of the birds
were hushed. The dingy, forlorn-looll-
weather-stained exterior, its low doors
and its small windows, was even more
! desolate and forsaken in appearance
! than was its wont, and at first glance
one would have thought it completely
, deserted. But closer observation
! proved that such was not the case.
| Isaac Burton, old and gray, and bent
under the cares and burdens of years
of trial and toll. sat on the doorstep of
| the house with his face buried in his
! hands, now and then casting a furtive
glance through the open door in the di-
rection of a bed in corner of the room.
While he sat there the sun crawled
| down the western Sky, casting its
shadow obliquely through the open
door, yet he seemed unmindful of the
fact that time was passing Rising
from the steps, finally. he stood an in
slant listening to the slow, regular
breathing that came from the bed, then
walked out across the neglected yard.
muttering, half audibly:
''She sleeps well, but don't like the
'pearance of her face"
Reaching the crooked rail fence that
separated the yard from: the public
highway. old Isaac stopped and for a
little while stood looking down the
hard, white road that ran through the
long, straight lane to the east. The
road was deserted. not living object
being visible on all the two miles of it
that lay within his view.
"She ort to have the DOCTOR" he NUT
tered, 'yit don't like to leave her to
go and fetch him. She looks monty
quare bout the face an eyes, an I'm
afeerd she's bad tuck" Then, after a
short silence: 'If only somebody was
passin' this way, SOS could send word
to the mill an git the doctor"
Then Isaac cast look in the direc-
ton of the ridge. fourth of mile to
the west, where a small log house,
similar to his own, stood, and some
thing like a sigh escaped him. Shak-
ing his head sadly, he turned away.
''Neighbors d be powerful helpin'
an comfortin' just now" he unused,
IAN I'd give heap if we had some. 1
never got lonesome when Indy was
up an about. but now she's down l
feel like half the world is gone, an it
pears like hope fer somebody to keep
me company. Them people," nodding
toward the house on the opposite
ridge, ''ain't no neighbors, an no
matter what comes l can't go to them
for nothin'."
For some time old Isaac walked to
and fro in the little path leading from
the gate TO the door, then again he
went and leaned over the fence to look
down the road. Instantly his face
frightened and a gladclight came into
his eyes, for away down the lane he
saw IA man approaching. Nearly
quarter Of an hour passed before the
latter came up, but Isaac waited for
him and accosted him at once:
Sam. ! never was so glad to see any
body rs | am to see you. Are you goin'
over to the mill?"
Yes" Sam replied. after eying old
Isaac inquiringly for almost minute.
What has happened. Ike?"
"Lindy is bad sick, SAM" Ike said, in
r low tone, AN ali night an all day
I've been stay.n' with her alone /
kuowed. too, that she or. to have the
doctor, but was afeerd to leave her.
an there want nobody to send. You
kin tell him to come when you git to
the mill"
Yes. I'll tell him. Ike. an if there's
anything else kin do fer you III do it,
an be glad 60.
NO: that's all Tell him TO come as
quick rs he KIN. Sam
YES, will. But you ort to have
somebody to stay with you, Ike. Some
body TO help bout nussin' an 'tendin' on
Mis- Burton"
Il know that" Isaac replied. with
sigh and slow shaking of his head
I'd give a heap 10 have somebody
here, but can't git nobody now"
For a moment Sam was silent, casting
a glance first at Isaac. then at the
house on the ridge to the west Isaac
saw the action and understood.
NO. SAM he said. half sadly. half
vindictiveiy. 'I'll never go there for
favor. never
In ease like this things ought to
be different" Sam suggested. People
ought TO forgive and forget, Ike
'Mebbv so, Sam, nebby so; but they
wouldn't feel that way. All that's been
said an done in thirty years can't be
forgot in day"
1t was little while before Sam
spoke again He wished to proceed jus.
right in his kindly purpose-that Of
reconciling two long estranged families
and for q time he was at q loss how
to do IL Finally he said:
Ike. if Mis- Martin felt inclined to
come you wouldn't object, would you?''
Isaac shook his head
''She won't feel so inclined. Sam II
amt natural that she should
II don't know" Sam replied mis-