The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-01-10

Timothy Trappe, her hege lord and
husband, had just come in from Tod
dering his cattle-a little, brown-vis-
aged man, with his mouth curiously
twisted TO one side, hoary stubble OF
unshorn beard sprouting out upon his
chin. and little gray eyes sparkling
from under grizzled brows, as-cold and
hard as pools of frozen water
'Snowing?" he repeated. sharply.
81 should think 50! Can't see three
inches afore ones nose. Piled up
every where in drifts And cold as
Nova ZeInbl
He shook the Snow from bis Shout
ders us he spoke, and settled down
into a cushioned essy-chsir where the
freight seemed a. once TO enfold him
as with mantle-of warmth ana bright
ness.
Oh. dearFs says Mrs Trappe,i
dolorously.
Whats the matter ,now?" acidly de-
nanded her better half. Amt there
wood enough fetched? Hasn't the root
been rew-shin lied? And amt ,osssnug
enough?"
Yes" said Mrs Trappe. ut amt.
that, Timothy. l was wondering if
poor Bessy had wood enough to warm
her this cold night"
Timothy's lignum-vite face contract
ed with a sort OF involuntary spasm,
but he recovered himself with a :erk.
Always a-grumblin' about some
thing" said he. 81 never yet see q
&c 1x-.o
Eyes, bat if Bessy-"
''Bessy's all right" said Timothy,
magisterially. ''And if she wasn't, it
'u'd De her own fault, a-runain' OFF
with that there singin'-teGcher. Them
as makes their bed must expect to lie
on it. But that's all past, and there is
no call for you TO grunlble now. I've
writ to her to come home, haint /?
I've sent money TO pay her way; and
I can't do no moro than that, can 1?''
Mrs. Trappe, who was lady OF con-
stitutionally low spirits, shifted faint
negative.
"Then why can't You hold your
tongue?'' demanded Mr.. Trappe.
Fetch pitcher of cider and some o
them doughnuts. and let's be comfort
able"
But Mr.. Trappe had hardly bitten a
piece out of the first crisp and fragrant
doughnut before there came a faint
knock at the door.
THERE said Mr. Trappe. "Who's
that? 1t amt night for nobody to be
ont in"
Grumbling under his breath, he
crossed the narrow entry and la boriouS-
" unbclted the front door, with diff
Guilty opening it few inches against
the drift of snow already piled up In its
angle.
"Well!" said Mr.. Trappe. surlily.
Hello, l say! Who's there2"
At first, he could perceive nothing
but the white, binding wilderness Of
snow which filed the stormy night air.
but as his eyes became accustomed to
the darkness he saw chi1d's figure,
wrapped in q, coarse shawl, with hair
blowing over It's eyes.
III YOU please, SIR began the little
creature, whose eyes were about on
level & with the lower waist-button
of Timothy's pepper-and-saat-colored
waistcoat.
Nor said Timothy, brusGuely. 1--WE
hain't nothin' for beggarsl"
But, please, sir, my mother"
"Oh." snarled Timothy, screving Up
his eyes to gain further outlook into
the darkness. Your mother Is there,
too, is she? Then it's a clear case o
tramps! P'r'aps you father is there and
your uncle and few N ore of the fam
lily. No, say"
But If you would tell me- sir" far
tered the child, instinctively retreating
before the harsh sound of Timothy
Trappe's unmelodious voice.
Il won't tell you nothin'," re torted
Timothy, irately. Clear out, this in
slant. or I'll set the dogs on ye"
And, without waiting for a reply. he
closed the door again. sliding the bolts
into their rusty sockets with grunt OF
satisfaction
''No you don'tr' said Timothy to
himself. Il never yet have harbored
any of them traupS, and / never mean
to-"
He came back to the room where the
lamp beamed cheerful welcome, and
the black log was just breaking into
fresh bl axe, and reseated himself, with
the air OF one who has done a laudable
thing.
WHO was it?' said Mrs Trappe.;
querulously.
"a beggar."
"Man or voman?~
Mary one nor I other" answered
her husband. sententiously. 1t were
little girl.
NV patieucer' said Mrs. Trappe,
Strengthening herself up And you've
sent little girl away in all this storm?'
''Of cour Sc I have" snarled Timothy.
"Seut her awayp Why shouldn't l?
This amt free tavern for every beg
gar, is it?"
Timothy" said his wife. reused into
actual animation at last Il do believe
when the LORD made you He put
lump OF granite into the place where
your heart ought TO ha' been! My,
ANYBODY might freeze 70 death. such >
night as this.'
well let EN-" said Timothy, philo-
sophically. at amt no business Of
mine"
Mrs Trappe rose NJ and, walking
ENTHUSIASTICALLY across the 6oOr. fiat
tened her nose against the window
UaaeS
If l didn't think she'd got ont o.
hearing. Ia call her back said she
a BED Of hay IN the barn would %
better than no shelter AZ al, and there's