The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-09-23

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his eyes, and wiped the cold sweat of
mortal illness from his face. All.
specious human nature! Sophistries
that keep it from the debasement of
overrighteousness! It WINS of one
precious sin-sick soul he was thinking,
and that he hoped to reach through
this zeal for the brotherhood.
Poor SCARED Emma! She had given
her infuence-and have shown that.it
was great-she had gwen her saloon,
which was also her throne, and now
she was shut up in a miserable, tawdry
room, partitioned off from the rest,
dressed in her Sunday fnery, waiting
until all the gang had assembled, when
she would walk in boldly and take her
seat with the rest Well she knew that
no woman would be there. No other
woman would sit under the same roof
with her, and then she looked down on
her diamond bedecked hands. II can
buy and sell them all. am no mans
slave and my word is law. but" And
then a whole food Of tears came. But
soon she dashed them away and dried
her eyes. Another touch of rouge to
repair the ravage, and she was ready
ito 90 to church." as she phrased it to
herself. A determined, aggressive fig
ure, dressed in a smart black satin,
wearing bow of pink ribbon at the
throat. It seemed as if the incongruity
of her attire struck her at the last
moment, for on the threshold OF her
room she stopped, went back. and
threw lace shawl around her shout
ders Then she made her way to the
front room, just as the noise of clatter-
ing boots and grating chairs was
hushed, and the minister bowed his
head in prayer.
A dozen men made room for her.
Their faces frightened as she entered.
but she did not look at one OF them.
Like one walking in sleep she moved.
and never took her eyes from the thin,
meager form of the man who stood in
the impromptu pulpit, pouring out his
soul in prayer.
1t was not until the petition was
ended. and the oppressed listeners had
relaxed with a sigh, that she sat down
among the men, where she could see
without being seen.
The minister then chose q hymn and
lined it out:
Il heard the voice of Jesus say"
He was interrupted by Deputy ELL.
ave can't sing that. pard-1 mean
parson. Give us some thing we know. !"
They compromised on "A land that
is fairer than day." The parson heard
the sweet treble of a woman's voice,
and wondered much whence it came.
He looked troubled. and the cough that
shook him with its paroxysm brought
out bottles and glasses, but he put
aside all offers with shaking hand.
'Hearken to me, my friends" he be
gan, solemnly, land know that yeu are
listening to dying man."
He had not time to announce the
text, the words of life were lowering
upon his lips, when there rang through
the room a woman's frenzied cry:
''Oh! Jimmy, Jimmy"
s'Who spoke, who called me?" asked
the parson, with white lips, clinging to
the table before him.
''Oh. Jimmy, you're too late-snd
you're killing yourself, and it's for me,
and I'm not worth it-l'm-not-worth-
itr'
She was making her way to him now,
ard as his eyes lit up his death-pale
features he prayed:
"At last" he muir INJURED. "at last,
and now I'm willing to die! Lord, l.
thank-Thee."
His head fell forward. A dozen stall
wart men jumped to his side, but when
he was laid on the nearest bench 1t
was Scared Emma" who held his dy-
ing head on her arm, and 1t was into
her face he locke when he opened his
eyes for . brief coming back to life.
Don't cry" he said, tenderly. don't
cry, Molly-at least not for me-out
promise me-quick, I'm going soon
promise me to quit this place-now-
forever"
.'Oh, Jimmy, I can't You've seen
them all-tell me, Jimmie. are they
welI-do they ever speak Of meT'
observation-disclosures and safe
over there. The dear old mother and
the little sister. And / promised them
I'd bring-you aud-now I'm going
without you."
Don't go. Jimmy. I'll do anything
If You'll only live. I'll change M
WAYS. and do jus. as you bid NE, even
to turning my back on friends that
have been good to ne. But Oh. Jimmy,
I'm not worth dying forts too late
for that
Not 20 meet the dear mother and
little sister. I tell you it is not too
late. Oh. cannot die in peace If you
do not promise. You hare no right to
lose your soul, chI6-it ;s not yours to
do with as you please, but is bought
with price. Take these Of" look
ing with wide strange eyes At the gens
on her hands
she obeyed him In moment she
had stripped every ring from her fingers
ard then he gathered the two poor
SCARED hands IN his cold ones, and held
them 10 his pale lips
''Saved." he riurmured. then he
smiled as II in answer TO something be
saw. and a moment Later he fell asleep.
and the woman kneeiing By his side
reverentiy closed his eyes. sob5ing. bat
no. as one without hope
Less than a year ago. and to-day thu
quiet, respectable woman who Is post
mistress IN one OF our snail western
towns has the good viii Ct every
citizen They can see nothing IN com