Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1894-07-19

then she again stopped and said with
some authority: Grandma, you're
making people look at you. TIL ey
don't think you're acting nice at all.
You must get right up, and come
home"
But the light hand was shaken off,
and the querulous voice said: II shan't
go" to the delight of the children.
Again the young woman looked ep and
dowP as if despairingly searching for
aid.
Young Orwell stepped forward. just
as her eye fell upon him, lifted his hat,
and asked: "Can be of any assist
ance?'
sob, if you'll only be so kind as to
get grandma up, and started homer
she answered.
81 shall be glad to do anything in
my power" was his earnest answer, ''if
you will advise me how to proceed"
81 think you will have to firmly in
sist that she shall go home with me
have exhausted persuasion"
The young man stepped closely be-
hind the woman on the pavement, who
rolled a ball of mud in her palms with
childish glee. He spoke calmly, call
ing her Grandma and said, as he
put his hands under her arms, and
lifted her to her feet: You must go
home, now, and not keep your grand
| daughter waiting any longer"
The old lady turned to look into his
| face, as a child might have done, and
rather took the young lawyer aback
with the query: When did you come,
papa?" A voice at his side said:
''Humor her, please; you see she is in
her second childhood, and she always
calls me mamma"
| So he replied: 1--WE just come to take
you home," and he drew the thin old
arm in his. She Immediately forgot
the children, and mud-pies, and with
an affectionate look into his face sub
mitted to the shawl, and then said to
her granddaughter, who, with look
of relief, took the other arm,-"Come,
mamma; papa's come, do you hear?
Well all go home together"
The young face flashed a glance half
merry, half sad at the tall form on the
other side, though she said quietly:
| Grandma has been like this for nearly
two years, and 1 often feel that don't
know which to do, laugh or cry. This
morning she escaped our watchful-
ness, and as some one had left the front
Yes,'' she continued, as the old. sweet
she was talking about, 1T was very
naughty of you, grandma, to run
away"
Papa don't think so,'' was the unex-
pected response, as the face turned
with confiding sweetness to young Or
veil. Orwell flushed little, but he
returned quietly, though hardly know
ing what to say: mo, you couldn't
help it, could you?"
The young lady limited that their es-
cort might be relieved, but it was sc
evident that her grandmother
strength was nearly gone that she die
not insist. AS they came to the door
the old lady sank exhausted on the
bottom step.
eff you'll wait just moment, please
while call Maggie to help me'-anc
the girl ran up the steps and into the
house. But without hesitation or {
word young Orwell took the grand
mother carefully in his arms and fol
lowed.
She turned her head at the sitting
room door and saw him coming. Sh'
paused and looked at him, at first il
wonder, and then thought seemed t.
fit across her face, suffusing it with
sweet glow, which nevertheless left
CLINT of tears in her eyes as she said
when he laid his burden on the sofa
You are very kind. cannot fine
words to thank you, Mr."
''Orvell," supplied the young man
bowling and presenting his card
But" she continued, II shall ask m,
, father, Rev. Mr.. Carroll, to do it TO
, grandmother and me-"
! Then with a dignified franknes
that was charming she held out he
, hand, bidding him good day." and tn
, young lawyer in a dazed way wake
, back to his Office with the feeling tina
! something very unusual and yer
pleasant had happened to him.
All day, busy at his desk with pa
, pers, clients, study and stir, one pic
: ture held steadily before the mind G
. Herbert Orwell; it was that of a sweet
, unselfish face, all the sweeter for it
care and solicitude for a helples.
childish old woman.
;, Rev. Mr.. Carroll had called upon tn
lawyer in his Office, and had thanke
him for his service, as cordially as Oh
= one gentleman may thank another
: He had also invited him to call upo
>, | LnSI, WHICH tnc young Hldn hdO HI
been slow in doing. He called nc
= once, but many times, and both Mabe
Carroll and her father had grown
consider him a fast friend.
He had been raised in a good HON
y by a careful, Christian mother, an
- knew how to appreciate the minister
genial manners, his ready and INTEL
2 gent conversation on every topic {
the day, his hearty, whole-souled Ell
> thusiasm in every good work. as we
Z as his daughters happy companion
" ship and cheerful unselfshness.
Mabel had other friends, youn
women as well as men, and som
merry evenings he had spent in the
l. company. But he noticed that Nab,
e was unusually confined for so young
o woman. that she rarely spent an ever
ing abroad and was not even able
/, be punctual in her place at church.
n Mabel is the very apple of gran'
e mas eye" said her father to Mr.. Orve
h one day, land as long as the old lad
A lives we shall have to keep Mabel ;
d home. Strange, isn't it, she shout
> have conceived of such a queer fame
V 20 coll bor h,,f ho did I'll.