Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1894-06-16

poor lltlle SlCk Sut, un TcIfIelilUeTeu
what we had come thar for. Jest
leaked at that Teller settin' thar an I
imagined he was me, an felt like
bloody wolf ready to spring down on
u pore leetle helpless lamb
Them was Jest my feclin's, Joe"
jim replied. Somehow the way
that leetle gal pleaded with that
scamp teched my heart awful deep,
an her talk bout her old home took
me right back to my boyhood days,
when | was as young an innocent as
her. could jest see my old home
with its shady, bluegrass pasture,
an its red clover meaders, an the lit
tie branches of clear water, an all
that. But, palmer than all, Joe, I
could see an old couple settin' on the
long porch in the shade of the big To-
Gust trees, one of 'em gray. haired
man, and the other gray-haired
woman, but both of 'em as kind an
lovin as father an mother could
be. An, Joe, when I see my old
mothers face, jest as 1t used to look
an remembered what 1 came here
for, 'peared like I jest wanted to sink
right slap down into the ground an
never see daylight ag'in. I had a
good mother, II thar ever was one,
an she never dreamed that I'd ever
come. to be a thief"
Joe was silent save for the sound
that was like long, low sigh. He
drew his hand across his eyes and
turned his head away, and for almost
minute stood perfectly still. FL
na!ly he said:
Jim, I've got a long way from my
home an its early teachin's, but /
amt got away from my mother. Now
I'm gon' to lead n different life. We
amt stole nothing yet, an u amt
too late to turn back. I'm goin' to be
an honest man, an that little gal has
saved me. God bless her!"
A moment later they entered the
cabin and asked permission to remain
till morning.
"Iou see," Jim said to the set.
tier, 1.-THE robber might come back,
an II he does you'll need somebody
to protect YOU"
Eyes" the settler replied, IAN
I'm glad to have two honest men like
you In the house."
Jim and Joe exchanged n sheepisll
glance, but ventured to make no re.
ply.
At an early hour the next morning
the settler harnessed his team and
prepared to begin the long eastward
journey. Jim and Joe helped him to
arrange a bed in the wagon, and when
all was ready Jim brought the little
girl in his arms and placed her on It,
He handled her almost as tenderly as
n mother would, and after laying her
down saw that she was perfectly com
Portable. Then he stood for a mo-
ment, hcsitating and undecided, cast.
ing yearning looks ut the child's face
Finally he said. little pleadingly:
"Sissy, II you don't mind it too
much l wish you would kiss me jest
once"
II don't mind 1t ut all," the chile
said" putting up her arms and lips
"'cause I like you. You save d th'
money for us SO We can go home, an
you're honest an good too, ain
your"
Jim flushed scarlet, and for an in
slant cast his eyes down. But di
rectly he looked boldly up, and will
his eyes on the girls face, replied
"Yes, sissy, l an, an honest man
thanks to you, an III always be one
too"
Joe stepped forward, and withou
word stopped for kiss. Their
were tears in his eyes when he raise,
his head and, turning about, walke
back and stood leaning against tn
cabin door.
A few minutes later the wagol
rolled away across the broad, leve
prairie. From the rear OF the wagon
where there was a small opening II
the cover, a childish face, thin an
sharp, peered out ut the lionel
mound, the old cabin and the tw
men who stood there with their eye
to the east. After n while tn
face faded away In the distance; an
then II little white handkerchief fiut
tered in the soft, balmy breeze Of tn
beautiful autumn morning. At las
that, too, passed out OF view, an
only the old wagon, like speck o.
the horizon, could be seen.
With u sigh Jim turned to his com
panion.
joe" he said, ~ thank Go
that she never knew what we com
here for"
me, too" Joe agreed. "Bu
she's saved us, Jim"
/" Yes, she's saved us. "-lLeslie'
Weekly.