The midland journal., 1894-07-27
pity if the little one couldn't go, when
it's heart is so set on it, don't it?"

it's heart is so set on it, don't it?"
Eyes, it does"
IAN awful pity" Jim said, musingly.
"But," he added, 81 reckon it can't
be helped, because if we take the
money"
'Jim," Joe interrupted, "what's tho
use O taltxin' all over creation? Why
don't you come square out an say
you're opposed to taxin' the money!"
81 amt said was opposed to takin'
it, joe"
No; but if you got speck of heart
in you you are opposed to it"
Are you opposed to it, Joe?"
"Of course l am. I've been opposed
to it ever since see that little one an
heerd its weak voice a-beggin' that
onery rascal not to take all the money.
That sneakin' scamp looked so cussed
mean settin' there waitin' to ROY that
sick child that jest wanted to kick
him out O the country. l made up my
mind then an there that nobody wasn't
goin' to touch that money if could
help it"
Jim made no reply, but took Jce's
hand in his and gave it hearty pres
sure. They stood for some time in
silence, then Joe resumed in softened
tone:
Jim" he said, 81 never felt so
eussed onery in all my life as did
when 1 stood thar by that winder an
watched that sneakin' thief an that
poor leetle sick gal, an remembered
what we had come thar for. It's bad
enough to steal at best, but when it
comes to robbin' a sick child that amt
no mother, it's SO pizen, low-down mean
that old Satan hRmself 'ud be ashamed
of the feller that does it. I jest looked
ut that feller settin thar an l imagined
he was me, an 1 felt like bloody wolf
ready to spring down on pore leetle
helpless lamb"
''Them was jest my feelin's, Joe,"
Jim replied. 81 felt sneakip'er than a
suckin' dog. 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 little branches of
clear water, an all that But, palmer
than all, l could see an old couple
settin' on the long porch in the shade
Of the big locust trees, one of 'em q
gray-haired man and the other gray
haired woman, but both of 'em as kind
an lovin' as a father an mother could
be. An Joe, when I see my old
mothers face, jest as it used to look,
an remembered what come here for,
'peared like jest wanted to sink right
slap down into the ground an never
see daylight agin. 1 had good
mother, If thar ever was one, an she
never dreamed that I'd ever come to be
a thief"
Joe was silent save for 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. Finally he said;
"Jim, I've got long way from my
home an it's early teachin's, but I
amt got away from my mother. Now
Pm goin' to lead different life. We
amt stole nothin' yet. an it amt too
late to turn back. Pm goin' to be an
AlOACoO oil, du tiIdU 1lIt1S kdk ucd
saved me. God bless herp'
A moment later they entered the
cabin and asked permission to remain
till morning.
"You see," Jim said to the settler,
''the robber might come back, an if he
does you'll need somebody to protect
you"
YES" the settler replied, IAN I'm
glad to have two honest men like you
in the house."
Jim and Joe exchanged a sheepish
glance, but ventured no reply
At an early hour next morning the
settler harnessedhis team and prepared
to begin the long eastward journey.
Jim and Joe helped him to arrange q
bed in the wagon, and when all was
ready Jim brought out the little girl in
his arms and placed her on 1t. He ham
died her almost as tenderly as q mother
would, and after laying her down saw
that she was perfectly comfortable.
Then he stood for moment, hesitat-
ing and undecided. casting yearning
looks at the little child's face Finally
he said, little pleadingly:
''Sissy, if you don't mind 1t too much,
wish you would kiss me Jest once"
81 don't mind It at ALL" the child
said, putting up her arms and lips,
"cause l like you. You saved the
money for us SO we can go home, an
you're honest an good too, amt you?"
Jim flushed scarlet, and for an in
stant cast his eyes down. But directly
he looked boldly up, and with his eyes
on the girls face replied:
"Yes, Sissy, 1 am an honest man,
thanks to you, an I'll always be one,
too"
Joe stepped forward, and without
word stopped for kiss. There were
tears in his eyes when he raised his
head and, turning about, walked bacls
and stood leaning against the cabin
door.
A few minutes later the wagon rolled
away across the broad, level prairie.
From the rear of the wagon, where
there was a small opening in the cover,
a childish face, thin and sharp, peered
out at the lonely mound, the old cabin,
and the two men who stood there with
their eyes to the east After awhile
the face faded away in the distance;
and then little white handkerchief
tluttered in the soft, balmy breeze of
the beautiful autumn morning. At
last that, too, passed out of view, and
only the old wagon, like speck on the
horizon, could be seen.
With sigh Joe turned to his COM
panion.