The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-01-10

was not actively dwelling on the subject,
a consciousness that something unpleas-
ant had happened. At last he could stay
in bed no longer. He got UP and, as on
the previous afternoon, went in to have
tea with Mr.. Peters. He was anxious to
see his cup once more.
"Hullo," said Mr.. Peters, who was
again disturbed at the fag-end Of his
post-meridian nap: why, what have you
been dom all the mornin'? It's my
cleanin up day and I've been attendin'
to my furnitur'. HoW's yourself? You're
looking pea KY
Il don't feel partickler hearty" said
Dimick, accepting as before the unoccu-
pied chair to which Mr.. Peters pointed;
Il haven't slep."
Dear, that's a bother. Was it the
cough? You must be careful, yer know
Dimick. If you gets bad this winter
they'll be sendin' you off to the Worl1us
infirmary as sure as my names Nathaniel
Peters"
1T weren't the cough"
What then? WOrritin'? You'll never
grow fat if you worrit, Dimick. and If
you get so thin as that come to you'll
have bed sores when you're i'll. 1 sup
pose worritin'S like measles-SOme's
liable and some amt. What is it now?"
'Nothink pertikler,' said Mr.. Dimick
feebly
There is he said.
''NO, there amt"
well look a bit perlzier then. Bless
my soul, who ought TO be happy If we
didn't with all our cares behind us, so
70 speak, except a matter of stiff joints?
i bhat amt worth considerin'. Now, let's
nave a cup of tea"
Mr.. Dimick held his cup closely in his
Two hands, partly because the heat Of
tue steam warmed them, but chiefly be
cause the contact with the cup itself
cheered him. 1t was like the touch of
a loved being, and diffused comfort
through his system. For the time the
present from Margate" was his own
again, and he was almost happy. Peters
noted the expression of his face He
was a shrewd fellow Perhaps he had
some suspicion that Dimick had been
making a sacrifice beyond his feeble
strength. But he said nothing.
The TWO Old men talked little. Dimick
was somewhat deafer than usual, owing
10 his general WEAKNESS. and he was
also not particularly lively compan-
Ion. But he sat on quite a long time.
The cup was to him what a strayed
sheep is to a loving shepherd; for it,
1t was worth leaving all the others
which We're safe. When at length he
did retire it was with a backward. low
ing glance at the piece of china which
was not lost upon Peters.
There amt no doubt" said the lat
ter TO himself. that Dimick is a-drawin'
back. He don't want to part with that
cup. He's a-wOrritin' about it. But if
he want il let him speak up and say it.
/ don't count hints as nothink Besides.
] didn't ought TO encourage him in COW
etousness, and he've got all them other
bits"
That night, as on the previous one
poor Mr.. Dimick slept but little. When
he awoke from an uneasy slumber the
NaFu
il was as light as day The gap on his
shelf was painfully apparent to him.
He lay and watched it for some time.
Presently he sat up in bed, fired with
sudden resolve.
81 don't think I'D mind it the same
in the daytime he said. but at night
il do seem to wOrrit me. It's use, I
dare say, but when you come to my
age use is second natur'. Tomorrow
IN do 'em different. But tonight 1 feel
l must have it. Peters sleeps deep. If
1 creep in quiet 1 can soon feel it and
bring it in, and l can put il back in the
mCrnin'."
He got out of bed. put on his old coat,
and slipped his feet into his CARPETS"
Then he stole 10 the door, opened it, and
stood in the dark passage. tt was only
a step from his door to that Of Peters
His hands We're trembling so that he
could scarcely turn the handle. and he
was. above all things, anxious to avoid
making a noise. He did not want to
alarm or disturb his friend.
Deaf as he was. he could hear Mr..
Peters's loud and prolonged snores. They
comfOrted him as = voucher for the
soundness of that gentleman's slumber.
He crept Stealthily along the floor. He
knew every inch Of that room as we'll
as he knew his own, and he was aware
that Mr.. Peters kept his crockery in
the little cupboard near the window, the
af,rt, oil
fore very long his fingers We're carefully
feeling along the shelf. They wandered
first into the sugar BASIN he knew that
by the feel Of the sugar He removed
them, and presently they touched the
twisted handle of the Present from
AIargate." A thrill passed through him
IA thrill of joy and triumph He would
know that handle among a thousand,
even in the darkness He felt along the
cup; it was standing in the saucer. He
took the parts up very carefully, one in
either hand 10 prevent their rafting
against each other.
Now he had got them, a sudden eager
ness TO be gone possessed him. He went
almost hurriedly across the room, max
ing for the door, dragging his slippered
feet along with less caution, and conse-
Ouently with more noise than before
Whether his footsteps were audible to
Peters. or whetehr the latter was mere
~ awakened by a bad dream, is not GER
tain. but whatever the cause he sud-
denly sprang up in bed with an oath.
II broke with startling force upon the
silence and gave DimiCk such a fright
that he jumped nearly out Of his skin,
cup and saucer fell from his loosened
grasp with clatter, and in a minute
he was lying on the floor i'm a heap,
cropping for them and crying like child.
If Mr.. Peters had been asleep before,
ne was now effectually awakened. He
struck light and looked about him.
Then he deliberately got out OF bed,
walked up to the intruder and shook
him. as one would shake a naughty
child with whom one was more grieved
than angry.
80 that's it," he said; you're sleep
walking after that bit of chimney. Take
ii along with you and don't be fool.
Why. you're all of a shiver. You'll take
a chill and be sent TO the infirmary,
TO attend to yer if you git me out Of
bed and keeps me in the cold, all in dis
habily as the furreners say. There
don't go blubbering" The shaking had
changed to a gentle patting the
shoulder. You amt in your second
childhood yet awhile Leastways
thought you weren't, but L aren't so
sure any longer"
Il felt that longin' for it." said Mr..
Dimick. pitifully. But 1 didn't mean
to keep it,"
you're welcome" said Mr.. Peters.
He picked up the pieces of china; the
saucer was cracked, but the cup was
uninjured. He then placed them in Mr.
Dimick Stands and then led him to the
door, and closed ii upon him.