Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1897-08-26
AN AWAKENING.
Seea@aeeeeeeeeeeeaeeeeeG
IN VAS two nous past midnight and

to give place to an icy rain. The streets
were deserted by all save the guardians
of the peace, and even they sought shell
ter wherever they could, secure in the
belief that on such night they were
safe from detection by the chance pa
trolman. The clogged cutters afforded
no outlet, and rivers of water ran over
| the mounds of snow and gathered IN
pools in the footprints made early in
the evening by hurrying crowds of
workers eager to reach their homes.
At the desk of one of the largest and
most luxurious hotels stood a young
dan, fashionably attired, leaning part
ly on one arm, with his face turned
toward the door. Near him stood the
clerk, and they were engaged in that
semiconfidSntia chat so usual between
men of their habits. All life in the
vast caravansary was hushed under the
dreary, sodden sound of the rain as it
drove its way into the snow.
Suddenly one of the doors leading to
the street swung in little, and what
seemed but a gray bundle of wet rags
flashed through and disappeared be-
hind huge hall lounge beside the ra-
diator. Despite the rapidity with which
it came and vanished, neither the eye of
the clerk or that of his companion
failed to observe it; nor were they at
a loss to understand what il was. An
| ejaculation somewhat profane escaped
the lips of the clerk as his hands in
stinctively came down upon the bell,
and the almost unconscious 'FRONT.'"
came as though jerked from his lips.
The young man, on the contrary,
Strengthened himself up, and smile,
caused either by the irritation of the
clerk or by a chance thought of his
own, broke over his face. The hall boy
who was running to obey the summary
| command of the clerk was stopped by
a backward nod of the head and words:
'rll attend to this!" The young man
then proceeded down the hall toward
the door and came within view of the
bundle, which proved to be boy of six
or seven years of age.
The child was sitting bolt upright,
fast asleep, with his little legs, stiff
from the cold, extended straight out
along the floor, and his hands clasped
together in friendly embrace in his lap.
His hat, which had fallen from his
head, lay beside him, aud his long wet
hair hung straight down over his face,
almost shutting out from view the
closed eyelids. The little figure was
rigid, and the young man stood for one
moment in absolute amazement as he
realized the suddenness with which this
forsaken waif of the streets had found
repose in sleep.
He had been accustomed to seeing
these boys about the great city, in all
places and at all hours of the night,
| finding shelter wherever they could,
and had never given them a single
serious thought. Now. as he stood
there in the quietude of that night,
looking down on that little, silent,
storm-beaten figure, realization of
the extremes of life seemed to burst
upon him. He dropped into chair,
his first impulse being to sit there until
morning, if necessary, silent guardian
of the sleeping hey. but, as he realized
the saturated condition of the child's
clothing and his need of a change, he
reached over reluctantly and gently
shook the little shoulder.
AT length the eyelids quivered, and
finally opened, disclosing a pair of
large, sleepy. blue eyes in mute appeal
for rest. For one instant their eyes
met and then the young man, with a
single hurried glance round, as though
| he was about to do something wrong.
suddenly snatched the child from the
u1o
utter disregard of consequences, and
| inquired if he was hungry
Amusement seemed to hush articula-
ton
The silent answer came in an afirma-
tive nod of the little head and bright
ening of the eyes.
a secluded corner of the dining-room
was sought, and an order given, with
the confidence of an old habitue, for
anything and everything the kitchen
could afford at that late hour of night,
now well into morning.
For some time after the soup was
| served the little fellow sat in wonder,
gazing unblinkingly at his benefactor.
Sudd emily he reached over and touched
him.
What is it? What do you want o.
asked the young man.
jest wanted to know if yer wuz
dere!' answered the boy, sheepishly.
rs it all rite, or is it jest one of dem
dreams?"
A burst of loud and happy laughter
came from the young man as he gave
assurance that this time it was no
dream. and, reaching over, helped the
first spoonful of soup; then he dropped
into silent contemplation, as he viewed
most ferocious and indiscriminate at
tack upon everything the table af-
forded
Sense Of an obligation never before
suspected began to take possession OF
him and the problem of how to deal
with it kept him silent, as he watched
the food disappear in marvelously large
quantities.