The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1897-04-02
In AN EVIL MOMENT
by EMMA c. HEWITT.

The editor sat IN his sanctum, a
heavy frown upon his brow, his blue
pencil IN hand. rapidly scoring here
ana there with a muttered curse. first
for the stupidity Of typos, anon for the
siqlif sent in by would-be contributors,
whose position and influence made con-
eli alton necessary His annoyance was
increased by the irritating Conscious
less that messenger boy was waiting
at his elbow. and had been so waiting
in stolid silence for some time. Three
short sharp whistles at the tube di-
Iectly behind HIM.
'see what's wantcd.' commanded
the magnate, never lifting his eyes and
GIVING specially heavy blue line 10
ar obnoxious word. But the command
met with no response. The silent fig
urc at his side never moved. why
don't you answer the tube, You idiot?
he exclaimed, furously, as the three
whistles came again. short sharp, inn
patient. Then his pencil dropped from
his fingers and rolled unheeded TO the
floor. Beside him. mute and notion
less. stood one Of Raphael's cherubs.
No wings had he. to be sure, and
more clothes. but one of Raphaels
cherubs all the same. The same cherub's
face-the same golden aurcoie! The
baby-bluc eyes looked into his with a
mixture of sadness and pleading which
moved the stern heart strangely
Again the whistle sounded. Without
word he answered il himself. creating
hall n ta
nation. by the announcement that he
was busy. adding with a vigor of Ian
rragc well known in those realms, that
anyone who disturbed him within the
next Is minutes might draw his salary
TO date and get out; Winston busy"
ant the presses waiting for him. Eff
teen minutes valuable time lost The
foreman passed the word along with a
thrdg-the typos swore, but il made
not whit Of difference. The autocrat
had sent forth his fiat. and if fire had
been discovered issuing from the sane
1um. il is 10 he doubted that anyone
would have had the temerity TO knock
on the door before the allotted time had
expired.
Now, now did you get up here. and
what do YOU want?" he demanded more
gently of the little creature beside him.
Don't you know that editors are very
busy men. and not To be disturbed in
this way %
In accounting to himself afterwards
Tor his extraordinary attitude upon this
occasion. his only excuse for not pitch
Ing the child out suinmarily was the
remembrance of tiny grave upon a
New England hillside where slept lit
lie brother of so years before.
came up myself. Nobody saw me-
answered the child in plaintive voice
tnat had something unchidlikc in its
ring. Please, do you buy poetry"
and he brought from behind him baby
lh' hand in which was closely clasped
sheet of note paper.
II he had announced himself as a
dealer in diamonds. Winston could not
have been more taken aback.
why? Are you poet?" he asked.
mixture of establishment and amuse-
ment on his countenance.
No, but Sister Marie writes poetry,
ana she's sick. and there's only two of
us and she's sick. you know-I told
you that-and thought may be-may-
Be could get some money"
Let me see what you have there"
replied Winston. abruptly.
The idea of the sick girl lying Mt
meme there, and this scrap of a child out
trying to sell her poetry seemed to him
elnonstrous thing. No doubt it was the
worst kind of rubbish 1t was folly to
wen look AT il. But the whole strange
ness Of the situation had a sort of fas-
cihatlon for him. The child grew red
ahu white by turns as he gazed at the
.onntenance OF the man who held his
iate IN his hands.
10Y. your sister is genius!" ex-
claimed She great man, as he rapidly
scanned the lines.
don't know just what that is" an
sWered the charub. modeetly. "but feel
cure i must be something very nice. or
you wouldn't look $3.50"
what a funny. oId-fashoned little
10y u was TO be sure.
This shall go in AZ once" went on
>"e inagnate, "and l will see what can