Middletown transcript., 1897-03-06

1 menu WiIulu
where shaded lamp gave out its Sc
rene glow, and the pictured folds of an
ancient Chinese screen shut all posi-
BILE and impossible draughts away from
the ruddy fireside.
Doctor Field sat on one side, with
the newspaper in his lap; Mrs. Field
sat on the other, TRANQUILITY occupied in
darning stockings, while a chubby
year-old lay asleep in his crib, just
where the freight touched its curls
with fleeting glimpses of gold.
"Well," said the doctor, letting the
newspaper slip down to the floor, this
is comfortable. don't often get an
evening at home since .Hellol What's
thatp Some one knocking at the kit
chen door,
Mrs. Field rose and answered the
summons. Presently she came back.
"It's Milo York, DOCTOR" said she.
emilio York, eh2" Doctor Fields
countenance changed as he spoke.
"Didn't tell Milo York never to
darken my door againl"
but he's hungry, my DEAR" pleaded
the gentle woman, sand homeless. Mr..
Evarton has turned him away, and"
81 don't blame Mr.. Evarton," tartly
interrupted her husband. "a miserable
drunken loafer, who"
ST don't think he has been drinking
tonight. He looks pale and tired. He
say he has had nothing to eat since
noon, and has no place to Sleep"
"That's no affair of minel" retorted
Doctor Field, who, though free-hearted
and Hospitality inclined in geneaal, had
hardened his heart like flint against
this particular specimen Of humanity.
Mrs. Field still hesitated.
"What shall tell him?" she added.
''Tell him to go about his business. "
returned the doctor, energetically stir
ing the fire until stream of sparks
flew up the chimney.
Mrs. Field closed the door, and went
back to the kitchen porch.
''Milo," said she, ''my husband will
have nothing to say to you."
81 don't blame him much," defect
edly responded Milo York, who was,
indeed, an unpromising looking subject
with his unkept hair hanging over his
brow, his garments in rags and the end
OF his nose chilled and purpled with
the bitter night air.
"But it's dreadful night" softly
added Mrs. Fie Id. swat out here
the porch will shelter you from the
rain. The coffee pot is on the stove
yet, and III bring you plate of bread
and cold meat and bowl of milk"
"thankee, ma'am,' said the tramp,
gathering himself, like heap of rags,
into the corner to wait.
He drank his coffee and ate his sup
per Ikea famished hound, and then
Mrs. Field gave him an old tattered
shawl, long since cast aside by her hus
band.
''Take this" she said, " lie down in
the barn loft; there's plenty of good
sweet hay there. But be sure you're
off before the doctor comes :out in the
morning."
"Thankee, ma'am," again replied
the man and lie disappeared like a
shadow into the bowling tempest
"Where have you been all this timer
suspiciously queried the doctor, as his
wife come into the softly illuminated
arch of the Chinese screen again.
Mrs. Field turned scarlet under his
penetrating glance.
I'll only gave Milo little-some-
thing to eat and drink" she faltered.
"You know the Good Book says, Turn
not away thy face from the poor man'"
| "Yes," uryly coughed the doctt r,
''but l guess the Good Book din't
make any allowance for tramps. And
! tell you what, Dolly, it isn't safe to
harbor these miserable wretches, with
Aunt Dorothy's silver tea-set in the
house, let alone your own spoons and
forks especially as am obliged to be
so much from home."
Mrs. Field sewed Oh in silence; she
was almost sorry she had told poo
Milo York about that snug corner in
the hay-loft, but she lacked courage to
confess the whole thing TO her hus-
band.
1T will be all right, dare say" she
told herself. "But Milo York mrstn't
come hanging around here any
Emore.n
| In the dead of the tempes tuous
night. there came ring at the doceor's
night bell. Old Mr.. Castleton was very
ill-dying, perhspsl The doctor was
wanted at once.
/ Vttu O gaWu, OuA BuVu ASoouAnpAuc
rose out Of his warm bed. dressed him
self and saddling old Roam. set out on
his midnight ride of six long miles.
| But when he reached Castleton Court,
| all was still and dark. Ee rang two or
three times before night-capped head
| popped out of the window that of the
old sauire himself.
lear, dearl" said Squire Castleton.
"w &t Mkhe matterP Nobody III |
hopes
"IP Not a bit Of itp' said the squire
in surprise.
''Didn't you send for me?"
mo, l didn't, and il you've got any
thing more to say, you'd better come
in out Of this storm and say ito
mo said Doctor Field setting his
teeth together, TN not come In thanl
you."