The Topeka state journal., 1898-02-16
BOB BURDETTE'S MISSION.
Journies 400 Miles to Perform a
n11tv and Fails at the Last

1 0OuEu1GS HUI IA410S 10 GI1OIn d
Duty and Fails at the Last.
| Chicago, Feb. 16.-The Times Herald
| prints the following:
A thin-faced, slightly built man, with
! his so years concealed in elastic steps,
yet showing rather more in the silver
gray which has tinged his hair and
| mustache, left a Wisconsin train at the
Union depot yesterday morning, and,
asking the shortest way to the Engle-
wood Union hospital proceeded thith-
er. Most people of his acquaintance
even of a few years back-WOuld not
have recognized in the pilgrim Robert
J. Burdette, whose visit to Chicago at
this time gathers into another strand
threads of that strangely sad pathos
and professional humOr which have
blended to make up this mans life.
Mr.. Burdette came from a. lecture en-
gagement in the wilds of northern Wis
cOnsin. He came to offer the cheer of
his presence for an hour at the bedside
of Miss Irma Burdette, his 16-year-old
niece-''his little sweetheart from her
baby years-whO has been close to
death for many weeks. He came to
break the news to the child, if her con-
valeScence would warrant it, that dur
ing her illness her mother had been
borne to the grave. This painful duty
was left undone. After he had let
more sunshine into that sickroom at
the EnglewoOd Union hospital than its
emaciated patient has known through
the six weeks of her raging fever Mr..
Burtette took a train for the east-tO
brighten the hours of strangers with
his platform humOr. AS a result of this
hasty mission of tender solicitude to
this city by the lecturer-Wedged in
literally between pressing business en-
gagements-this record was entered
last night upon the nurses registry at
the EnglewOod hospital:
Miss Burdette is brighter and shows
more encouraging symptoms of recov-
cry today than at any time in her
sickness
The patient shared this confidence of
her nurses. Before Mr.. Burdette put
down the wan hand which he held and
petted throughout his visit the child
good Of you to come all this way to see
me. It makes me so happy that know
1 will get we'll now"
Miss Burdette is the eldest daughter
of J. w. Burdette, an attorney, whose
home is at 6521 Wright street. There
has always been the deepest affection
existing between the families of the
brothers. Irma Burdette was called
little sweetheart" by playful Uncle
Bob from the days when they first
played dollies together Throughout
her girlhood the devoted uncle has
written his little niece letters, and she
liked nothing better than his visits and
his stories. Six weeks ago Irma was
stricken with typhoid fever. Her moth
er was very i'll at the time and the
daughter begged not to be taken from
home to the hospital because of fear
that she would never. see her again. 1t
was necessary to do so, however, to Sc
cure the patient every benefit OF treat
ment Fever all but burned the girls
life out For weeks it was thought the
end might come any hour.
On January 25 Mrs. Burdette died.
The stricken husband conveyed the
body to Burlington, Iowa, for burial
not knowing that his child would be
alive when he returned. For ten days
there was but slight Improvement
With returning strength the last few
days Irma has been asking about her
mamma. Her condition remained so
critical that it was thought the truth
would kill her. Two or three days ago
it seemed a point of convalescence had
been reached when the truth had better
be spoken. "UncIe Bob was written
to- He wired he would come and per-
form the delicate office, and sent his lit
tie niece this letter:
MY Dear Little Sweetheart wish
nv arms were 400 miles and three feet
long today-4O0 miles to reach from this
place to your bedside and three feet
more to hug you close to my heart AS
they are not so long, 1 am going to
travel that distance in order to use the
two short arms I have, my dearie, and
to tell you something that you ought to
know Watch for me, little sweetheart. |
YOUR UNCLE BOB"
Mr. Burdette fulfilled his promise in
all but telling the child of the sad loss
which has overtaken her. He could not
do that The man of drou wit and
ready anecdOte could find no words to
voice that sorrow. He knew no way to |
communicate the bereavement to Irna |
without giving the cruelest pain to her
heart. The strong man quafled. Let |
me come back and do it another day"
he faItered. Il cannot send tears into |
lust suffered" So Irma went to dream
land last night with her great sorrow |
still hidden from her.