Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-06-04

WaNe HnSVli "t nomc. 1lacing the Cnilu
upon her feet the man tapped the bell
that was before him on the counter. and
looked around as though to note any
changes that had been made since his last
visit. for IL was evident he was no
stranger there. A shufliling noise was
heard on the second-hoor landing, and a
rcd-faccd man. with ple-proportioned
body. and short, fat legs. came ambling
down the steps. When halfway down the
flight he craned his neck over the railing
that he might see who was at the counter
below.
ITS you. is It. Morgan" he called out
as he recognized his guest. Welcome
back again; the doors of Tones House
are always open 10 receive YOU
Having delivered himself of this hearty.
though ungrammatical, speech. Teddy
Toone finished the descent, and arrived
at the foot Of the steps. blowing hard,
and quite out Of breath, but with an out
stretched hand TO the man whom he had
Familiarity addressed as Morgan. The lat
ter responded to the greeting and took
the proffered hand. but his tone lacked
that heartiness which was manifested,
not only in the voice OF his host but in
the jovial round face. and the small eyes
that had q trick of blinking now ana
| then like a sleepy cat Then Teddy no
ticed the child. who had curled herself up
on the great leather-covered chair that
stood against the wall and in which she
was almost lost.
"Why, bless my heart Dot" said he,
"come here; i thought il were queer
piece Of business If the old man had let
you behind this trip"
The child came over to him. and he
caught her in his arms and gave her a
| kiss. the smack OF which could have been
heard in any portion of the hall. He did
not release the girl, after having bestow-
ed upon her this emphatic testimonial of
his regard, but turning to Morgan. said
Come, I'll show you 10 your room. You
can have the big front one on the second
floor same as you had before, you know,
with the trundle bed for Dot here" say
ing which he gave her gentle squeeze
and without further parley approached
the steps, and began the ascent, leaving
Morgan to follow, which he did.
The room in which the father and
daughter found themselves alone few
minutes later, was most comfortable
| one though IL was but plainly furnished.
| An old-fashioned eight-day clock on the
/ high mantel was ticking in slow, mea-
slIred manner, a habit these hOme-like
! time-pieces have, and which is much
more conducive TO a feeling of peaceful
rest than that caused by the impatient
| clocks
WAYS seem in q hurry. and beat out the
minutes with SO quick a pulse that one
! cannot enjoy n moments rest without
being constantly reminded of the RAPID
fight of time.
The fire which was burning In the
large CRATE, and which had just been
lighted by Teddy Toone. was sputterlng
in a most lively manner, the wood crack
ling and making much ado in its eHorts
to bring to proper state the coal, whlch
as vet gave no signs of yielding TO the
heat. but held itself together as obdurate
| as when first put on. 1t gave up In very
| short order, however. and the large Jumps
became riven, and let out little clouds OF
| gas which were soon caught up by the
blaze and made to burn brightly Then the
wood its work done though still In red
heat. dropped 30 the bottom Of the CRATE,
and the whole mass settled down, as
though prepared for the night
A lamp burned on table which occu-
pied a position between the two windows
! The curtains were down, and the shutters
and the rain beat upon the panes ras
though both had united in an effort to
| gain an entrance. In a corner of the
| room. which was curtained off by some
cheap dark-red material, was trundle-
| bed. and in the opposite end Of the cham
! Der was one of those old-fashioned beds.
! so high that the prospective occupant
must thank his stars for that intuitive
sense which even in sleep, keeps him
| from going over the sides and being so
suddenly aroused from his slumber.
mahogany dresser and two arm-chairs
completed the furniture, all of which was
Of a by-gone generation. The floor was
bare. with the exception of two rugs. IL
| IOhn Morgan
child found themselves on this wild
March night.
The girl was completely worn out by
the tourney of nearly 400 miles. for.
as the man had said 1t had been long
jump and she now prepared to retire.
though the hour was early for one who
| seldom saw her bed before midnight. She
kissed her father goodnight, and then
| disappeared behind the curtains which
| were used TO convert the one room into
two. an arrangement that had often stood
the landlord in good stead when there
was even more reason for its use than the
| present occasion required. He catered al
most entirely to the theatrical profession,
! and there were times when he had need
| for every room in his small establishments
| The noise that came from below even
! now told that many Of the people who
were to be the guests of the house that
| week had arrived, for the majority were
usually on hand by Sunday night But
| John Morgan evidenced no desire TO join
| them. and sat in front of the fire. looking
| intently at the glowing embers. His reve-
RE was broken very shortly by the sound
of heavy steps upon the stairs He knew
| what il meant, and FASTENED to the door.
| where he met a man bending beneath the
weight of a trunk which he carried on
his shoulder Silencing him with mo-
ton, Morgan gave the man helping
| hand and without noise the trunk was
placed in the room. This done, John Nor
gan resumed his place in front of the fire,
where he sat until long after the noises
below had ceased and the dying embers
were low in the CRATE.
A neghboring bell sounded one stroke,
and as its vibrating tone grew faint. he
aroused himself and glanced at the clock
above him. which at that very moment
gave warning that ii was about to strike,
then put in a low, musical chime, ana
licked on again as methodically as before.
The man replenshed the fire and then
walked over TO the trundle-bed and drew
aside the curtains. The child was peace
fully sleeping, with the fair mead rest
ing on one arm, and the golden curls
hanging loose upon the pillow. AS she
slumbered thus, she looked more a chlld
than before, for the silken lashes now
shielded the earnest eyes, the lips were
slightly parted, and the grave little lace
vas somewhat relaxed. The sleep OF
childhood knows no care or sorrow anu
oven the small vexations that come 10
that happy period Of life are forgotten
when slumber touches the tired eyenus,
end their owners are borne of ON ngnt
and airy dreams TO the land OF NOD
With a sigh. the father allowed the foics
Of the curtain 20 fall in place again, and
then sought his own bed, where drowsl-
ness AT last lulled his weary brain, and