The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1900-12-13
MALCOM KIRK.
-
Tale Of Moral Heroism Ia Overcoming the World.
BY CHARLES M. SHELDON,
Author Of TN
Hardys seven Dayas
oopsRIoH7. 1900

that steamer to this studio. said Nal
com Stanley. But truth is stranger
than nctlon-at least any fiction ! svel
read" And then he went on to give
Faith some account Of his life sine,
the time when Malcom Kirk had lef
him with his aunt In London.
The aunt had died when he was
years old. and he had been adopted in
to the family Of n distant relative, tax
ing the name Of Malcom at his aunt.
request In loving memory of his queer
nurse. The money that Kirk had rails
ed on board the steamer had been for
tunately invested. On coming of az.
this fund enabled the young man to fiji
himself for an engineer. He had riser
steadily and had at last been promoted
to place OF great responsibility. The
company for which he worked had in
terests in the United States, and Nal
com had come over to superintend the
opening Of some mines In Colorado and
New Mexico. His business interests
had made him acquainted with Mr.
Fulton, and 1t was through him that
he had made the acquaintance Of Mr.
Raleigh and finally purchased the pic
ture. with the intention Of giving 1t tc
Malcom Kirk. The artist had insisted
on practically giving a large share OF
the value Of the picture 70 Stanley, and
the latter had planned a surprise FOL
Kirk on his way west.
All this and more did Faith heal
wonderingly. The short winter day
was going by. and Raleigh suddenly
Interrupted the conversation.
"We shall have to give up our trip tC
kenwood today. Faith"
"And | must he getting back to my
work" cried Faith, rising. She was
like one who had been In n dream OF
the day. 1t all seemed so strange
the studio, the artist, the picture, the
big, hearty. honest young Englishman
She found it hard to realize that she
was actually in the heart of the great
rushing, prosaic, selfish city. All this
was so like story, like things one
reads about, but so seldom knows in
the real life.
"lf your fathor were only here now,'
said Raleigh, whose romantic tempera
ment was moved deeply by the events
Of the day. this room would contain
all the elements Of genuine story"
AS he spoke they all three turned In
stinctively toward the entrance of ths
other room. There stood Malcom Kirk
his tall, heavy figure filing up the
opening and his homely. loving fact
showing unusual emotion.
"Father" cried Faith. and the mex
minute she was in his arms, sobbinf
and eyclaiming.
Then she stepped back, llttl'
ashamed of her sudden outburst n.
she remembered the presence Of th'
two men behind her, but she kept holt
Of Malcom's hand and drew him int,
the studio.
"IIow did you come here. father
We had no idea
"It's not long story. my dear,
said Malcolm.
"Mr. Raleigh, how do you do? II
long time since | saw you on tn,
deck of that steamer" Malcolm point
ed to the picture. and still his grea
brown eyes rested on Malcolm Stanley
who was standing there pale and ex
cited.
Raleigh took Kinks hand and shool
It heartily. He then turned quickly t
Stanley.
"You ought to know this gentleman
Mr. Kirk. You met him before l did,
Kirk stepped toward Stanley. Bot
men We're deeply moved.
You were with my mother when sh
died. Mr.. Kirk" said Stanley In voic
that trcmbled little.
"If we were Russians, we would EN-
brace each other now," cried Malcon
Kirk. but as you are an Englishmal
and l am an American ! suppose
handshake Is the nearest we can get I
it."
AS he said it he grasped Stanley
big palm, which went out to meet his
and Raleigh said afterward he wa
sure he heard the bones snap, but ne
ther man WINGED.
"The heart goes with It," said Ma
com Stanley. admiring Kirk out Of hi
honest face with loving look.
Kirk drew back little and gazed @
the stalwart young figure. Then b
glanced at the painting.
II would not like to take the contrat
Of holding you in my arms now, as
did then. But, as l remember, yO
were a very good baby"
$50 he Is now," said Raleigh, WI
had turned his face toward the cas-
to hide his emotion.
That made Faith laugh. and the re-
| Joined her, and the tension of feelin
broke, and they all grew more at cas-
For several minutes questions and al
swers flew fast in the now darkenir
| studio.
Father, you must give an account I
| yourself. The rest of us know how v
came to be here. But your preseAce
q mystery" said Faith, drawing I