The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-09-04
One Touch Of Nature.


ative and his large income was RAPID y
increasing.
He arose and, lighting the gas, looked
at his watch II was A:30. He went 10
a window that faced the east and raised
the sash.
III see this sunrise" said Amos
Brandon. ct haven't seen one since
was boy He hastily bathed and
dressed himself. III see it from the
1T certainly seems to me that this is
better than tossing on that comfortless
mattress" he muttered. Wonder why
1 never thought of It before?"
| Amos Brandon walked slowly onward.
eagerly watching the magic dawn.
| Oh he said. that's fine; it's worth
the trouble. How many people know
anything about it? Precious few"
He came to a street intersected and
paused and looked az his watch.
Quarter TO FIVE he muttered. NO,
I'll not go home. I feel ike a runaway
boy. III stroll down to the lake. I don I
believe I've really seen the lake in a
dozen years.
| He walked at a leisurely gait. breathing
| in the tonic air and ever and anon
turning his gaze on the sun-tinted clouds
His eyes were brighter and his step
more elastic He seemed TO grow young
er as he advanced.
! AS he came within sight of the lakes
| blue ripples a girl came across the ave
nue. and turned in on the sidewalk just
ahead of him. Sc was a girl of perhaps
fourteen, rather slender, with a clear
olive complexion, and thick, dark hair
| She was neatly dressed. save her shoes,
which were dingy and frayed. and in her
/ hand she carried a basket whose con-
tents Were concealed beneath a white
! paper. Amos Brandon quickened his
steps a little.
| You are an early riser" said he to
the girl. At the moment he was inter-
ested in early risers.
Yes SIR said the girl who showed no
surprise at his abrupt remark. 81 have
to rise early 10 carry my fathers break
! fast to him. He is a help at the mills
over there"
"Why doesn't your father come home
i to his breakfast?" he asked.
! He goes to work at midnight and quits
at noon," she answered.
And how far do You me?"
| about a mile and a half"
! She gave him a little nod and turned
to cross a vacant field that would save
! her few steps.
"a good little woman, and her father
! should be proud of her. I hope he is
He sighed softly as he plodded on.
| He enjoyed the lake with its dimply
surface and the swash of the little
waves as they struck the piling and the
black banner of smoke trailing after a
far-away steamer. Presently he turned
and strolled over toward the iron mills.
Almost in moment he came upon the
girl of the lunch basket. She was sit
ting on low pile Of boards and close
beside her sat a workingman, bare
armed and sinewy, a swarthy man with
small, black eyes and a short, black
beard He was eating with evident en-
joyment the breakfast the girl had
brought him. Amos Brandon paused at
the picture. 1t pleased him.
your load will be lighter on the way
back" he said to the girl.
Yes" she answered. father always
has a good Appetite
The swarthy man looked up. He nod
She's a good girl" he said slowly.
Gene long way"
Yes" said Amos ''Tm sure she's
a good girl
says smartest girl in English school. ="
He said this with some difficulty, but
with evident qualification.
80, father" cried the child, with a
swift little blush.
| linen the sWdren1 IMAM rough NOlco
grew softer
ishe's all I got" he said.
81 see," said Amos Brandon.
"Mutter dead, bruder dead sister dead.
| Only Lena left" He turned a little and
softly stroked the girls hand.
Father thinks 1 should wear my best
Shoes" she explained. He doesn't know
how fast this walk would wear them
out"
BEST shoes" echoed the swarthy man;
yes, yes, best shoes" He looked at
Amos Brandon.
She's what I work for" he smilingly
said.
Il must 60" remarked Amos Brandon.
hurriedly. He paused and stepped for
ward. IT would ike to shake hands
with you he said to the swarthy man,
/ who met the advancing fingers with a
warm grasp. Amos nodded to the girl
and strobe away.
There was a crosstown car waiting for
the signal to start He caught it and
/ twenty minutes later opened the front
door Of his house. The housekeeper
met him in the hall. Her anxious face
/ cleared.
Glad you have returned, Mr.. Bran
don" she said. we were beginning to
worry a little over your unusual alb
| sence"
"Out for an early stroll, Mrs. Emer-
son" he said kindly have breakfast
ready in half an hour"
He stepped into the library and open
| ed his desk. For moment he sat in
/ deep thought. Then ne rapidly indited
/ this letter:
MY Dear Mari: I find It is quite
| impossible to hold out any longer. I am
! growing old and I need you. dear child
/ The door from which I turned You two
/ long years ago IS open for you and
yours. You are ali I have in the world
I dear. Without you the house IS cold
/ and desolate For what have I been
/ toiling all these years but for YOU?
/ Come back 20 me. daughter. and all viii
/ he forgotten Tell your husband that a
{ hearty handcasp agsits him. say to
+ him that I confess that I sorsly mis-
i Judged him.
/ Write 70 me. dear. as soon as YOU re-
! ceive this and tell me when 10 expect
you and George. Your afectionate
father AMOS BRANDON"
He Looked at the ,et:er wien he mad
finished il and shook his head Then he
carefully read II through. Again he
showed his disapproval After a no
/ rnent OF two he raised the sheet and de-
h. liberately tore Il 10 bits Of Jagged paper
and tossed them into the wsste-5asket
"Pshaw,'' he sniiingfy uautteres
that's too SOW. I'll hurry d wn and
telegraph Mary that I'm coming for
them. and then I'Il follow by he frst
train. w. r Rose, in Cleveland Plain
Dealer.
His Little 1oke.
I A gentleman walking along the streets
on q recent muddy day suddenly st0ooe5
and began turning over the mud wLth
/ The point OF his umbrella. He had not
+ been occupied thus for many minutes
7 before a street arab came along. who
after watching the operations for q
short time. broke cut vita: u say.