The Washington times., 1901-08-11
! ZONE TOUCH
4 OF NATURE"
:


Gideon Beth's eyes flashed suddenly.
and he brought his cienched fist heavily
down. Alone in the world And this
, case but one OF many, Who cares? No
body. no ouer'
u mighty man. said the doctor be-
meath his breath. as he heard these ex-
Carnations of bitter spirit. And then he
wondered who was the more friendless of
the two-the child or the man. He con-
Guided that it vas not the child. And
more than ever he pitied the solitary man
VINO needed the love OF some simple nat
ure to expand and sweeten his own life.
Gideon's passion passed as quickly as It
had risen. ny do you tell me this?' he
demanded. rs this your poetry"
Il call it so. Some day we shall better
understand its metre" 8!
Gideon shrugged his shoulders as he re-
piled. You have strange views. Tell me,
what is to be done about this girIy'
1t was with difficulty that the doctor
concealed his qualification at the ques-
ton. daring idea suggested itself to
him.
Come and see her." he said
The other thought for a moment I don't
know why should. he said petuIantly
1t is late. After ALL it is nothing to me-"
Pardon me for suggesting 1t, only am
passing that way myself. and I thought
you might care to accompany me. It's
queer case. The child's loss seems to
have numbed her mental faculties. How
ever. goodnight
Wait a moment. will come
That is kind said the doctor frankly.
Gideon glanced at him suspiciousiy, nut
said nothing. The two men passed out
into the dark street.
III.
They reached their destination. were ad
United. and together softly assembled tie.
narrow, rickety stairs to the top landing.
This is the room" said the doctor. gent
ly turning the handle of the door. The
child did not hear him. Save for the fires
dlm glow the room was in darkness. The
doctor was about TO advance but Gideon
iaid hand upon his shoulder, saying.
Hush
Inc girl was sreaking-after the habit
OF chfidren-to one who was not there TO
nsten. Every evening at this hour il had
peeh her custom to read from a story
DOCK, While her sister worked with her
needle And now she held the book side
ways to the freight and said in a choked.
stifed voice: -''S'>N,.'
we left off at page 141. Minnie. 1t was
the end of chapter"
she stopped to look up at the vacant
chair to which her words were apnarept1v
addressed. AS she did SO the book slim
ped from her lay to the floor. Minnie
ISM there, she whispered to herself. .I
thought | should see her sitting in her
chair. L can't start the new chapter n
Minnie isn't with me: and the words
choke me-"
She fumbled with a trembling hand at
the collar of her black robe. The Doctor
thought then that the passion of weepiue
"ouio break out uncontrollably, but he
was disappointed She picked I'D the fall
en- book and placed it carefully upon a
sheif with few others From these she
aostldcted Bible. She stood a moment.
would it be wicked. wonderg' she
said to herself Jennie Clark once tria,.
IL, ana Tod answered ner that way
Deciding in favor of the scheme that
had entered her mind. the child took a
pin from her dress screwed up her ewes.
and drove the point between the leaves of
the volume. Opening it at the place thus
indicated. she stabbed again with the pin
point and so marked a passage.
Putting hnger upon the passage she
had chosen. the child carried it to the
freight and read. in the words of Herod
the king. Ask of me whatsoever thou
wilt. and / will give it thee"
She jumped to her feet with a gasp of
frightened establishment. Apparently the
words had for her more than Il superb
cial significance, for she said, in a low.
thrilling voice. TT is true then; can ask
it. l was afraid TO. but-but I'm not
frightened now bit. 1 will ask God to
send the Judgment Day, and to send it
now. this very instant 1t will be awful:
but | shall see Minnie. and mother. And
It must come; it is certain, postivel Per-
haps l ought to go downstairs and tell
Mrs. Jennings But no. though L won't:
she would only laugh And there are
thousands of other people; cannot tell
hem all
Did you hear herr" whispered Gideon
% his companion.
'Ah, Be careful"
Gideon had taken a step into the room.
The child. hearing nothing, wrapped in
IN assurance at once delicious. comfort
ng, but appalling now opened the win
low. The room being the highest in the
'uilding was nearest to the stars-an ad-
'antage happily not considered by land
Ords. Confused sounds fioated upwards.
The quiet heavens were covered with
Inning points. yellow and blue and gold
nd blood red the fierce eye of the Bull
arned conspicuously. 1t attracted the
hild's attention. She lifted her face and
egan to speak
She told how lonely she was. how she
ould not live without those who had
one Innocence is familiar with God
he wanted to know what was the use OF
eing alive when there was nobody in all
he world whom she could love or be
Dved by. 1t seemed to her then that
here was but one alternative-the end.
On the threshold of her mighty request
he faltered, for the terror of her prayer
ad seized her. An extraordinary sensa-
ion was upon her. She felt that she was
OF alone in the room. Her face turned
-hite. Then she went on steadily
Her voice sank to an awed whisper as
ord by word she unfoided her terrible
etition. Her eyes were fixed above,
'arful at any instant to see the levin
md the stars. And o. good Father"
lid the child. when l say Now then let
come, then let me hear the angels
owing with their trumpets all over the
~"
she sank her head into her open hands.
few moments passed. Suddenly she
Used her face. the dreadful instant had
me: her LIPS parted.
My child" said Gideon.
He held her in his arms. Minnie's sis
r cried as II her heart would break. L.
Beeston. in Cassell's Magazine
A Snake Loaded with Dynamite.
(From the Bridgeport Farmer)
Snakes seem 10 be plenty IN the ncighborhood
Enshnn IL the stnrins Tint txlftc.i sr..,..