The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-01-25


had already entered room.
90 Uncle AlDh!" I heard her cry.
"Grandpa's lying on the floor downstairs
l cannot find papa. I'm SO frightened, :.
and she sobbing towards the young
man, who rose to receive her in an ab-
straction which even these startling
words failed to break. .
For this and other reasons 7 noticed
him particularly, notwithstanding the
embarrassment Of my own position. He
was a handsome man of the luXury-l0v-
ing tvDe, whose characteristics it would
be useless to describe, since they were OF
q nature to suggest, rather than explain
the extent Of his attractions. l afterwards
heard from such Of my friends as were IN
the habit Of walking the avenue with him,
that he never failed to draw the attention
Of paSsers-by; something in his features,
his carriage, or the turn Of his head and
shoulders stamping him as a man worth
looking at, not only once, but twice. At
this moment, however, 1 was not so much
impressed by his good looks as by mis-
uneasy and feverish expression. 49,.
He had caught UP a letter which he
had been engaged in writing at our en-
trance and as the child's appeal rang
out he crumpled it nervOusly in his hand,
and dropped it into the waste paper bas-
ket. AS certain furtive haste char
acterized this action, my attention was
cauSHC Dy II, anu L lOuiu myself WUuuel-
ing whether it was a letter or memoran-
dunn he thus sacrificed to his surprise.
Meanwhile he seemed to be trying to
| take in what the little one wanted. Evil
IDENTIFY he had not as vet noticed me
standing in the doorway, and l thought
! it best to introduce myself -...E
| Il beg your pardon" said I, 81 am Ar
| thur Cultivate Of the firm of Robinson
& Outhwaite, lawyers. 1 was passing by
the house when this child called me in to
| the assistance of her grandfather whom,
| I am sorry to say, I found in very pre-
carious condition in his study downstairs.
| If he is your father, you have my SYM
pathy for his sudden demise. He died
| in my arms a moment ago; and having
been the witness Of his last moments, l
/, could not leave the house without explain
| ing my position to his relatives
| Dead! Father?'
1t was not grief it was hardly astonlsh-
ment which gave force to this brief anc
involuntary exclamation. 1t was some
thing quite different, something which 1t
shocked me to hear in his tones and see
sparkle in his eye. But this expression
whatever it -betokened, lasted but a mo-
ment Catching up the child in his arms
he hid his face behind her and rushed
towards the door. Me he hardly noticed
Where is he?" he asked, ignoring OF
forgetting what I had told him.
1t was the child who answered.
IN his den, Uncle Alph Don't take me
/ there: I'm afraid. Set me down; 1 VAN
! to md Hope.
He hastily obeyed her. and the child raj
away. Then, and only then, he seemed Il
take in my presence. -,
you were called in from the street"
he wonderingly observed; II don't under
stand it. Where were my brothers? The.
were near enough to render him assist
r',I,<~, n -+s1Se tISo1 =
in?"
This was qeustion for which l hat
no answer, so 1 made none He did no
| seem to be struck by the omission
LET us go down." said he.
I opened the door which the little on
had closed behind her, and proceeded to
; ward the star-head. From certain in
rdistinct noises which I had heard durin
the foregoing short interchange of words
T expected to find the house in a state Q
, alarm and everyone alert. But the card
plavers were still at their game on tn
;. floor below, and L was not surprised t
see my companion pause and give an ad
monitory kick to the door through Wh1c
such incongruous noises issued. 3#
Fathers ill!''E.lle shouted in vote
with many passions; and waiting for n
reply. he rushed ahead OF me down
stairs followed by some half-dozen par
TALLY sobered men,
Among these latter noticed one WnoI
1 took to be the elder brother OF hlr
whom the little one had addressed a
!; Uncle Alph He had the same command
| ing appearance. the same distracted ali
and woke when he did wake, to the sam
curious condition of conflicting emotions
l'But l did not nave time to dwell lon
upon this feature OF the extraordlnar
affair in which had become thus curious
(. ly involved.
,S.o1,5 ,c,1O yyr
spreading above, had passed like wildfir
through the lower part of the house, an
T. we found some half-dozen servants stand
: ling in and about the small room Wl1er