The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-11-09
PAST THREE SCORE AND TEN.

His clothes were threadbare but clean and his
shoes patched His hat fashion of ten
years hy. but there was inpalpable something
about the himself which made the rise
feet when he asked him be seated.
You have for just of Colon street fat Of
three 1 should Ike the rent is
The apartment about which the inquiry made
the cheapest and poorest the long list OF
which the had control
Why, the there said the agent. only IS
month The clean and light but I you
estly can't much for the neighborhoodr
L know about the neighborhood' said the old man
and thought the fat be cheap. 1 viii take il
There OF US my wife and myself Ny wife is
an Invalid Here is the money for the months
suppose that you viii wish references"
For the first time in his life this agent a hundred
fat buildings said that he did for references
There something about appearance octo-
genarian. with his shabby clothes made the
man at the desk change his rule of a lifetime.
1t two weeks later when moved by impulse
OF curiosity, the fat the which
his visitor OF a fortnight before rented went TO
the door Of the first of the three knocked
He heard light step within and then the door opened
The room well lighted. A woman thin what
ed absolutely point before
him He looked at her face Great Cod what this
He had such face. The seemed 10
have changed places The distortion terrible
seemed lifted point midway OF the forehead
mouth appeared be in the right cheek.
he would the agent could not fail 10 show something
the surprise akin which possessed him. He
stsmmered, Il Mr. Cathcart.r
Even while he speaking the had drawn
az home until evening" she said Then the agent
away wondering.
1t evening An old up the stairs of the
fat building lie opened OF his apartment and
called gently, Mary"
Here am George" came the that were scarce
ly ineligible from the second
The old back and gently kissed his wife
Mary, ne said you be brave, but they've told
me today they will let work for them longer
The real reason is Mary. suppose, that getting
old, but they did tell that. No I
get 0the horflx- and will he wall
Something like a sob shook the fran frame that he
casping in his
Three days by and George Cathcart could get
work There was little money, dollar or two and ii
used for food his wife. He told that
leave early in the each day because
better time look for work and that he would his
breakfast and luncheon downtown. There food in
the house for her, but he all night.
Then he sparngy with his wife
The money was all and he forced to confess
it to Mary But he said, perhaps shall get work
today He good-by feeble steps
He gone but fifteen minutes when Mary
threw herself her knees by bedside and prayed
Then she yelled herself threw thin old shawl
and leaning heavily out into the street
He is starving himself, she muttered and for
has been sacrifice Of himself for these
long years I'll do something for him.
She reached big red brick u4..iing with wide halls
and great rooms In it scores of young Mary
Cathcart entered larger rooms. Instantly
throng young about her. Gentlemen, she
said, Il take your offer
There a connection in the place at Three
the young left with a rush and
back quickly pen. paper which
put table before Mary Cathcart. The old
signed name, and crisp bank
handed her and she passed out of the into the
and this time actually lettering she made her
way back to the poor home.
night George Cathcart reached his wifes side
with blank despair in his face He the point OF
faintng He kissed his wife and fairly fell chair
Usually presence he kept his with
the loss OF physical strength he had lost something OF his
spirit She knelt by his side and kissed his hand.
George" whispered than fifty years
have been married never deceived except in thing
dear kept something fearing that the day would
when would be pennless. Don't what kept
dear might pain you but today disposed it, and
have 800
A light into George Cathcarts eyes 1t the
light OF JOY for his wife because he knew for
time a she suffer.
Time went and the money all but exhausted
and George Cathcart had work Too old they had
told him after time and likely they
Mary Cathcart failed visiby. Physicians her
willingly. afflction batled all
ical knowledge No such known in the records
of the and her malady they could give
One morning just sunrise George Cathcart His
wife still sleeping He moved about noiselessly
pairing the frugal breakfast Then he call Mary.
The sunlight Frightening the poor golden
shaft fell on the pillow Of tho sleeping woman George
Cahcart looked his wife then his heart stood still
Much of the contortion had from her face.
had been kissed by the Angel Of Peace.
The old man threw himself knees by the bed
side and his form shook like storm-beaten tree For
hours he knelt there. and then rising bent
and broken. from the house. he reached the ONCE OF
great who had been attending HIS
told They with the husband back the bed
side, Of them the way stopping moment the
great brick building which day Mary csthcart
had signed 4 paper
The three physicians and the husband a the
bedside o the dead Half dozen young fairly
burst into the room. Sometimes it seems science
sin Needless Of the presence
OF death, the intruders said: Her body
US We bought it.
George Cathcart turned There a horror in his
face What DO yeu mean he said
she sold her body Here is the paper. After
the inquest viii take her
The old mans bent form Strengthened There
into eye youth. He hurled himself the
spokesman Of the party. the paper from his
md struck him fun the The whole body Of
t1uders bore Of the assault. They
Town the stairs disordery then
nan threw himself BY the bedside once more.
The physicians consulted together and thez left re
room great hall Of the red brick building
fred medical students meeting The did
right" some one saying admire him it,
md all those assembled agreed with the speaker The
SO man is pennIeSs- said purse
bury wife decentiy and give clsn.
They poor apartments of the aged couple
md entered death TIE oi4 stlu
IFS knees 81 TIRE student hisa
shoulder. There response.
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