Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1902-01-24

work of the day One of these men,
somewhat differing in appearance from
the rest, sat little apart. His face
was fine and there were lines of suffer
ing. But the unusual thing about the
face was the expression in the eyes;
they were kind and sad eyes. but I'M
less he spoke directly to another, an
expression, not of being hunted, but Of
hunting, dominated them. AS If they
were always seeking and never finding.
This was John Newcomb. His COM
panions called him odd and talked of
him among themselves. always ending
by saying that there was something
wrong-no doubt about that. That
man had a past And yet the great
goodness of the man forbade their
thinking any evil of him. No man in
camp was so kind-hearted or half as
enduring of hardship or trouble as was
John.
1t was the month of October and the
mountains wore their purple and gold
en- haze, preparatory snowy winter
garb. Soon the little cabin would be
showed in and communication with the
town shut off. In anticipation of this
time two of the men took journey to
town about this season of each year
and purchased the necessary supplies
for the coming cold weather. John
was almost always one of these, for his
knowledge of household economy was
of value in making the purchases. Sew
eral days were occupied usually in this
journey and this little period of change
and activity was welcomed by these
men of the mountains and the woods.
One evening while his "pard" was
absorbed in a game of cards, where the
bags of gold dust lay thick upon the
table, John wandered away through
the streets of civilization. The sun was
just resting on the horizon before 1t
babe goodnight to the pretty little
mountain town. And up and down the
street, lined with graceful trees and
cosy homes, were to be seen the chill
dren in their happy play. And the
hour was full of peaceful foreboding
that the twilight brings to the tired
son of man. But of these things about
him John seemed to have little knowl-
edge or care, until one Of the homes
he passed by seemed for moment to
at Eact him. 1t was low cottage
standing in the midst of flower
decked lawn, and over its windows
climbed and bloomed the honeysuckle.
The sight of it stirred something in
the breast or brain of this man, as If
dream forgotten had almost come
back to him. He looked again at the
house and from the rear of it chasing
joyfully in pursuit of playful spaniel,
came a goden-haired child, very fair
to look upon.
AS she ran toward the walk in front,
keeping close after her playfellow, a
woman stepped out on to the broad
porch under the honeysuckle and called
to her:
Madeline, COMETS supper time"
Madeline adeline In a flash the
curtain of darkness lifted from the
mans brain and the life that he had
lOTSOIlGH Cdluc DdCh W hC
magic word, the name of his own little
girl, spoken by another mother to an
other Madeline was the key that start
ed again the wonderful wheels of men,
DRY. The joy Of feeling, remembering,
of living was his again.
The woman on the porch was almost
frightened when she saw the strange,
rough man take her little girl in his
arms and kiss her passionately. And
the child was frightened, too, at the
expression on the mans face-so fierce.
so passionate. as he compelled his
recreant memory to bring back to him
that which 1t had hidden all these
years. He turned and left the child,
who ran to her mother not little
shaken by her strange friends actions.
Four DAYS later the darkness was