The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1903-12-17
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) DUMMY DE And )
) THE BISHOP J
By L. E. Cbiffenden

) IHE bI0HUp
T BY L. E. Cbiffenden
] Copyright, l90s, BY the S, $. Mcclure !
900 CO Go
Dummy Dee had come to call upon
the bishop.
The bishop and he were very par
tcular friends and therefore shook
hands, as man to man. in very cordial
manner.
II came" said Dummy Dee, ION very
particular business, and would have
been awful sorry not to find you at
home"
II am very glad to be here, Dummy
Dee" said the bishop, smiling at his
guest.
There was short pause, Dummy
Dee frowning thoughtfully into space
for ideas and the bishop waiting to
hear the manner Of his guests bust
ness.
care you ever lonesome, bishopT
asked Dummy Dee at last leaning for
ward and clasping his short arms
around his knees.
Eyes, often," said the bishop, the
note of truth vibrating through his
tone.
Childless and wifeless and of strong
and often unpopular opinions, the
scholarly bishop was indeed lonely
man, just now particularly so.
A controversial point had forced him
into a position where he stood almost
If not quite alone. He tried to believe
his position was a matter of principle.
His enemies said it was obstinacy and
dogmatism, and even his warmest
friends were silent and regretful over
the matter at issue.
He had when Dummy Dee came in
been writing on the point, and bitter,
fiery words were penned on the sheets
of paper that strewed the open desk.
He glanced at them now es he spoke,
and from them to the beautiful pictuf-
ed face of his young wife, who had
died very early in their married life.
Yes, he was very lonely.
Dummy Dee nodded and looked
thoughtfully at the glowing CRATE fire.
mice things happen sometimes when
you're lonesomest, though" he said by
way of giving a small crumb of COM
fort to his friend.
You know mother is sick and down
south getting her health and father
busy at the settlement work, and some
times get Kind of stomach ache in
my heart and lump in my throat.
My, it most chokes me-" he added
feelingly. But just the other day the
summer boarder sent me these bicycle
trousers" sticking out his short leg
for the bishop to see, "or never could
have stood it in the world. She knew
how felt about kits and aprons and
always having to wear something Of
the other childrens count Of their
growing so fast and me not. l slept
with 'em that night in bed, and once
!. when l woke up and thought about
mother / just reached over and felt
of these, and then I felt better. Did
you ever try anything like that?"> he
asked, looking at the bishops trou-
sered legs stretched out on the other
side of the fire.
NO" the bishop replied bravely; he
had not thought Of it.
"Then there are always things to do
for folks, you know, and that's one
thing / came to see about" continued
Dummy Dee "I've been taking soup
and books and things up for the settle
ment people to little girl who lives in
an attic near the settlement.
'She's got kind of mother, only she's
ali aunt and awful bad to her. She
drinks something out of a bottle"-and
Dummy Dec lowered his voice to Il
shocked whisper-"and she is awful
mean to Nora
"What is the matter with Nora?''
asked the bishop.
"a spinal back I think they call 1t, J"
said Dummy Dee, with a learned air,
land feel so sorry. l asked father if
he'd adopt her, and he said he thought
he couldn't. I've thought I'd marry
her if necessary, but father would have
to adopt us both then. What do you
think?''
The bishops principal thought was a
desire to laugh, but he held his peace,
so Dummy Dee went on:
She's English. I've told her about
you. She calls you lord, but said
not lord exactly, only kind Of next to
the Lord, you know"
At this the bishop could contain him
self no longer, but put back his head
and laughed a pealing laugh that star
tied the shadows in the dim, quiet H.
brary, and he only stopped when he
beheld Dummy Dee gazing at him in
mild surprise.
"Come," said the bishop, springing
up like boy, ''let us go and see