Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1903-07-09
A Miser's Heart
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Burch's pet motto. This partic-
ular morning in late June he
ate even more rapidly than usual, for
breakfast was ten minutes late and
that time must be made up.
His daughter, Hannah, watched him
| furtively, struggling for courage to
breach the subject she had in mind
AT last, as her father rose from the
table, she spoke.
Father, have you thought over
what told you about Franks boy? 2"
Yes" grimly; II thought it all over
and told the selectmen to take him to
the p9Orhouse.'
Your grandchild"
Hes no grandchild of mine; dis
owned his father and l sha'n't adopt
the SON"
"Then | shall"
Hannah rose and faced her father
For n moment they confronted each
other in silence. Both were tall, thin
angular. with long, marrow faces,
prominent cheek bones, and lips firm
ly compressed; both faces were seam
ed with lines engraved by toil-tilled
days.
Aaron Burch's face filled with aston
ishment and anger. "Wha-what are
you going to do with him?'
Il going to take care of him.
"You sha'n't bring that child herew
"Then | shall go where l can have
him. at the hotel l can get good
wages and Frankie's board besides"
Hes nothing but little hunchback
cripple! Never'll be able to earn his
salt, and you'd waste money to feed
and clothe him. 'Twould be different
If he'd ever be good for anything"
He is good for something, now;
I'll take care of him as long as I'm
able to work. and I'll love him all the
better because he's helpless
Hannah Burch. OF all the foolish
talk. Want a playthng, do you?
Look at this big farm. and money at
interest. All going to be yours some
day. I'd like to know what better
playthings you want"
What do l care for your money!"
fiercely. at was your miserliness in
getting 1t that drove Frank from home
and killed mother And look at me
only ~ years old. but look SO. See the
wrinkles on my face, my hollow
cheeks and sunken eyes. Look at my
gray hair. Look at my hands" She
held them up; the long. lean fingers
were large at the joints. the palms
calloused, and the skin roughened by
hard work. Look at my clothes
patches on faded calico! These are all
l get for my hard work. and you even
begrudge me the food | eat and the
clothes l wear
But think Of the property. Hannah;
you'll be the richest woman in the
county"
II want frankie, now. and I'm going
to have him. property or no property"
"Then GO" We're the words that
trembled upon Aaron Burch's lips. but
before they were spoken, he remem-
bered that once she had left him, and
he had been obliged to pay out his
beloved dollars for help that had vast
tu iIblt, anu ufllldll'ltu more Ill
week than Hannah had in year.
You know | can't help myself: I've
got to have you" He burst out. angrl-
ly, and left the ROOM
Anger filled his heart all that fore
noon, while he worked in the corn
field, and his anger had not abatcd a
whit when he went home to his din
ner AS he reached the dooryard he
looked up, stopped short ana stared.
Surely time had stepped back 4G yea RS!
for there in the doorway, in his little
high chair, was his pretty, fair-halred
boy, his first-born, waving a tiny well
coming hand Love Of money had not
then driven love of wife and children
from his heart. and he smiled his an
swer to the salute-then remembered
Hello, grandpa, I've Gomez cried
frankie, as his grandfather stepped
in. Come and shake hands with me,
won't you"
He had not intended to look at, or
speak to the child, yet the child's little