The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-04-15
ZECKEL.

beggars instead of bein' comfortably
settled in as smart little shop as ever
I clapped eyes on, and free of expense
tool"
Ezekial Halliday groaned as his eyes
wandered round the bright, gaudily pa
pered room, and he bent his white head
to hide a great tear that was Slowly
coursing down his cheek Martha was
a good soul, but why couldn't she leave
him in peace2
And low any one could fret their
selves silly over that dirty old Book
sellers Row is beyond me. 1t ought 10
ave been done away with years ago as
any clean and sensible person could see.
Why, never day passed but bumped
my poor cad against them pesky door
ways and as for that parlor be ind the
shop, it wasn't larger than mouse
trap. and was just about as musty!'
Me an my old girl found it comfort
able enough for 50 years, Martha the
old bookseller broke out at length
stung by the contempt in the charwom-
ans voice And the mustiness didn't
prevent our living to a good old age
I'm 90 now. and she only died two years
ago come Christmas I'm glad she
didn't live to see the old place. was
twas it there when you passed TINS
morning. Martha2" he asked, piteously,
folding his shaking hands over the
worn head of his stick. Martha tossed
her head as she laid the cloth for tea
1T were standing there right enough
then" she replied carelessly, out lnsy
were at work on the house next 70 IT,
Next to it, Martha, next to itE
Zeckel. as every one called him,totter-
ed TO his feet, stretching out hand LOT
his hat that hung on peg. But Marina
guessed his intention.
Now. them" she said. with well
meant frmness, you don't leave this
parlor till you've 'ad a fresh cup O tea.
ft4f I,a Lea 0ff work NOW.
and if the old place is gone you WON'T
bring it back by goin' off without d sup
zeckel fell back into his armchair
with working lips.
Its true" he moaned. Nothing can
bring the old things back, Martina
You're a young woman, and you don
see things like we do.
Young, indeed
Martha was on the shady side of 40,
so she was not i'll pleased at the soft
impeachment
well" she returned. slightly molli-
fed II suppose we don't. All / know
ia that Id-that I'd thank Providence
on my Bonded knees if 1t I'D give me
shop i'm the Charing Cross road But
there's the bell The tea 'ull be ready
bv the time you come back
Ezekiel rose and attended to his Gus
toner with the accustomed care and
GENIAL bonh0mie which had made him
1NAAe-A--f
Left alone the smile died out of his
eyes. and he dropped YEARLY over the
freshly polished counter es, 1t was
fne enough" he reflected. this shop
with its linoleum covered floor ana
shining brown shelves. its shri1 electric
bell and other modern conveniences;
there was nothing notwithstanding but
those subtle associations which alone
created the real atmosphere Of home
And no one knew, no one understood.
He took up a broken backed volume
living at his elbow. and fingered its yell
low pages lovingly. 1t was a rare edi.
tion of Pilgrims Progress. much COW
cted by a certain celebrated novelist
who had imagined that the old man
could not possibly understand its value
Understand! Zeckel Strengthened him
self and chuckled at the idea There
wasn't a man in London that could
hoodwink him into buying an imitation
Of the real article! Many time Charles
Dickens had tried to play a trick OF.
him, and had declared him to be "a willy
OLD beggar-' Martha's impatient voice
behind the glass door recalled him Il,
the present realities of life.
Come along now she exclaimed
Drink your tea. and eat this nice piecs
of buttered toast. I've cut ali the crusts
OFF
The rough kindness Of her tone. as she
settled the cushion in his chair, com
forted the old man somewhat, and he
obeyed her meekly.
HOure very good to me- Martha ne
said, suddenly.
Nonsense. 'Aven't I known We for
the last twenty years. and didn't Law
out the poor old missus avowir1' an The
time in my cart to see YOU com forta HE
every eventn. 'usband or no 'usbandf
ANA now. she added with a Quick
tildn8e OF voice, L can't Stav another
minute mine must be 'Ome by this time
and starvin'l'
Mrs Martha Mugg was tvpicaI
SharWoman. She invariably alluded 10
iier other half as mine" and no one
mad ever seen her without the bonnet
grizzled locks
Ieckel sighed as the ample beshawl-
ed inquire passed out into the warm gray
evening She had been a kind friend 10
him in her clumsy way. How would
she get on, he wondered. with iis
grandson, the smart, up-to-date young
man who was coming tomorrow to take
charge Of the business He had long
Deen too feeble in health to manage the
shop, and al length he had taken Mar
una advice and written to his dead
daughters eldest son. He could never
have given in at the old place-but now
what did it matter.
Six O'Clock struck from the old dim
raced clock How queer and strange
was the sound as it reverberated in the
wide high ceilinged parlori
zecl1el rose stifI1y. having finished his
tea with a great effort, and once more
reached out for the broad wideawake
he always wore
7 shan't be long" he said to the boy
whom he employed to do odd jobs about
the shop.
A thin drizzle had set in as zeclxel
hobbled along the Charing Cross Road
1T had been pouring wet weather for
the last week or so. but every evening
at about the same time the trembling
old figure could have been seen making
its way to the spot where the best of
its life had been spent
Ieckel reached his goal at last his
dim eyes bent on the ground for verv
fear of what he dreaded to see y
But he had come to know With
a jerk he raised his head An
dear heaveni Tt had been standing this
morning, and now a confused mass Of