Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1903-03-09
TWO
RESCJES.
By Ewan Macpherson.

III the snow. Only one person had
been in his thoughts as he came down
that lonely side street, and her he
would not have harmed for all that life
could afford. 1t had seemed, though,
that death would be for him a happy
escape from the agony of his meeting
with her that afternoon, finding her
SO affectionately intimate with that
supercilious middle-aged Professor
What's-his-name, and his just resent
ment met with what sounded to him
like a heartless sneer, and all this after
years of absence in constant love and
hope. By all logic Norton ought to
have been glad to let the man in the
peajacllet get up and kill him, but
somehow his impulses had all been
changed by this chance meeting with a
fellow creature to whom life seemed as
unbearable as to himself.
The solution Of the problem how to
release the desperate man came to
Norton when the painting still was
feebly broken by the distant voice of a
child calling. The man on the ground
raised his head, as if from force of
habit, to listen. The voice came
| nearer.
Papa! papa! Mamma wants you."
"Let me up. That's my kid"
Norton jumped up delighted.
Papa! Mamma wants you to come
! to her."
Here, Conniem
The man in the peajacket sat up on
the snowy curb, trying to rid himself
of the marks of his rough-and- tumble
in the snow. Norton was picking up
| his tall hat when little girl in a pink
frock emerged from the darkness of the
street. The little girl appeared to for
get that it was a cold night, and that
her black woolen shawl thrown over
her head was very slender protection.
! The shawl was trailing behind her as
she ran to her papa, and, sobbing,
threw herself into his arms.
"Oh, papa, she didn't mean it
mamma didn't mean for you to go
| away and never come backl Won't
you come 10 her now, please, papa?"
Norton, brushing his silk hat, felt
once more moved to laughter-perhaps
not the laughter OF merely humorous
| appreciation, but still laughter Taught
| by his late experience, he moderated
i his laugh to hardly audible chuckle,
and then, as that excited no fresh out
break on the part of Comics papa, he
spoke up:
eyes, Connie"-he had caught the lit
tie ones name-"papa's going home.
But you mustn't catch cold, little girl.
Herew
He was taking off his own overcoat
| to throw over the child when her
father, still sitting in the snow hugging
her to his peajacket looked up and
caught him in the act.
"If you take off that coat, you'll
catch your death of noomony, mister"
he said.
II shall not have time for that, part
ner. Why not? Because Pm going to
send you home with Connie while / go
| the other way" He nodded in the di-
rection Of the river. 81 have no home
where I'm wanted, and no little girl to
run about in the snow looking for
me-"
Connie looked up at him over her
| papas shoulder. "Aint you got-no-
body at ala"
Nobody at all, Connie. Here, let me
see il the coats too long for you"
Her papa rose and gathered up the
trailing black shawl. run on home,
baby" he said, wrapping it tight about
her. run on now, just as fast as you
can, and tell mamma I'm coming right
away-soon as l get through talking
to this gentleman on business"
Norton took something out Of his
pocket, stopped, and transferred the
something to Comics hand, whisper
ing to her, and she, after one puzzled
stare, disappeared up the street. He
looked after her moment, and then,
turning away with a chuckle, said:
"You must have been clean off your
head, partner. And you tried to make
out was. l wish you'd tell me what
the trouble is. But, anyhow, know
now you hadn't half my excuse for
wanting to jump into the river"
'Think so, eh? How would you like
it if you had worked hard for ten
| gNuiS, anu illtIl uuU W STE yOuE
all sold out-horse, and wagon. and
everything-and your wife saying
you're no kind OF use"
That's enough" Norton interrupted
ITS only money with you. By the
way, what's your name2 McCorkle
: All right, McCorkle. l just want tc
: tell you that you don't know when
you're well off. Come on, McCorkle
, Pm going to put off that swim with the
ice cakes until tomorrow night. Ugh
/ 1t surely is good deal more comforta
5 BILE with this coat on. Hope l didn't
: seriously hurt your arms just now"
The two late combatants began tc
plod together through the snow in the
: roadway. "Now, see here, McCorkle
l I'm putting off my plunge just for one
; thing-just to write check to youl
t order. You agree to take that checl