Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1903-07-03

VIZ
slowly up to the piazza and sat down.
He had halted half way to cough
again, and as he seized upon the rail I
thought t$at he would strangle.
Finally he recovered, wiped his
eyes, and came to where I sat. I
arose hastily and drew chair for
ward. into which he sank with a
grateful nod. He wore a frock coat
of shabby black and a turned-down
white collar, what we used to call
Byron collar. He had bushy eye
brows, and thin side whiskers, and
long, thin, iron-gray hair.
''How queer for you to find this
quiet little place." said I.
81 came to see your college. You
have a very fine one," he replied.
''The president is an old friend of
mine. In fact, we were college
chums, and shouldered muslxets in
the old Ninety-second New York side
by side. I have been at his house to-
day, and when he saw how worn out
I was with this cough, he advised
me to rest awhile before going to
Washington. He recommended me
to you.'' He then fumbled in his
pocket and brought out a letter,
which he handed me. I knew the
writing well. I opened it. It ran:
Dear Mrs. Brathwaite: You will do all
good people a favor if you will take in
my old friend, DR.. Wynne, for little
stay. He ought not to travel at present,
and think your neighborhood is exact
ly the one for him just now. I shall come
out to see him soon; meantime do what
you can for him, and thus place me only
deeper in your debt as a friend, and
believe me, yours faithfully.
LAS ever,
"Marmaduke Smith,
Now Marmaduke Smith and I had
studied our geography in the same
class at the village school, Marina
duke at the head, Charlie Blount at
the foot, and I half way between,
and there had been a time-well, I
won't go into that, but I felt if Mar
maduke wanted anything, and 1
could procure it for him, was bound
to do so.
"Do you think you can go up
| stairs?" I asked. my other rooms
are all taken"
"Front or back?'' said he in his
| quavering voice.
"Well, I'm sorry to say that my
| aunt has the upper front, and have
| the room across the hall from hers.
| There is only a small room left, back
of my aunt's.''
''Have you other boarders in the
| house?''
Eyes, a lady and a gentleman.
| They are strangers to each other.
The lady is in the front, and the
you small room over his-the gen
| tleman's, I mean"
s'That will do capita1ly," said DR..
Wynne.
AsOr I could change into the little
! back room myself" said I, land give
you mine; it wouldn't be much trou-
BILE. The front is pleasanter, and
| 'Not for the world" cried out the
old gentleman, mot for the and
then he began to cough again until
the tears rained down his cheeks.
ST will take the back room with the
| greatest pleasure" said he when he
could speak. when can I come?''
SAT once" said I. t'Haye you a
trunk?'
ooh, yes, we arranged that If I
did not return by four o'clock, DR..
Smith was to send it out. You know
he boards in the village, but he
thought the dust Of Main street
would irritate my lungs. It seems
all very sweet and peaceful out
here"
settled DIR. Wynne in the little
room over Mr.. Beldon's, and came
down to find my lower-back in the
hall.
you've taken a new boarder," said
he, "after all your promises
"He is not newspaper man.
promised not to take newspaper men.
You really must know that cannot
be bound to take no one while you
are here. in that case. you had bet
ter engage the entire house"
He muttered something which
sounded like that would have been
! BETTER" and then spoke aloud. aHow