Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1903-04-03


of habit, to listen. The voice came
nearer.
"Papal papa. Mamma wants you"
LET me up. That's my kid"
Norton jumped up delighted.
Papa! Mamma wants you to come
to her."
Here, Connie!"
The man in the peajacket sat up on
the snowy curb, trying to rid himself
of the marks of his ugh-and-tumble.
in the snow. Norton was picking up
his tall hat when little girl in print
frock emerged from the darkness of
the street. The little girl appeared to
forget that it was a cold night, and
that her black wooden shawl thrown
over her head was a very slender pro-
lection. The shawl was trailing be-
hind her as she ran to her papa, and,
sobbing, threw herself into his arms.
oh, papa, she didn't mean imam
ma didn't mean for you to gu away
and never come back. Won'tyou come
to her now, please, papa?
Norton, brushing his silk hat, felt
once more moved to laughter-per-
haps not the laughter OF u merely
humorous apprecia ton, but still laugh
ter. Taught by his late experience, he
moderated his laugh to hardly aud
ible chucile, and then, as that excited
no fresh outbreak on the part of Con-
sie's papa, he spoke up.
"Yes, Connie"-he had caught the
little ones name-'papa's going home.
But YOU mustn't catch cold, little girl.
Here!"
lie was taking off his own overcoat
to throw over the child when her ia
Their, 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 IL
cotch your death of noomony, mister"
he said.
81 shall not have time for that, part
ner. Why not? because I'm going to
send YOU home with Connie while 60
the other way" lie 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
papa's shoulder. "Ain't you got--no-
body at all?'
Nobody at all, Connie. Here, let me
see if 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. lie
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 l was. | wish you'd tell me what
the trouble is. But, anyhow, L know
now you hadn't half my excuse for
wanting to jump into the river"
Think so, Ell? How would you like
it if you worked hard for ten years,
and then had to see your things all
sold out-horse and wagon and every
thing and your wife saying you're
no kind of USE"
That's enough" Norton interrupt
ed. It's only money with you. BY the
way, what's your name? McCorkle!
All right, McCorkle. just want to tell
you that you don't know when you're
well off. Come on, McCorkle; I'm go
ing to put off that swim with the ice
cakes until tomorrow night. Ugh!
1t surely is good deal more comfort
able with this coat on. Hope | 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, McCorLle
I'm putting off my plunge just for one
thing-just to write a check to your
order. You agree to take that check
and use it? You won't? All right
then. Good night" He turned bach
and began to intuition his coat again
McCorkle was really doubtful about
the suicidal intention of this top-hat
ted man who had interfered with his
own impulse in that direction. He
had to acknowledge himself conquered
on this line, too, for the sake of hi
own peace of conscience, and having
had sufficient proof of his inability Il
save the other man by physical force
Besides, he longed to be back Will
his wife and Connie. So he solemn,
promised to accept the check and con
scented to show Mort on the little tene
ment just around the corner on tn,
avenue that was his home. And Sc
Norton had the good fortune to NEE
Mrs. McCorkle.
Norton was young in years, and still
younger in general experience. Mucl
of his life had been spent on western
cattle range, in a region where Mrs
McCorkle's sex was scantilY and no
favorably represented. Pondcring tn,