River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1903-02-19

dle-aged Prof. What s-His-Name, and
his just resentment met with what
sounded to him like 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 peajacket 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 Nor
ton when the painting stiffness was
feebly broken by the distant voice OF
a child calling. The man on the
ground raised his head, as if by 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, Connie!"
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 a little girl in PRINT
frock emerged from the darkness OF
the street. The little girl appeared 10
forget that it was a cold nght, anu
that her black wooden shawl thrown
over her head was very slender pro-
lection. The shawl was trailing be-
hind her as she ran to her papa, and'
sobbng, threw herself into his arms.
ooh, papa. she didn't mean it-1nam-
ma didn't, mean for you to go 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 merely
humorous appreciation, bat still laugh
ter. Taught by his late experience, he
moderated his laugh to a hardly aud
ibIe chuckle, and then, as that excited
no fresh outbreak on the part OF Con-
MES 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!"
He was taking off his own overcoat
to throw over the child when her Ia
Their, still sitting in the snow hugglng
her to his peajacllet, looked UP ana
caught him in the act.
III you take off that coat, you IL
cotch your death of noomony, MASTER
he said.
81 shall not have time for that, part
ner. Why not? Because I'm going to
send YOU home with Connie while L go
the other way" He nodded in the d.
recti0n of the river. II 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. Amt you got-ro-
body at ALE"
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 [ 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 upethe street. He
looked after her a 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. / 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, McCorkIe. l just want to tell
YOU that you don't know when you're
well off Come on, McCorkle; I'm 60
ing to put off that swim with the ice
cakes until tomorrow night. Ugh!
1t surely is a good deal more comfort
able with this coat on. Hope l didn't
seriously hurt your arms just now"
The two late cOmbatants began to
plod together through the snow in the
roadway. "Now, see here, McCorkle,
I'm putting off my plunge just for one
thing-iust to write Il check to your
order. You agree to take that check
and use it? You won't? All right,
then Good night" He turned back
and began to unbutton 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 his
own peace of conscience, and having
had sufficient proof of his inability to
save the other man by physical force.
Besides. he longed to be back with
his wife and Connie. So he solemnly
promised to accept the check and con-
scented to show Norton the little tene-
ment just around the corner on the
avenue that was his home. And so
Norton had the good fortune to meet
Mrs. N[cCOrllle.
Norton was young in years, and still
younger in general experience. Much
of his life had been spent on western
cattle range, in a region where Mrs.
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