Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1904-01-28
The Salvation
Of Daniel >. -
By w1NFRED DoLAN

II
had fetched 1870 OGDEN sovereigns be-
tween them. Moreover, she had only
given 90 guineas for the mare. Who
will he astonished, therefore, that she
found the news Of her bargain quite
an agreeable adjunct to her breakfast
that morning?
Mrs. Trapaud was a woman Of some
humor: when her husband died she met
friend--a man also Of some humor-
who knew a. all the world knew and as
Mrs. Trapaud had never pretended to
hide, that the marriage had been the re-
verse Of happy. He looked at her weeds
with comprehending smile
SCOT your diyorcs at last?'" he said.
Eyes, and in the higher courts, too.
she replied.
Mira. Trapaud was always equal to any
occasion.
When Trapaud died his widow carried
on the work Of his life; she continued to
breed his horses. Not 30 much, be 1t un-
derstood, from any touching sympathy
with tho dear departed a. from a sound
conviction that 1t was In her to make the
thing pay. And she did.
II was strange household composed
Of antiquatad serving men and women
who had been 'begotten and born on the
estate and In whom the last expiring
breath Of feudalism fingered az though
dying hard. Trapaud left no heir, and
these farm and stable hands, these do
mestic serving maids. were Mrs. Ira
paud's children. She dosed and phys
licked them when they required It, she
rubbed their backs when the rheumatism
got importunate; she scolded, she
praised, rewarded and blamed and they
loved her.
But as in every fold there Is one black
Iheep. so In this patriarchal family
here was one strangeling. Daniel-he
had no other name-had not been born
md bred on the estate; he had not even
lrst seen light in the village; no, not
within ten leagues Of II. the gossips said |
ie came from practically nowhere; It
vas so very far away. On winter nights,
vhen the evenings were long and dull,
he younger ones--for age was . mere |
natter Of comparison in the Trapaud |
lousehold-would coax old MIRA Good
cart to tell again the story Of how
)aniel first came to the hall.
1T was a Wild, black night. Jest sich !
one as this" the old housekeeper
1ould begin.
"And the wind were bowling in the
we knows" would interpolate
n irresponsible voice.
VIII ye niver lear to hould yer
,ngue then and not interrupt the
tory?" q chorus Of voices would protest,
nd then, Mrs. Goodheart having duly
flowed herself to be appeased. the story
'ouId drag out its slow, familiar ex-
tence. punctuated with ''ohs" and ,
lhs" and ''theer nows" that had become
notified by custom into q sort Of rite.
ut the reader who does not know what /,
Is days spent on q midland horse farm ,
tuated q good 20 miles from anywhere
/ the map can be like would hardly an
rebate the art with which Daniels his
ny was told. 30 wewill offer a brief and ,
ore modern up to day sketch that shall
ate the plain matter In 4 nutshell.
One Christmas eve a quarter Of CEN /,
~ ago the hospitable glare Of IRE !
at not only could roast an OK, but was ,
tually doing 90. attracted 4 little :
sged fellow who was tramping along
e high road IN search Of q niEht'slode-
{. One Of the keepers found him in the
plantation and dragged him after him
! they stood IN the glare Of the irslight q
fore Trapaud. his wife. and the assem- v
ID household. Questioned. the little nj
low said his mars was Daniel: hewas
oundling and had been put out 70 serv- 4,
, with a drunken carpenter, from 4
ION he had run away. He had got as =
; north e. this IN barEs along The :.
lnls and had worked Il whatever came
hls hand for all the food and lodrine
4 charity had not given him. Trnpaud
"a The lath facs ana took hin into his r
'vica He uuahOne1t and lndustricus, u
had risen ~ Hlog 6rEr.es, and nov -
o1ron year, Ne had been butler Al ths q
II -. a. =. -. u