Willmar tribune., 1904-08-03
MEDHTOR'S
SAL VATION.
By Charles Ellis Newell.

M ORRIGAN and I had been the
M closest kind of friends for many
years, and when I received his tele-
gram, saying that he would arrive In
San Francisco on Tuesday night, !
Immediately made preparations to re-
ceive him, and to that end I ordered a
supper such as l knew him to be fond
of; at a quiet little place where we
frequently dined together when he
was on the coast
Morrigan was the best kind of a
fellow; full Of reminiscence and story
and our little suppers were generally
concluded by him with the material
for a new story for me.
Much to my satisfaction the train
proved to be on time, and 1 soon had
the pleasure Of seeing Morrigan's gen
lal countenance and feeling the warm
clasp of his hand. He was accompanied
by a well dressed negro boy, who
carried some small luggage and yhom
l took to be Morrigan's valet. 1 was
surprised, too, for had often heard
him express himself vigorously in dis
appreciation of such nonsense. was
further surprised also at the almost
paternal solicitude with which he
placed the boy and traps into a hack
and sent him off to the Occidental,
saying: II don't know what time I'll
be up to the hotel, Dick, so you need
not stay up for me. but go to bed"
The boy returned a polite answer in
the most perfect English; his voice
had the undefinable quality in it which
Is invariably the product of educational
influence. However much I marveled,
was wise enough to do it mentally;
but l felt impressed; that somehow
or other that boy was going to be
concerned in one of Morrigan's stories;
nor was I mistaken, for after the ex-
change Of platitudes of personal event,
and we had arrived at that period when
a fellow who has dined feels mellow,
and the ascending curls Of smoke rep
resent pretty much of present trouble,
Morrigan introspectively began:
Hanged if he amt worth it, even If
he was twice as black. What do you
think of him."
''What do I think Of him?" an
swered. "Why, he's a daisy. Who do
you mean?"
"That's so" he replied good natured-
ly; I'D forgot that you did not know.
I mean my son."
"Your son." I stammered; "why,
you are not even married, and If
you-"
"Of course" he interrupted, laugh
ing heartily, II don't mean to shock
your morals. mean my adopted son;
the colored boy you saw with me to-
night" He saw that was perplexed.
"Yes," he continued, adopted him up
and down, dyed in the wool; as fast
as the law can do it. Why, I'd rather
be the actual father of the white soul
under his black skin than to acknowl-
edge paternity of some white trash
I've run across"
"You must have had strong reasons
for doing this," answered; ''still,
your business is your own, and it's
not for me to adversely criticise your
actions"
Don't you think for a moment" he
returned, "that I am callous to the
opinions Of my friends, and it is for
this reason precisely that I am going
to tell you the story, and don't tn ink
that you, or anyone else, could see
wherein could have done otherwise
in all justice. What tell you may
sound Quixotic, but when you know
that this boy was the means of saving
me over $4,000, and horse worth half
rs much more, with no other incentive
than gratitude, and small occasion for
it at that, you will perhaps understand
it all.
TT has been i've years since the
thing happened, and have refrained
from saying anything about the boy,
because I wasn't sure how he was
going to turn out, but I can show as
neat bit of gentleman in him as one
would want to know. What! make a
Jockey out Of him? Well, don't think,
not with the mind he's got. Why in
the last five years I've had him at
school in Chicago; he has passed
through every grade Of the public and
high schools, graduating only last week
With the highest percentage ever turned