Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1906-02-07

HF0 10 Jung uldu pduSeu DIT Iu0
head of the darkening street It
was not pleasant neighborhood.
The homes were old and shabby, the
street itself was narrow and roughly
paved. Here and there dim lights
were beginning to appear behind the
grimy windows
The young man was more or less ia
n1iltar with the streets Of the poor. He
only hesitated because he hadn't quite
determined whether he would keep on
down the hill to the river or turn at
this crossing. 1t mattered little to him.
His time was his own. He was walk
ing partly because he enjoyed walk
ing, and partly because it gave him
opportunities to see life in new phases
and the life of his fellowman was
interesting to him, more especially in
teresting when it illustrated the strug-
gle for existence, as it did in these
pOvertymarked dwellings.
He turned and walked down the
lonely cross street The night wind
blew stronger in the narrow and fun
nel-like thoroughfare, and despite the
good dinner he had just enjoyed and
the warm clothing he wore he SILVER
ed little in the October air.
He stopped before one of the shabby
houses and buttoned his sack coat. AS
he turned to go a voice from within
the lower room startled him.
us there anybody there"
1t was a child's voice, shrill and
duerulous. For a momnt he could not
tell whence it came.
II hear somebody Why don't you
answer"
The young man turned to the door
what do you want?' he called.
Come in an I'll tell you"
The young man hesitated. Then he
pushed open the door and found him
self in a little entry way. A steep
flight Of stairs arose from this and at
the right a door opened into an inner
room.
Where are you?" he called.
In here" the shriIl voice replied.
"The door amt locked
The young man pushed open the in
quite dark. He closed the door be-
hind him and paused with his hand on
the knob.
Better have a light, I think" he
said.
Yes" said the chiId's voice.
There's a candle on the mantle an
there's a lamp on the table, Amt
you got match?"
A blue flame Ieaped from the match
that the stranger struck on his shoe
sole, and by it's light he found the
candle. Then he looked about the
room. 1t was at once kitchen and
dining room. A small cook stove stood
in front Of the fire place and cup
board with shelves filled one corner.
In the middle Of the room was a table
with q cloth laid and a few dishes
upon it. The stranger took all this in
with q hurried glance, and then his
gaze rested on an alcove at the rear Of
the room, for in this alcove was a
couch and on the couch some one was
lying. Holding the candle a little
higher he took step forward.
Hello" said the child's voice. 1t
was a boys voice and it had suddenly
lost much of its shrillness.
Hello" said the stranger.
"Are you pretty we'll this EVENING""
81 am pretty we'll, thank you"
I'm pretty bad" said the boy.
I'm sorry. What is the trouble.
rheumatism" He drew a long
breath. Its the weather makes it
worse. An this house amt good for
it. Can't you stay a little while?"
'Why, yes" the stranger answered,
as he placed the candle on the table.
''I'Il stay if you want me-" He put his
hat and gloves on the chair and stood
by the couch. A pair of keen, gray
eyes looked up at him. A head cover
ed with curly light hair tried to nod at
him.
Il was afraid you wouldn't come
when I hollered," said the Querulous
voice II heard you walkin' an 1
knew you stopped-you hear things
pretty sharp when you amt got moth
In to do but listen-an' 1 was afraid
that you was goin' on again an I hol-