The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1906-08-30

cottage a score OF yards away. he
suffered them to lead him through the
open door, and found himself in the
presence OF a bloated and beery-look-
ing person who sat sucking at an
empty pipe, and woman who, with
an apron thrown over her head, rocked
herself to and fro in an abandonment
of grief. Mother" said the child,
here's the gentleman"
The man in possession rose ana
knuckled at his forehead, and the wo-
man Withdrawing the apron from her
head revealed comely young face all
beslobbered with tears. She bobbed
a curtsy at the visitor and wiped her
streaming eyes.
your children tell me you are in
trouble" said Aloysius. You must let
me see If can help you
Heaven bless you. sir" said the
woman. We're in dreadful trouble.
We're being sold up, sir, and my mans
lying upstairs with broken leg.
We've had hard fight for it for long
time, and we've always tried to be de-
cent and respectable, and it's bitter
hard thing for folks as have been well
brought up to come to the workus."
Eyes, yes, yes" said Aloysius. Bit
terly hard it must be, to be sure. But
there, now, don't cry any more, my
good woman. Don't cry any more"
He glanced about the room and saw
that 1t was scrupulously neat and
clean, though very sparsely furnished.
The woman noted the glance.
We've had to part with most Of our
bits OF things, sir, and that's what
brought the landlord down on us be-
fore it's all gone"
Dear me, dear me-" said Aloysius;
your husband is a sober man, hope"
ooh, yes, sir" the woman answered.
Hes a totaler, sir, and has been all
his lifetime"
"And a steady workman" asked the
visitor.
There isn't a harder worker in the
parish, sir" said the berry man. Any
body'll tell you that about him"
Dear me, dear me-" said Aloysius
again You're in possession, l sup
pose?"
Yes, sir" the man answered. ITS
an unpleasant job, sir, but works
scarce, and somebody's got to do it.
Well" Aloysius asked, "how much
do you want?'
1.-TWO pound ten and costs, sir. Alto
gether three pound twelve and six"
You are authorized to give re-
ceipt?"
Yes, sir"
make it out" said Aloysius, draw
ing out a big, careless handful of gold,
silver and copper from his pocket.
There you are. Now you can go about
your business, and there's trouble num-
Der one disposed of. Now. you'll let
me have look at your good man, will
you, a'am?"
For sole answer the woman pumped
into a chair and broke into storm Of
sobs. Aloysius walked to the door and
stood looking out into the lane until
the violence of her emotion was over.
Il beg your pardon, sir" she sobbed,
keeping you standing all this while"
Nonsense" said the recluse. Non
sense. Now, come, come; you've moth
ing to cry for. You must learn to con-
troll yourself"
"I'll try, sir" the woman answered
humbly. Il hope heavenll bless you
all your days, sir"
"Ah!" said Augustus, 'let us hope
So | must be going, and l want to see
your husband"
Yes, sir. I'll just run up before
hand for a minute, and see if he's all
tidy, sir"
Again Aloysius strolled to the door
and looked out upon the lane until the
woman called him.
This way, If you please sir"
He mounted, and she ushered him
into a spotless little bed DOM with
white curtains at the window and two
pots of geranium on the sill.
This is the invalid, is it?" he asked,
looking at the recumbent figure in the
bed. rs he in much pain, poor fel.
low"
He's been very bad, sir, and he's a
good deal run down"