Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1908-01-29
Pericles.
BY ]. Lowering.

Y
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BY j. Lowering.
The foundations of the Burden for.
tunes had come out of Gould and
Curry away back in the early sos,
and on this foundation "Old Ike"
Burden had raised substantial mon
ument that in passing through the
hands Of his sen, Johnny, had, If not
Increased in size, been very tastefully
ornamented, After the death of his
wife, Johnny, now the Hon. Jonathan
Burden, had devoted himself solely
to the education of his daughter, Ade-
laide. After her escape from the
hands of her preceptors. at the age
OF twenty, father and daughter had
spent five years in travel, visiting a
few of the known points of interest
and great many of the unknown
Then the Hon. ]. Burden had peace.
fully departed this. life, leaving all
his worldly possessings to his daught-
er.
Perhaps some of this was passing
through Miss Burdens ever-busy
brain as she sat idly chipping the
rock beside her with the odd-looking
little hammer she he'd. Perhaps
and what is more probable-she was
thinking Of one or the other of her
new hebbies-geology and children.
OF the two, children-and the ragged
er and the dirtier apparently the bet
ter-held the first. place in Miss AIDE
laide Rurden's heart.
Say, You hain't prospecting, be
YEP"
Miss Purden prided herself on her
nerves. So it was when this abrupt
question was fired into her solitude.
she merely raised her eyes slowly
till they met those of the speaker.
Then she started, and for a moment
gazed in surprise, Over the rock
she had been listlessly chipping APP
sqlissse head of an angela shock
MI Golden r'ngiets framing a
an effect oval, with skin OF
Mrs. onal "roses and milk" vic.
"a .....ss( ewes shaded by. long raven
--pfaHK lashes and Cupid bow lips of
moist carmine parted to show beyond
CLEAN of pearls.
"Yon hain't be ye?" inquired the
angel imIatient for reply.
well n.3--that is, not exactly"
replied Miss Hurden, slowly, eyeing
the angelic face wonderingly.
The angel, minus the wings, now
came around the rock and took up its
stand in front Of her, resolving itself
into very dirty little boy Of twelve
or thirteen.
Il didn't know" explained the boy.
II see We had er lot of specimens. and
ye was hackin' at Their outcrop like
we was.,'
Miss Burdens answer was to take
one of the srimy little hands in hers
and draw the boy down on the rock
beside her, where with one arm
around him she nestled him close
against hsr. The boy viewed this
performance with wondering eyes,
but offered no resistance to the ca
ress.
Once snugly ensconced, Miss Bur.
den said: Now tell me your name
mine is Adelaide Burden"
Nine Pericles Finerty, Wheredju
live?"
Where do ] live? Most anywhere"
At this the boy turned a solemn,
questioning look upon her and then
remarked, gravely: Now you're kid
din"
NO, I'm not, really" protested
Miss Burden
We'll. then, whatjer mean by
that?"
Miss Burden smiled.
1T is this way" she explained. al
have a little money and no relatives
and like to travel SO that really I
have no home"
The boys blue eyes opened wide-
still and they fairly sparkled as he
said:
by jove! amt that great?" Then.
seeing the surprised look on her face.
say, that amt swear, is it?"
"Oh, no, that's not swearing. But
what makes you ask?"
oh, dad says no gent'man swears
IN the presence Of lady, and that
swearin' is useless sort of vice"
Does your father ever swear?"
ooh, lots, but he says it's only be.
cause when you's in Philistia do as
Phil'stines do"
This was too much for Miss Bur.
den's gravity, and she laughed long
and loud, the boys high falsetto Join.
Ing in until the rocks rang with the
music.
Say" said the boy, suddenly, "ju
want some zirkins?"
"Zircon crystals?"
Il guess SO. know where they's
some dandies."
Yes, / would like to get some"
All right; come on; faint far"
Now tell about YOURSELF" she
questioned, as they climbed the steep
hillside. Where do you liver"
up there" with nod up the can
yon.
with your father and mother?"
Mothers dead. Dad an bach
It,"
what is your father-a miner?'
she persisted.
The boy did not answer, and the
glimpse she caught of his face showed
It hard and set in an ugly, defiant
seowl