Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-02-19
cepyrisht, 1918, ~ Frank |. Paekard

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Madison once more. apparently deep
IN thought, sought refuge at the flre-
place, his hands plunged In his pock-
ctr, his shoulders drawn little for
ward, his back to the Patriarch.
Fiction" he assured crack In the
cement between two stones, "was new.
er, never like this. 1t seems to me
that remember the occurrence. am
quite sure they christened her Helena
-Helena vaill Now, isn't that a per-
fectly lovely name for novel! And
she'll be 70 good to the dear old chap,
too-washing and ironing and cooking
for him-and stealing out into the
woodshed for drag on her cigarette
not! No, my dear, not even that.
This is. serious business"
He turned. came back to his chair,
picked up the slate and wrote:
II have the fortune, or misfortune,
perhaps, to be what is commonly call
ed ! rich man. Money, they say. will
do anything, and, If it will. I'll find
this niece for you"
The Patriarch's eyes grew moist as
10 read the words. and bis hand trem-
bled little with emotion as he held
hsspencL
y cannot let you do that" he pro-
tested. 'You are very kind, and it
seems almost as though you had been
brought to me providentially at the
end Of long years OF loneliness FOR a
purpose, when my hour Of helplessness
wa near; but, indeed, have no right
to slow you to do this"
.srhey toll me in the village" wrote
Madison In reply, that you have al
ways refused to accept a penny for
anything you have ever done for them.
! have no doubt you would equally
refuse to accept anything from me,
but this IL something that you must
1T me do. It will make me feel more
-how shall I say fillmore as though
I had right to the privilege Of com.
ing here"
The Patriarch wiped his still moist
syss before hs answered.
what can I say to you7 It does not
Desn right tA44 ] should let q stranger
DO 10 much. and yet 1t seems that
should not say no, because
Madison was bending over the slate.
reading % the other wrote, and he
took the pencil gently from the Patri.
arcA's hand.
- e., a
.Yousmsst-aoe hook on nasiny ionssrs
% I stranger" 10 wrote. .Let as just
consider that It u III arranged only I
would strongly advise making no men
ton Of ;itiunttl " make sure that she
= alive" @ ;,
II think notding should be said"
agreed the Patriarch. '.for even II you
found hes. she might not care to come.
I have little here to offer young girl
few comforts caro- Of blind man
who il deaf and dumb"
wen see. about that when we ind
her." Madison smiled brightly at the
Patriarch a. he wrots. snow, that's
settled for the time being, isn't itf''
Tho dumb lips moved, and both
hands resched out to Madison.
Madison took them In arm, strong,
reassuring clasp, then shook his finger
in sort Of playfully emotional embar.
rasSment excellently well done, at the
Patriarch and picked up the slate again.
~" T. :. :: SSs....!!sS !.te" he wrote. "and
! must not tire you out am afraid
you viii think am far moro inquisi-
two than !, have any right to be, but
there ID one moro question that would
like TO ask. May IT.
The Patriarch nodded his head and
laid his hand ON Nadison's sleeve in .
quaint, almost affectionate way.
ut Il about your education. You
came here sixty, years ago. and you
have lived alone. You could have had
but few advantages, with your handi-
zap. previous to that, and vet you
write and use such perfect English"
'AThe answer II very simple" replied
The Patriarch on the slate. Until
within. the last year have read large.
II. would you care to look 1t my
booksT
Madison. promptly and, full of inter
est, rose from his chair, passed around
the fireplace and halted before 4 row of
shelves set In against the wall.
II pass Madison admitted to him
self after q moment, during which his
eyes roved over the well chosen clas-
sics. "Ive heard Of one or two OF
these before casually. They're what
the fellows who review popular novels
Of about my size ring in casually to
hold their own jobs down with-there's
xentls graft In every game. Two an
idea that IL the Patriarch's got all this
inside his gray matter, its just as well
Tor the Tlopper, for Pale Face Harry,
Tor Helena and yours truly that he's
dea { ana au.nh--snd will be blind"
Madison came; back to the Patriarch
with beamins face and picked up the
ylate.a
Il read 4 great deal myself" he
wrote. ut IL q pleasure to find real
hooks here. May I, during my stay IN
Medley, look upon them in little
way as my own library
"You are very welcome indeed" the
Patriarch answered.
.'Tkank you wrote Madison. And
now, surely, must 60" He smiled at
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