The Man of Straw (Paperback)

Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: " A kiss ! . . . . Ah, my love, God bless you." " If it is true, dad, that in blessing others we are blest, you must have a great store of treasure in God's house." " And you, my child." She gathered up the tray and left the room. He was sleeping ere she closed the door on him. chapter{Section 4CHAPTER IV The old man had been asleep an hour when Eva, sitting reading, heard a small commotion outside the room-door. There was a gentle rapping of knuckles on the thin panels. " Come in," she cried. The door opened and revealed a man and a woman standing shyly on the threshold. The man carried in his hand a cumbersome burden which he deposited on the floor in a corner. He was a rough man, roughly clad. The most startling detail of his attire was a blue silk neckerchief. The woman was stout and middle-aged; she wore a red dress, edged with green velvet, a black dolman, glittering with countless beads, and a disproportionate hat with white ostrich plumes in it. There were heavy gold pendants in her ears, and about her neck was a massive necklace of silver, culminating in a huge brooch, - elaborately chased. Eva went forward to greet them with her finger on her lips. "How are you Mrs. Sprunt,, and you, Mr. Sprunt? Father's asleep. He's not very well, I'm afraid. Sit down, won't you ? " "Thank you, Miss," said Mrs. Sprunt. " I don't mind if I do, not being a lightweight." Mr. Sprunt, hat in hand, stood pulling a greasy lock of his iron-grey hair in speechless embarrassment. " Won't you sit down, too, Mr. Sprunt? " said Eva. " Thank you, Miss," said Sprunt. " I think I will." He sat down and rubbed his hands. " Sprunt ain't got no manners, Miss," said Mrs. Sprunt, jerking her head toward him in eloquent apology for his deficiencies. " He owns tha...