The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1870-08-11
MONEY AT INTEREST.
BY AMY RANDOLPH.

GREASE; s&',' VIII YOU I + give give me a
penny?"
No-go atong with you, 1 never
give money to street beggars."
And Mrs. Parker sat, if 1t were pos
sible, trifie more erect in he buffalo
cushioned wagon seat, andlgrasped her
blue cotton umbrella tighter around
the handle. But her husband, Paul
Parker, on whose kindly face the boy
turned his gaze, said:
"See here, boy, I've only got fifty
cent piece, and it's more'n 1 ought to
give ayayl I shall be here at three
O'clock this day week, opposite this
very tavern; will you be here to pay
it back? Mind, T only lend it to you
and may be I'll be able to find some
work for you by that time"
Yes, sir9said the boy gleefully,
as he scrambled up the Side Of the
wheel. "I will be here, sure"
You're fool, Paul Parker" said
the woman angrily, " to be scattering
Hopr money about in that sort of q
VS. Do you suppose you'll oversee
i5n & ~
81 Abpe so, wife" said the old maa,
touching his placid horse gently with
the reins, and urging him into a sort
of sleepy jog trot. "I should be sor-
ry to think there wasn't no truth in
that bright Hide blaek-eyed fellow.
Give the world q fair chance, that's all
I've got to saYs,GIii 1 sie 10
The blistering August sunshine was
pouring. inte hot little garret. room
in one df tile most sdAaiid and neg
lected purliens of the town, where a
brutal locking man was smoking IA
short black pipe, and two or three
boys lounged around half asleep. A
hand organ stood up against the wall,
a monkey dressed in soiled red rags
sat chattering in the window, and
Nino's accordeon and a thumbed tam
BOURNE lay near by, Nino himself,
with tear stained cheeks and heavy
eyelids, was crouched in corner,
wistfully watching the deor, as if re-
solved to aYaill himself of the first
chance that afbFedl itself for escape,
Theres@asa sort 81 wild, weird
beauty about flie .beys,a eys after all, in spite
of his sWarthE cheeks and forlorn
uniform ofTHagsk hHis4 browJ over
shadoWed by thick black locks streak
ed With & pHFpleh cglessA and and shine,
was frank and open; his eyes were
soft and liquid as mountain spring,
and there was bpth spirit and sweet
ness III the welf outlined curves: Of his
moHth. Had Nino Berlani been the
offspring of an aristacFatic lineage he
would have been called handsome ss
the boy Apollo but alas! rags and
poverty and blows are anything but
beautifers, and Nino had ver'known
| apght else in his brief and sunless
life.
Presently the man knocked the ashes
from his pipe andtlaid itdownwith a
vicious ysidelong glance at theB0y.
| SO oy6H'd got ffty. cents bid, away
you was going .te ,gammop me ont of
eh?' he demaRdsdisiit,sK Ono young
wagabone, INllfke TO know what YOU
meant by it ="
at was mfde .d sobbed the boy. 81
| earned it singin' under the great folks
winders, afteF work honrs was over
l gave you all 1 earned In the day
time, I did,"
"Yours!" growlcd the man savage
lily, "There ant nothin' is yours
You're mine and all you earn is mine
and if ever catch yo4 to any snch {
trick agin, I'll split your head opeI
| for you. Where are you goin' now
Sit down again."
| "Only out as far as West -Eaudhil
tavern" said Nino entreatingly, as hi
eyes marked the slow creeping tide o
sunshine along tAelHoor, that formed
his only substitute fer clock,
| "Well, you, wont do no such thing |!
| the Inan, evidently in most contrar,
and quarrelsome mood, go back +
your corner again, DO yoR hearP Yo1
are not goin' to stir out o. this afor
night, and not then unless you behay
yourself as straight as achaik mark
"IIl be back in ten minutes, sir;
will indsedR isa sdi 20 nais