Oregon Republican. [volume] (Dallas, Or.) 1870-1872, 1871-03-18

money and began to count the same
"One dollar and fifteen cents" he
said aloud. "Strange that Jim Rogers
should let me go away from his deu
with this amount in my pocket He
thought probably he was sure of getting
it, or he wonld not have let me depart
We will see about it though, Mr. Ro-
gers. Guess | will keep one dollar and
fifteen cents out OF weeks earnings
Putting the money back into his pock-
ct, he passed onward.
| Soon he arrived nearly opposite Jim
Rogers hotel, and, as he expected, the
smiling landlord stood in the open
door, while two or three of his subjects
were seated about him.
Come in Thomas" he said in a
voice which he thought would COM
mand obedience. But Thomas evi.
IDENTITY did not hear him, for he paid no
ittention to che words addressed to
him, and seemed about 10 cross the
street towards the store, which was
nearly opposite.
Come in, Thomas" repeated the
landlord in still louder tone, 'sCome
in, and take something to revive you,
for yoa look pretty hard up"
"No, thank you, Mr.. Rogers" an
swered Tom, in voice that sounded
very strangely in the landlords ears.
think will not call tonight"
"Come in, Tom," said another
voice, and drink at my expense. why
man, you are about used up, and good
drink will make you all right -
| i" No thank you, again said Tom, in
that mysterious voice, and he crossed
the street aud entered the store.
The dollar and fifteen cents were all
expended in small packages, and after
placing two or three small packages in
his pocket, Tom walked out of the
store, aud went directly to his humble
home.
A week went BY. and Tom had not
once been seen ut Jim Rogers 1t was
strange occurrence, and people began
to talk about it, and wonder what the
cause of it could be. Stranger yet, he
had visited the store every night after
his days work was finished, and had
spent portion of his wages in purehas
log groceries and such articles az he
lad not been in the habit of buying
Nothing was said to him, however, and
so the whole transaction remained q
mystery to the wondering ones.
Two more weeks went by, and the
mystery still remained unsolved, but
Instead, was growing deeper and more
tangible; for the third Sabbath, Tom
Marston entered the only church there
was in the village, dressed in bran
new suit of clothes He appeared like
new man, and but few would have re-
| cognized him as the same man who was
| lying intoxicated under the old beach
| tree.
q cannot understand it all, . said
Mr.. Harris, that Sabbath afternoon
while sitting at the dinner table 1T
is SO strange that so reckless fellow as
Tom Marston had become, should all at
once leave off his evil ways, and begin
to do as he is doing. A perfect trans
formation has been wrought in him, and
nobody knows the cause of it"
4 presume that he does, though, il
all the rest are ignorant" replied Nell
lie, and then her thoughts went back
to the time when she saw him sleeping
under the old beach tree.
Yes, he undoubtedly knows" again
said Mr.. Harris, "and | earnestly hope
he may continue in the way he has be.
gun, for nobler hearted fellow never
existed than Tom Marston, when he
let's liquor alone, and keeps away from
bad company. / have often thought
when | have seen him ree.ing along the
streets, that is was a terrible pity to see
one so young and talented going to ruin
so fast, and yet all unconscious of the
fact. Why Tom was capable of filing
almost any position whatever before he
commenced his folly. If he could hold
out in this new course, / think his old
mother would rejoice in it and grow
5oung again"
Nellie Harris made no reply, yet her
thoughts were very busy in trying tc
think of something she might do te
strengthen his good resolutions and help
him along in the right path. She felt a
deep interest in his welfare, for she and
Tom were on more than ordinary terms
or friendship once; and that pleasant
afternoon her thoughts went back &c
the days when he was noble youth
free from all the habits that afterwards
cast their terrible powers over him
She remembered how faithful he had
been to care for his mother, who had
been bereft of her companion. She
thought, too, of the sacrifices he hao
made to obtain an education, and how
well he had succeeded in dis brave at.
tempts to overcome all difficulties
There had been warm friendship in
her heart for him in other days, anC
she acknowledged to herself that il
might have ripened into love, had ht