Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1871-02-25
Money at Interest.

Please, sir, will you give me penny,
only penny" !"
"No--go along with you; I never give
money to street beggars."
And Mrs. Parker sat trife more erect
if it were possible, in her buffalo cushioned
wagon. seat, aud grasped her blue cotton
umbrella tighter. But her husband, Paul
Parker, on whose kindly face the boy
turned his gaze, said:
"See here, boy; I've only got City.
cent piece, and its more money than /
ought to give away. I shall be here at
three o'clock this day week, opposite this
very tavern will you be here to pay it
back to me Mind, only lend it to you
and may be I'll be able to find some work
for you by that time"
"Yes, SIR" said the boy gleefully, as he
scrambled up the wheel, "I'll will be
here, sure"
"Paul Parker, you're fool!" said the
woman angrily. "You scatter your money
about as though there was no end to it.
Do you suppose you'll ever see your fifty
cents again Z"
Il hope so, wife," said the old man,
touching his placid horse gently with the
reins, and urging him into sleep jog -trot.
81 should be sorry to think there wasn't t
no truth in that bright.eyed little fellow.
Give the world d fair chance, that's all
I've got to say"
The blistcrug August sunshine was
pouring into little garret room in one of
the most squalid and neglected purlieus of
the town, where brutal looking man sat
smoking short black pipe, aud two or
three boys lounged around half asleep. A
hand organ stood against the wall, and a
monkey dressed in soiled red rags chatter.
ed in the window. Ninos ACCORDION and
thumbed tambourine lay near by; Nino
himself, with tear.staincd cheeks and heavy
eyeids, was crouched in corner, wistfully
watching the door, as if resolved to avail
himself of the FIRST chance that offered
itself for escape.
There was wild beauty about the boy,
in spite of his swarthy cheeks and forlorn
uniform of rags. and an attractiveness that
was difficult to understand. His brow,
overshadowed by thick black locks, was
frank aud open his eyes were soft and
liquid, and there we're both spirit and gen.
tleness in the we'll outlined mouth. Had
Nino Berlani been the offspring of aristo-
cratic lineage, he would have been called
handsome; but rags aud poverty and blows
are anything but beautifying, and Niuo
had known little else in his brief aud sun.
less existence.
Presently the man Knocked the ashes
from his pipe and laid it down, with vi
cious side long glance at the boy.
$50 you'd got fifty cents hid away, you
was going to CANNON me ont of, ehy" he
demanded. "You young vagabond, Id
like to know what you mean by it"
I" 1t was mine," sobbed the boy; al
earned it singin' under the great folks
winders, after work hours was over
gave you all l earned iu the daytime, l
did"
Yours" growled the man savascly ;
"and all you earn is mine, and if ever l
catch you at any such trick again, I'll
| split your head open for you Where are
you going now? Sit down again"
"Only out as far as West Landhill tav-
ern," said Nino, entreatingly, as his eyes
marked the slowly creeping tide of sun
shine along the floor that formed his only
substitute for clock.
Well, we won't do no such thing" /"
said the man, evidently in most contrary
aud quarrelsome mood. "Go back to
your bench again; do you hear? You're
not goin' to stir out of this before night,
and not then, unless you behave yourself. "
"Tll be back in ten minutes, sir; /
will, indeed"
"Hold your noise! :" brutally CALCULATED
his irate keeper. II tell you you shan't
stir another peg; there, now !" "Dave,"
to one of the other boys, give us light
here for this pipe"
Nino, watching his opportunity as q
wild beast might watch for 40 escape from
the cage, gave forward dart just as the
man stopped over to rub his match against
the sole Of his boot But be was not quite
quick enough his tyrsnt seized him rude.
ly by the arm, and slung him across the
floor as if he had been toy. He fell, his
temple striking against the leg of . bed.
stead standing 10 the corner, and lay there
quite insensible.
"Blest if don't think he's done for,
dad" said one Of the hitherto impassive
spectators Of the scene, boy of thirteen,
who was generally dressed As q "wau.
dering Bavarian," with tambQurinc and
bells.
"Lct him alone, l say" snarled the
father, III teach him lesson"
Just then the bell in the old square
tower Of the town clock struck three.
IL told you he wouldn't be here, Paul %
exultantly exclaimed Mrs. Parker, project.
ing her keen gray eyes into every nook
and corner around the dull street in from,
Of the "West Lapdhill House of Enter.
tainmeut for Man and Beast" az kpev
it! Now, what do you think Of your 6oe
honest boy?'
| Paul Parker's couutenancc c,ouded via;
bly,.