The Red Cloud chief., 1875-05-13

w. ~80
Sad and Respondent Arnold B. Vas
walking home after one more fruitless
sescl for work. Many weeks since he
had pawned his best clothes, sacrificed
his gold watch, and paid his last cent for
advertisements in the papers. he had
slept in q mean room in the suburbs for
q month, and lived on free lunches for
nearly two weeks. He was thinking OF
the friends who had ceased 10 know him
when he had ceased to trent them, Of
numerous promises that never brought
him anything, and, thus broodiDg over
his misery, he neither heard the noise
nor saw the crowd that filed the streets
towards the close of the day.
Coming to the gate Of the ysrd he had
TO cross to reach his room, be was rOased
by the sight Of q boy Of fourteen, who
was beating . large Newfoundland,
hitched to 4 dog-cart, to make him
climb, with his load, up a fight Of crazy
stairs.
"Leaye that dog a~!onc," shouted Ar
mold angrily.
The boy looked at him with contempt,
but did not answer. Again the stick came
down with furious force, and WAS split
in two upon-the stairs. The dog, hear
ing a protectors voice, had bounced to-
wards him, upset his cart. and was lying
at his feet.
"Here! Rover! Here! / say"
The animal imploringiy fixed his eyes
upon Arn6ld's; but did not move.
"Here!" repeated his master, pale with
rage, and once more raising the broken
stick. But Arnold did not give him
time; he flung the stick into the next
yard, ard applied his boot somewhere
upon the young miscreants body with
such vigor that he sent him Keeling into
the arms of his mother. WHO was just
opening the door to see what was the
matter.
Arnold disentangled the dog and set
him free. The intelligct brute licked
the hands of his protector and jumped
around him to express his thanks.
"What do you keep that rufian here
fort" said the boy to his mother, with an
oath. "You know he'll never pay you.
He is a thief, an assas-." He did not
finish, for Arnold coming in, gave him a
look that made him GEEK shelter behind
his mother.
at is not enough to lodge in my house,
without paying for it." shrieked the
latter at the top of her voice.. "You
must begin to beat my boy now!"
"Madam," answered Arnold politely, |
81 have given your boy no more than he
deserved; and Ms to your rent, you may
rest assured that I will ray you as soon
as / can get work."
Slime way to talk! Everybody can
get work, except those who are too proud
to do it,"
IL fear those who are too proud to
work would be too proud also to live in
a place like this" retorted Arnold, with
an attempt to smile.
"What now! Insult! If my house is
not good enough for you, you may leave
it; but pay me my months rent first"
"You know I have no money!" gently |
demonstrated Arnold.
"What lie that to met" I want my rent
and I must have it."
Arnold was silent for a few minutes;
his face grew CHASTITY pale. Taking of
his ~overcoat: "Here," said he, 'this is
the last thing I have that a he turned
into money, 60 and sell it for Whatever
you a :" and he left the house.
"Beggarw shouted the boy, from the
half open door. "Thief I"
But Arnold heard nothing. He was
walking briskly along an alley that led
him out upon the fields there he stopped.
and casting Q rapid glance over the city,
said, bitterly: "Since there is nothing
for me there, let US Co." His franc was
he thought it wa the cold:
" IT'S true" he said, II have no overcoat.
l must walk faster" And he started al
most at q fun, stopping until no
reached the shore. From the edge of q
rock he seemed, for q few seconds, to
question the depth of water, then. a leap
splash-and Arnold B. was buried
under the waves. His first feeling was
to struggle for life, but he conquered it
and, cessing all motion,
his mouth, he felt the water fill
his body. and saw himself 60 down, his
face downward, until he was lying fiat
upon the sands. He did n suffer, but
lis mind had suddenly acquired . lucid
ty it had known before. He ssw
lis whole lie at q glance as in . mirror, |
md knew he was sorry for what he had
lone. All at once he thought be was
'eixed violently, and lost conscious i
less. ]
II was Rover, the brave deg, who had J
ollowed him, and was paying his debt. :
Rising to the surface with his precious
Dad and swimming vigorously. he soon
aid Arnold upon the shore. There he :
Zeept barking f~uriously until he attracted
he attention of some stragglers. :
The body was carried into . fsher.
mans hut near by, and . physician sent :