The Hillsborough recorder., 1877-08-08
PAYING WITH INTEREST.

lNtovtJ wv Jceto "bV, Sho t"ohtitth VI iuo'
lMarch that threw down my pen in my
Eeown town Office, drew on my overcoat.
Ipuckcred my mouth into shape for a good
Hong whistle, and started for home.
While passing y fruit stand, thought
of my two little ones, and the pleasure u
mice plump orange would afford them. 30
| occupied minute IN pricing tile golden
fruitlan paying therefor, and was just
in the act Of placing the wallet in my
fposket. when shri.l yoico ut my right
called out:
Say, mister. lend us dime. cam yer Y
! glanced down and behcld chap OF per-
haps twelve years. ragged and not clean,
his matted hair covered with the remnant
| Of last years straw hat. Hi, swarthy
cheeks stood out with fatness, while his
keen olack eyes fairly shoue with the mirth
his quveriDg lips could scarce conceal.
/ do not know why it was. but looked
upon the request Of the little ragamuIin st
the precise moment as perfectly Just and
proper. So | opened my parse without
word, withdrew the coveted dime and
handed il to the lad, now by far the more
astonished Of the two, who shufied
uneasily from one foot 10 the other. looking
irst at the script aud then at me, and
inally blnrted out:
See here boss amt got no Security
for this era!s
Never mind the security, replied,
.i'll give you that. Good night, my bravo
fellow, aud good luck to you always.
| had only granted the request of mis-
chicyous ysgrant by handing him a simple
ten cent piece. But what change? Ills
every movement seemed altered, and as
disappeared his voice sounded after mo say
ing, Remember, boss. this ere dime is
only borrowed. you know. Its Tended
money. that's what it be, and she'll be
paid back with . roarin' interest for you
know il. MacS bleegcd SIR; my names
Ben. Please don forget the name, sir,
au' it'll be all right.
The remaining three squares were soon
trayersed, and quickly lifting tbs latch OF
the gate fronting my little cottage. en-
tered and in turning to fasten it | caught
sight Of little figure just dodging up the
alley, and which l remembered 10 have
noticed following me. bad no difficulty
10 recognizing my youthful debtor, who
had thus embraced the opportunity Of tin-
dug out Just where lived, for the pur-
pose. probably Of being enabled to put lis
finger on me ut any moment, night or day.
About month after the. incident mar
rated in the foregoing. l was i'll with tho
typhus fever and confined to my bed for
weeks. Being fortunate enough to have
many friends. We lot the children put up
wherever fancy dictated but always being
appraised Of their whereabouts. however.
!. remember the night we'll. .. 50 we'll
when rising on my pillow in bed. asked
hurriedly, MARY, where are tbe children
staying nowf
'Ai the Alton House. my dear replied
my wife. as she tenderly arranged tho
pillow aud dropped The blind. Mrs All.
ton seemed so anxious for them to come up
aud play with her young folks few days
'Bui il is such large hotel. Mary.
Mrs. Alton---well. suppose it is all right !;
but If anything should happen IL them
under any other roof than our own, |
think my life would DO embrttercd
forever.
The evening passed. night camc; tho
clock struck twelve. aud almost a. aD echo,
a fre-bell rang out shriIly on the niriI air.
Now the clattor Of horses feet aud tie rat.
tliug engine, vomiting Ere aud smoke then
the hook and ladder wagon---another en-
gino coming il an opposite direction
hurry. hustle. the tramping Of quick foot
steps ou fhe pavement. aud tho din II OK
cited voices.
Ny wife stood In Che doorway, and I
heard her ask where the Ere was. In
moment she entered tho room. her face
white. aud her hands clasped.
'Oh. John. John. It's the Alton House
that's on frc! Our children-O Gods
Tho shock completely paralyzod me for
a moment; but strength quickly returned
giant strength. sprang from the bed
and into my clothes IN q tsinkling. aud
graspirg my wife BY tbo arm, drow
hor Of The open door. down on tho pave
meut. and down the street almost on run.
Under tho tremendous excitement feft no
weakness. l thought only Of the safety
Of our two darling ones. One. two, threo
Squares, and We could soc the Ere. Yes,
the Alton House was burning. Long
tongues Of fre lesred far out Of he frst
and second story windows aud dense
volumes Of smoke poured out 10 huge
columns from the windows above.
Almost the first one We saw. on mingling
with the crowd. vas our son Harry but
the joy Of seeing Rim IN safety was instant
ly lost IN The idea that bis sister might be
10 danger Was she? Had she reached
the pavement With hini Hc could not
tell. and burst into Acod Of tears. Az
that momeut cry q horror won't up from
the crowd We looked up. ani there leau-
ing over the sill Of third story window.
hor naxen rt,rls airced with fhe hcof and