Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1877-05-04

PAYING WITH INTEREST.

Yesterday, it seems but yesterday,
but it was precisely ten years ago the
twentieth day of last March that | threw
down my pen in my down town office,
drew on my overcoat, puckered my mouth
into shape for good long whistle, and
started for home.
While passing fruit stand under full
Roadway, | thought of my two little ones,
and the pleasure nice plump orange
would afford them. SO / occupied
minute in pricing the golden fruit and
paying therefor, and was just in the act
Of replacing the wallet in my pocket,
when shrlll voice at my right called
out:
"Say, mister, lend us dime, can't
yer p
glanced down and beheld chap of
perhaps twelve years, ragged and not
over clean, his matted hair covered with
the remnant of last years straw hat
His swartby checks stood out with fat
ness, while his keen black eyes fairly
shone with the mirth his quivering lips
could scarce conceal.
do not know why it was, but looked
upon this request of the little ragamuffin
at that precise moment as perfectly just
and proper. So opened my purse with
out word, withdrew the coveted dime
and handed it to the lad, now by far the
more astonished Of the two, shufled I'M
easily from one foot to the other, looking
first at the scrip and then at me, to finally
burt out with, See here. boss, amt
got no Security for this hero !"
"Never mind the Security" replied,
laughing heartily as moved off, "rll
give you that. Good night. my brave
fellow, and good luck to you always"
had only granted the request Of a
mischievous vagrant by handing him a
simple ten cent piece. But what a
changed His every movement seemed al
tered and as / disappeared his voice
called after me, saying, Remember,
boss this here dime is only borrowed you
know. It's Tended money, that's what il
be, and she'll be paid back with roarin
old interest fore you knows it. Much
bleeged. sir; my names Ben. Please
don't forget the name, sir, and it'll be all
right"
The remaining three squares we're soon
traversed, and quickly lifting the latch
of the gate fronting my little cottage,
entered; and in turning to fasten it
caught sight of little figure just dodg-
ing up the alley, and which I now re-
membered to have noticed following me.
had no difficulty in recognizing my
youthful debtor, who had thus embraced
the opportunity Of finding out just where
| lived, for the purpose probably Of being
enabled to put his finger on me at any
moment, night or day.
About a month after the incident mar
rated in the foregoing. ! was taken i'll
with the typhus fever aud confined to my
bed for weeks. Being fortunate enough
to have many friends, we let the child
rem put up wherever fancy dictated, but
always being appraised of their whereabouts
however | remember the night well =
o. so well when, rising on my pillow
in bed, / asked burriedly, MARY, where
are the children staying now|
"At the Alton House, my dear" re-
piled my wife, as she tenderly arranged
the pillow and dropped the blind. MRS
Alton seemed so anxious for them to
come up and play with her young folks
a few days"
"But it is such large hotel, Mary.
Mrs Alton--well, / suppose it is all
right; but if anything should happen to
them under any other roof than our own,
think my life would be embittcred
forever"
The evening passed night came The
clock struck twelve, and, almost as an
echo. frebell rang out shrilly on the
still air. Now the clatter Of horses feet
and the rafting engine, vomiting fire
and smoke, then the hook and ladder