Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-12-14
you, or you me, for l am down in the kitchen

darkness without. Then, smoothing her wrap
per over her knees, she remarked, as II opening
desuitory conversational Thars power OF
Mr.. Hamlin's only response to this meteoro-
lOglcal observation was yawn. and prelimi
nary tug at his coat as he began to remove it.
Il thought ye couldn't mind dom me a favor"
continued Peg, with hard, awkward laugh.
"partik'ly seein ez folks allowed you'd sortes
bin friend O. mine, and had stood up for me at
times when you hadn't any partikler call to do
1t. hewitt" she continued, looking down ol
seam of her gown, 81 flevn't so many friends
ezslings kind word for me these times that dis
remember them Her under lip qutvere1
gotten handkerchief, she finally lifted the hem
OF her gown, wiped her Snub nose upon it. but
left the tears still in hereyes as she raised them
Mr.. Hamlin, who had by this time Invested
/ himself Of his coat. stopped uuOuttoning his
waisooat, and looked at her.
Like ez not thar II be high water on the North
Fork, EFF this rain keeps on said Peg, as if
apologetically, looking toward the window.
The other rain having ceased, Mr.. Hamlin be-
gan TO unbuttOn his waistcoat again.
Il wanted to ask We favor about Mr.-ab0ut
Jack FCllnsbee," began Peg again, hurriedly.
les a'lin agin, and Is mighty low. And he's
Sill leap o money here and thar, and mostly
t u. You cleaned him out Of two thousand
dJilars last night-all he had
Nel?" said the gambler, co.dly.
.'Wci'. thought eZ you wOS friend o mine,
{ ask ye 10 let up a little on him." said Peg,
III al affected laugh. "YOu can doit Don't
! lie him pay with ye.'
I Mistress Margaret Mofat" said Jack, with
7 azy dehberatiOn, taking off his watch and be-
gin, ing to wind it up; "ef you're that much
! IT OK after Jack Foliasbee, yoa kin keep him
IF OF memuch easier than | Kin. You're a rich
woman. Give him enough money to break my
I bank, or break himself for good and all-but
/ don't keep him fOOlin' round me, in hopes to
make raise. 1t don't pay, Mistress Mofat; it
| don't pay"
| A finer nature than Pegs would have msun-
| derstood or resented the gamblers slang. and
| the miserable truths that underlay 1t, Bat she
comprehended him instantly, and sat hope!eSSly
silent.
''Ef youl take my advice, continued Jack
| placing his watch and chain under his pillow
| and quietly unlOOSing his crayat, 'yOu'll quit
| this yer fOOlin', marry that chap and hand over
| to him the money and the money dn' that's
KILN you. He'll get rid OF it soon enough, I
don't say this because expect 10 get it, for when
| he's got that much of a raise he'll make break
for Frisco, and lose il to some firSt-class sport
there. I don't say, neither, that you mayn't be
in luck enough to reform him. | don't say,
nether-and it's darned sight more likely
that YOU mayn't be luckier vet, and he'll up and
die afOre he gifts rid OF your money. But do
say you'll make him happy n0'c-and eZ reckon
ever saw any woman. ouWont be hurtin' your
own feelin'S either"
The blood left Pegs face as She looked up.
g. But that's Thy can't give him the money
and he won't marry me without it
Mr.. Hamns hand dropped from the last but
ton of his waistcoat Can't-give-hIn-t the
"Why?"
BecauSe-because Tore him.
Mr.. Hamlin rebuttOned his waiStcOat, and sat
down patiently On the bed. Peg arose, and
awkwardly drew the portmanteau "a little nearer
to him.
erty." she began, looking cautiously around
= he left it to me on conditions. Not conditions
ez was in his 'rritten will-but conditions ez was
spoken. A promise made him in this very room,
Hamtn-thlS
bed you're sittin on, in which he died.
Like most gamblers. Mr.. Hamlin was super
StitiouS. He rose hastily from the bed. and took
chair beside the window. The wind shook
as ii the disconnected spirit OF Mr.. Byways was
without, reinforcing his last Injunction.
PEG aont GoW II yoa Hmm SAID
All that he loyed-wife, fammerly friends had
gone back on him. He tried to make light OF it
himself out. l never told anybody this-I don't
know why he tola mel don't know" continued
Peg, with sniffie, ''Why he wanted to make
ne unhappy too. But he made me promise that
# he left Inc his fortune, I'd never-never, so
help me God-neyer share it with any man or
woman that loved! didn't think it would be
nard TO keep that promise then, Mr. IIamlin,
for. was very poor, and hednt, a friend nor a
living bein' that was kind to me but him"
But you've as good as broken your promise
already said Hamln; you've given Jack
.'Only what | made myself. Listen to me.
Mr.. Hamlin. When Jack proposed to me,
offered him about what kalkiiated could earn
yStf When he went away, and was sick and
Z. trI ub.e came here and took this hotel. |
Kew that by hard work l could make il pay.
mt laugh at me. please. I did work hard.
Id Cid make 1t pay, without takin' one cent of
the fortin'. And all [ made wOrkin' by night
md day, gave to him! did, Mr.. Hamlln. |
amt SO hard to him as you think; though might
lie kinder. know"
Mr.. Hamlfn rose. deliberately resumed his
coat watch, hat, and overcoat. When he was
completely dressed again, he turned to Peg.
RI hlt Ify-nh ritri,>
all the money you made here to this Al first
class cherubim?
''Yes: but he didn't know where got it, Oh,
Mr.. Hamlin. he didn't know that
do understand you, that he's bin buching
agln Faro with the money that you raised on
hash? And you maxim the hash?"
But he didn't know that-he wouldn't hev
took 1t if I'd told him
"No, he'd hev died fust!' said Mr. Hamlln,
grayely. why, he's that sensitlve-is Jack
Folinsbee-that it nearly kills him to take
money even of me. But where does this angel
reside when he isn't fghtin' the tiger, and is, SO
to speak, visible to the naked eye?"
"He-he-stopS here" said Peg, with an awk-
II see. Might ask the number of his room,
or should be a-'listurbing him in his medta-
tions?" continued Jack Hamlln, with grave po-
likeness.
."oh, then you1l rromisee And you'll talk to
him, and make him promise?-'
!'Of course" said Hamin quietly.
'.And you'll remember he's sick-very sick ::
His rooms No. A, at the end Of the hall. Per-
haps Id better go with you?"
IN find it,"
land you won't be too hard on him."
''Ill be a father to him." said Hamn, de-
murely, as he opened the door and stepped into
the hall. But he heSitated moment, and then
turned and grayely held out his hand Peg took
ii tlnidly; he did not seem quite in earneS
and his black eyes, yainly questioned Indicated
nothing. But he shook her hand warmly, and
the next moment was gone
He found the room with no difficulty. 4 faint
cough from within and a querulouS protest an
Swered his knock. Mr.. Hanlin entered without
further ceremony. A Sickening smell Of drugs,
palpable flavor OF stale dissipation, and the
wasted figure of Jack FoinSbee, half dressed,
extended on the bed, greeted him. Mr.. Hamlin
was for an instant startled. There were hollow
circles round the sick mans eyes, there was
palsy in his trembling limbs, there was dlSsolu-
ton in his feveriSh breath.
whats up" he asked, huSkily and ner-
yCusly.
50 | am, and want you to get up too"
- | can't Jack I'm regularly done up He
reached his shaking hand toward glass half
filled with suspicious pungent-Smeling liquid |
but Mr.. Hamln stayed IL.
do you want to get back that two thousand
dollars you lOst?r
YES"
'.Well, get up and marry that woman down
stairs"
Folinsbee laughed half Historically, hall sar-
donically.
.'She won't give it to me-"
''NO, but WILL"
'.You?"
g.