The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1882-03-10

8 the money for the tools-ffteen shilifngs.
Take them And may God prosper you' my
man may God prosper you'll"
Two big tears coursed slowly down the rough
cheeks Of the mechanic, as he grasped for
the extended hand of his benefactOr.
''I'l never forget this, sir-never" he MUIR
INJURED, in . broken voice. cit amt for the
likes Of me to ask your name and who you are;
nor yet to offer to pay you back when better
times come to meas they will now, rs they will
now. But you've saved me from worse than
death this night, sir. Believe me, l never
raised my finger to take what didn't belong to
me afOre. 1t was only want and desperation
that ever gave the devil chance to put it in
my head. l shall get work now, thanks to you;
and I'll be an honest man still, as always
have BEEN"
.'Yes, yes; of course you will,'' said the old
gentle man, nOdding his head in friendly as
sent, while his kind, mild-blue eyes glistened
MOSTLY under the gas-lamP. And look here,
Reeves; il ever you get better on, and come
across poor man in want of q little help, you
help him, Reeves, dye see-you help him."
VIII.
The blessing which the good Samaritan had
invoa ed upon the man he had saved from dis
grace and misery came down upon him. Reeves
prospered. Bit by bit, his cottage grew into
cosy home, that he loved more and more every
day; his children became plump and rosy
checked, and his wife bright-eyed and happy.
But in all his newborn prosper ty, the CRATE
full mechanic never forgot his true friends
parting Injunction to be tender to others in
distress. 1t will only be necessary to mention
one occasion upon which he succeeded in imi
tating very closely the sublime example Of
magnanimous charity that had been his own
salvation.
Reeves was returning from work. It was
rather late; and what few people were about
I.,rw - H. nlaA nv,G
piercing blast as fast as their legs could carry
them, and that was at no remarkable speed, on
account OF the atmospheric opposition they en-
cOuntered. At one moment the wind sudden
ly increased to the fury of hurricane, and
compelled Reeves to seek temporary shelter In
a friendly doorway. He was not alone there.
Some one else had adopted the principle Of
hollow-cheeked, ill-clad. shivering and miser-
able.
"What fearful night-ain't it!' observed
Reeves in gentle voice.
''S'pose is; don't care; it's all the same
to me j" returned the man, hoarsely.
in the same tones of sympathy, "but you seem
to be hard up I've been in the same case my
self, and can pity you. I'm only working
man, and know what hard times mean"
st amt that alone what's the matter with
me, mate; although you're right, SO far. 1t
would puzzle anybody to be wuss of than am
just now. But it's sorrer that's a-killing me,
more than want. I'm a-dying, mate, that's
what am.''
''Come, come, don't talk like that; you'll feel
better after good supper and q comfortable
nights rest. And I've got bob or two as
will pay for them"
"You're a mana true brick! 1t does . chap
the breed hal died out. But it amt suppers
and nights rests what'll give me back my wife.
want my wife! I've been hunting for her
high and low all over London, from one end to
the other, for the last six months. And can't
find her. can't come across her no how. 0,
Mary, Mary! why did you run away from
usnwhy did you leave me e. and the the
know we was! Why did you go?" He leant
his forehead against the rough bricks and
walled forth the agony of his breaking heart,
unconsciousF. Presently he drew himse up
and shook his emaciated fist in fierce rage
"Cursesr' he cried, "a million black, bitter
curses on the man as 'ticed her way from me !
II had him by the throat now-sO, like that
Id tear him limb from limb!''
For some time Reeves said nothing. He felt
he was in the presence of trouble which no
words Of his could assuage. But by and by,
when the poor fellows passion had spent it
self. he ventured: ''Look'e here, friend. You'll
find your wife one day, either on earth or In
uCdNcus uOu pdIuOuS SuCu WCdh, iuiS6 uluCu
creatures as she: and il you should never meet
her here you will there, depend on it. You
don't know how she has suffered; you don't
know how she has repented; you don't know
how her fault may have been blotted out and
her sins forgiven. Mate, shan't say anything
more about it, because l can't help you in that
matter. But can do so in another. When
get home shall find a bright, cheerful fire,
plenty to eat and drink, and a warm change
Of clothes. You won't have such luck as that.
The toys you've got on now wouldn't be much
use to you in summer, let alone such night
as this. I'm going to leave you my overcoat
that's what I'm going to do. 1t amt ele-
CANT; but it will stand laundering lot OF
wear yet; and it's warm aud water proof.
Here, catch hold of it, continued Reeves, d.
vesting himself OF the garment, and throwing
it over the mans shoulders. ''DOn't mind me.
l can buy another tomorrow, thank God.
You'll find three or four bob in the left side
pocket; get yourself glass OF something hot,
q jolly good supper and clean shake down.
Goodbye, and good luck to you. I'm on?'
Suiting the action to the word Reeves darted
out of the doorway and quickly disappeared
from view down an adjoining street.
A quarter of an hour later the recipient OF
the generous mechanics bounty was recruit
ing his exhausted fame with half q pork pie
and pint of hot ale, strongly favored with
him, delicious fare, his eyes rested upon ten
days-Old newspaper. that CHANGED to lie on the
bar of the public house in which he stood. All
at once gray, ashy hue overspread his face ;
the KIN fe slipped from his trembling grasp;
with shaking fingers he seized the paper and
gazed at one short paragraph with such an ex-
preston of horror and despair that the barman
on the other side was startled, and said
What's the matterl Are yer ilP"
''Read that for me" replied the man, wildly.
81 can't see-I feel as il l were going blind.
Read that"
The barman took the journal and read at the
place Indicated: Found Drowned-The body
of woman, aged about thirty, and evidently
belonging to the poorer classes, was yerterday
taken out of the Thames, near WOowich. She
had on an old cloth jacket, much worn, COM
mon black alpaca dress, jean petticoat, colored
stockings and buttoned boots, rather dilapida-
ted. Is marked with small scar over the right
eyebrow. In the pocket were found leather
purse containing fourpence in coppers and a
bit of card that had evidently been written
upon, although the words Joe and forgive
were alone Iegible. The body had suffered
from long immersion. 1t was taken to the
mortuary."
''Thank you," said the man, mechanically,
passing his hand over his clammy brow.
sit don't mean trouble to you, l hope"
asked the barman, feelingly.