The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1882-09-28

you. Give me what you will. My
thanks will be as true and genuine tor
little as for much"
The man on the steps took his hand
from his pocket, and laid ten-dollar
piece in the hand of the dusty man
standing one step below him.
II never gave penny to beggar.
never gave food to tramp. But you
have the ten dollars now. Keep it. But,
tell me now, are you an ordinary man?"
"I''ll finish my sentence now. sir. On
my honor as gentleman, have told
you the truth and I've acted the truth.
1t was question of life and death. I
looked at the river as / crossed the
bridge. Suppose had not come here;
suppose suppos,-" He said the
words dreamily. but with a shudder.
Then he turned to the rich man again,
for the last words had been said to him
self alone. "You have given me life,
not food, future, not money. Ii ever
I can be of service to You I will be; if
ever can repay the debt Of to day of
course, don't mean the mere money!
will do it. 1 swear will do it. What
is your name? Tell me your age-your
business. 1t may be l shall some time
find you again."
The man on the top step took card
from his pocket, and wrote line on it
in pencil. The tramp took it and read in
print: paul Hudson, druggist, Lake.
VILE" And in pencil, ''Twenty-four
years of age"
81 should like to shake your hand, if
you please"
Certainly" said Paul Hudson.
hr
path to the street, Paul Hudson watched
him.
1.-THE quality of mercy is not
strained But that fellow. has strained
ten dollars out of my pocket. III drop
peth like the gentle rain from heaven.
And sure enough it is beginning
to rain. 1T is twice blessed Well,
I'll be hanged if I know whether it is
or not"
And Paul Hudson went into the house.
II.
A young man sat in the well-custioned
seat of a palace sleeper, and watched the
snow fall slowly through the darkening
air at the near close of brief December
day. Strong. but not graceful; noble
looking, not handsome; richly dressed,
but not in manner to attract notice; q
face which spoke of sorrow, and on
which there seemed to be the seal OF
peace, rather than what could be pos
sibly called happiness. This was the
man who watched the earth bending the
the shoulders of the hills to the white
robe in which nature was wrapping it
against the fierce cold of coming Win
ter.
A certain article in q newspaper by
his side seemed to claim the attention of
the young man. He took it up and read
it for the tenth time 1t least.
Let us read it too.
"a LUCKY MAN.-Many of our readers
have heard of the great case between
Smith and Robinson, which has been be-
fore the courts in one form or another
for more than twenty Eve years. The
last court decided it yesterday, and for
the last time. The decision is absolutely
final. The Robinson side has won. The
Smiths and Roblnsons who we're inte-
rested at first are all dead. In fact the
Robinson family which was interested
years ago is now extinct, and the prop
erty goes to q distant heir. The lawyer
who took the case years ago, when he
was a young man, was satisfied OF the
Justice of the claims of Robinson
family, and has worked for years without
pay and without instructions. And in
his old age he has won. De.'uctinR all
expences, there remains q balance Of
$50, 900. ich goes to Mr.. Richard
Robinson of this tity. Mr.. Robinson re-
ceived the news OF his good luck to-day.
He did not know that anything had been
done in the case for years; he did not
know that deaths among distant relatives
had left him the only heir. 1t was com
plete surprise to him. An imperative in
vitation comes from Mr.. Milton Muckle,
the lawyer. who has chung TO the case for
SO long. And Mr.. Robinson, who yes
terdsy was poor clerk on Ave hundred
q year, is now one Of the richest men in
our little city, and to morrow he leaves
us to remain for time the guest Of the
lawyer. of whom he had until to-day
never even heard"
The young man leaned back in his seat
and looked thoughtful.
(Loubtless the reader who has just
read of the lucky mxn, would himself
look thoughtful il his name we're Rich
ard Robinson
If Robinson's fortune bad come to him
ten years before, life, which had always
been hard, would always have been easy.
Five years ago be could have won love II
he could have made home. or, rather,
could have won love II be had tried. and
would have tried If luck. or fate. or some
thing had not been against him in every
ventura he made in the courts of 6ckle