The Red Cloud chief., 1885-07-03
AN OLD


AN OLD FRIEND.
The Sad Condition to Which Tie Was
Brought by the Demon Drink-His First
Pledge.
II was a cold. sour eve with nothing
suggestive Of spring or flowers, say
the boys and girls in merry glce hang
ing their May baskets sparse Of flow
crs-jerking the bells with such gusto
that some Were seriously manned -
their rushing "te-he-ing" under the
covert of post or tree to watch the
recipient open the door and obtain the
gift.
Jack and I had waited upon the door
by turns all the evening with fair sue
cess. But alas! when the basket gave
out. the bell kept ringing. and Jacks
temper began to get frayed and give
out also.
"Oh, il Is not worth losing your
temper over" 1 said. soothingly, alter
he had made two unsuccessful trips To
the door. only to receive n volley of
laughter from the boys and z rls h
behind a lilac bush. I've will Day no
further attention to the door, and the
fun will cease"
So il proved.
We retired ut a scascnablc hour,
leaving a light in the sitting-room.
Presently We were awakened from a
sound sleep by another ring OF the bell.
Just rs the clock was striking ten.
Those r~asrals,' cred Jack.
- H.. q, q. thn hn,- W II
aid. lit didn't sound Ike them-it
was too liant and timid. There!
don't YOU sce,'' as there followed
another rin~.
..Yes. I see! but they can't fool me
AGAIN with such a trick was the OBJ
siinate reply rs he turned Ovcrfo a nap.
The remainder Of the night. owevc
was undisturbe,l save rs i was occa-
~sionally awakened by the continual
tramp, tramp. back and forth IN front
of our house; but sGpposing it the boys
we soon ceased TO be annoyed 10y It.
In the cold gray of the following
morning | was awakened by hearing my
husband i'm earnest convcrsat on with a
STRANGE voice i'm the kitcisen-I could
not make il ont. neither the subject that
enoros scd them. Presently Jack
stepped to the bedroom door. saying:
II have started the fire, Aurelia. and
will be back soon".'
And he was gone before | could ask
q question to satisfy my curiosity. which
was nj its height when a moment later
/ saw nv husband going down the
walk in close conversation with a tall,
well-buil. stranger wearing 4 silk hat.
These were all the points l had time to
note before they turned the corner and
were out of sight.
len the course of two hours Jack re-
turned. but alone.
..Who was your mysterious morning
caller?" l asked. with ill-cOncealed GU
riosity. rs we sat down to che SAVIOR,
breakfast.
An old school friend" was the
somewhat short reply.
Noticing his desire to conceal some
fhiuc, / was. of course. bristling Will
interrogation points.
..lt's no use. l see." said Jack
breaking into a sunny laugh af M,
msny questions. 'and perhaps lough
to tel you. though the poor fellow
begged l would not mention it to You
..His name is Burt L.atimer-we wer'
schoclmaies ut Hilton Academy twent!
. wears ago. He was a bright. geuerou'
fellow-his father was wealthy, AM
Burt always had lots of money. l
seems that he is married and living IL
New York, and travels for a larC'
wholesale firm there-has for a numbe
of wears He ~confesses he has dranl
moderately for some tim and occa
sionally had a spree
ut seems that while waiting here ~
hour for the train. . fellow hummer in
vited him to one Of our first-class hotcl
to pass the time. They got to drinking
and after the fellow had helped Bur
spend = generous sum OF money he lief
him here in . strange place, pennies
and dead drunk.
That was two weeks ago. and eve
since he has been or 3 terrible spree
He pawned and re-pawned his clothe
until he was almost naked. and hat
absolutely nothing with which to pur
chase liquor or lodgings. and for a weel
he has walked the streets nights. an,
gradually got sober enough to realiz
what has happened"
.Out-dOors in these drenehing nigh
ra,ns?" I cried. the tears filing my eyes
YES and he has scarcely tasted foos
sn all this time. He began his debaucl
at the stylish bar of Hotel De LEVER. bu
vent from grade to grade. until be tool
his last drink at the lowest groggery i,
Thieves Alley"
.Oh! isn't it terrible! But how dc
nc happen 70 find us?"
..Well, as he came to himself he tried
60 thiuk how he could get some decen,
clothes and get home. George twas
a dark outlook! Finally. he said. h
recalled che fact that l lived here whcI
at schooi-:hat my father was wealthy,
and that I ~as a good. generous fellow.
TO use his words So he 60; = directory
and found us: and he is the fellow who
rung the bell At tn O'Clock last night"
There, what lid ! tell you."
s.And patrolled the street until NOM
ing, watching to catch me when 1 first
got up tell yon the poor fellow was
blue Nth cold and drepched with rain,
and glad enough to see . fre!"