The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-08-18

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heavily to the ground.
As tho woman shriekcd in her down
ward flight the tramp heard. and turn
ing IN his uncertain seat he looked in
time to see two motionloss forms. the
struggling horse, and then, like a thing
OF life bending TO grasp its prey. the
wave OF death swept over them
Everything seemed blur 70 the tramp
after that, for when he opened his eyes
an hour later he was lying on the oppo-
site side Of the creek, with joey near by.
watching with wondering ewes the glare
Of the ombcrs on the blackencd waste.
lie remembered nothing bat the going
down 10 death of the farmer and his
wife, and realized the fact that he had a
new burden to bear in the care Of the
Orphan boy.
When strength came back 70 him he
picked Joey up in his arms with feel
ing Of tenderness he had never known
before and made for the ranch of the
nearest neighbor, some miles away.
where he told the story and found will
ing hands 10 help in the sad ceremony
of consigning the charrcd remains TO
decent grave
As for himself, Tony was for going
over into the Colorado diggings. leaving
the boy with the new friends. bat joey
refused to BE separated from his pro-
tector. so with a little purse donated ~
the big hearted farmer and with a re-
solve TO devote himself 70 his charge,
The tramp took the orphan up into the
mines and prospected with the hundreds
of others for natures wealth.
The erection of now cabin announced
the fact that he had come 20 stay. and
during the months which followed the
boy grew strong and hearty under his
foster fathers care and became the life
of tho camp. As miner, poor. mex
perienccd Tony was am indifferent sue
cess although he managed to keep a
sack of ilom and a rasher of bacon in
the provision box. and occasionally made
barter with a wandering jew for little
dclicacies for joey.
But even this poor luck was not des-
tined 20 last, and when ono night the
boy cried because hc was hungry, and
the tramp knew there was nothing in
the little place 10 eat, he became despor-
ate and walked ont IN the cool night air
of the mountains 90 think what was to
be done
There had been days in his life when
hc had little respect for the eighth COM
mandmcnt, and it was very natural then,
at this critical period, that ~ uneducat-
ei mind should urge him 10 take from
others % supply himself and the boy.
he tried TO reason that it was right
enough under the circumstances, but his
logic was NOT powerful enough, and he
put am end TO the whole matter by say
ing TO himself as "A sort of mental apol-
ogv:
"Ef it wasn't for Joey it nd be diG'r-
emit, but hes got to be looked after some
how.
After that the provision box in Tony's
cabin was always full to OVERLOOKING
and the tramp grew so cxtravagant as to
send TO far away city for new suit
for the boy. who, delighted at the new
prosperity. was happier than ever and
forgot entirely the pangs Of hunger
which had Iackcd his little frame. One
morning, however, the boy, who was
well ON to years old, woke and found
himself alone. lie lay long while wait
INK for Tony and then dressed himself
and went out
Ii was but natural when ho saw a
crowd around the Red Light saloon that
he should make for that point and lac
did, calling all the while with his shriI
little voice for Uncle Tony.
one of the men picked the boy up and
carried him back 20 the cabin. while the
rest were gathered about the PROSTATE
figure of man which lay partly proppod
up by q folded blanket in front of the
saloon The man ON the ground was
saying in weak, thin voice:
81 allus tried 90 do thor sQuar thing,
pard-. although l hey made some slips
in my life. don't mind going hungry
myself. for that's nothing new, but
couldn't see the kid want, and had to
DO eumctnln.
After brief pause lie continued, al
though in q fainter voice:
81 don't blame Jim for pullin on me,
cuz admit | was in his place TO do him,
but he done me. know I'm going fast
now. but, pards. look after Their kid.
le aint got nobody now, and done ther
best p
The rest was indistinct, and when the
couyusive twitch which had stopped the
sentence ended. Tony was dead
lie had been as faithful 10 his trust as
ne knew how. but his lifo had been the
price of his sin.
IL was a long time before joey became
rcconcilcd 70 have any one else take
Tony's place. bat the griefs Of childhood
are not lasting. and il was not until later
years that the boy fully realized the sad
ness of his early lifc.-Fred A. Wilson IN
The Graphic