The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1889-08-31


hope behind For two miles the horses
kept almost side by side, and then it
began to look as If the race was not
going to be an easy one for the heavy,
well fed animals. Steadily the fire had
gained until now. as they were almost
in sight of the river, q sweep of the wind
seemed to hurl the flames at them and
their throats became so parched they
could hardly breathe Tony's horse,
beating the LIGHTER burden, sped ahead,
but the struge les of the other animal
were becoming so labored that he
Stacked, Wri Int beat with his fists at
the tired beast, who, faithful enough
under his doui lie burden, tried hard to
respond by an increase of speed, but it
was no use, for with the effort he went
down on his kaees. throwing the two
heavily TO the gtornd
As the woman slriaked in her down
ward flight the tramp heard, and turn
ing in his uncertain seat he looked in
tiine to see two motionless 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 a blur to 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 eyes the glare
of the embers ON the blackened waste.
He remembered nothing but the going
down to death of the farmer and his
wife,iand realized the fact that he had
new burden to bear. in the care of the
orphan boy
" hen strength came back to him he
picked Joey up in his arms with a 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 ands to help in the sad ceremony
of consigning the chaIred remains to a
decent grave.
As for himself, Tony was for going
over into The Colorado diggings, leaving
the boy with the new friends, but joey
refused to be- separated from his pro-
tector, SO with a little purse donated by
| the big hearted farmer and with a re-
solve to devote himself to his charge,
the tramp took the orphan up into the
anu piOSptClGu VIII jllG
of others for natures wealth.
The erection of a new cabin announced.
the fact that he had come to stay, and
during the months which followed the
boy grew strong and hearty under his
foster fathers care and became the life
of the camp. AS miner, poor, mex
! perienced Tony was an Indifferent sue
cess, although he managed to keep q
sack Of flour and rasher of bacon in
the provision box, and occasionally made
a barter with a wandering Jew for little
delicacies for joey.
But even this poor luck was not des-
tined to last, and when one night the
boy cried because he was hungry, and
the tramp knew there was. nothing in
the little place to eat, he became desper-
| ate and walked out in the cool night air
of the mountains to think what was to
be DONE
There had been days in his life when
he had little respect for the eighth com
mandmcnt, and it was very natural then,
at this critical period. that his uheducat-
ed mind should urge him to take from
others to supply himself and the boy.
|
enough under the circumstances, but his
logic was not powerful enough, and he
put an end to the whole matter by say
ing to himself as a sort of mental apol-
ogy:
"Ef it wasn't for Joey it I'D be diif'r-
ent, but he's got to be looked after some-
how"
After that the provision box in Tony's
cabin was always full to overflowing,
and the tramp grew SO eXtravagant 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 racked his little frame One
morning, however, the boy, who was
well on to 6 years old, woke and found
himself alone. He lay long while wait
ing for Tony and then dressed himself
and went out
1t was but natural when he saw q
crowd around the Red Light saloon that
he should make for that point, and he
did, calling all the while with his shrill
little voice for "Uncle Tony"
One of the men picked the boy up and
carried him back to tie cabin, while the
rest were gathered about the PROSTATE
figure of man which lay partly propped
up by folded blanket in front of the
saloon. The man on the ground was
saying in a weak, thin voices
~ allus tried to do ther squar thing,
pards, although l hev 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 somethin'."
After brief pause he continued, al
though in fainter voice:
~ 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 ther kid.
He amt got nobody now, and done thel
best p
The rest was indistinct, and when the
conyulsive twitch which had stopped the
sentence ended, Tony was dead.
He had been as faithful to his trust as
he knew how, but his life had been the
price of his sin.
1t was long time before Joey became
reconciled to have any one else take
Tony's place, but the griefs of childhood
are not lasting, and it was not until later
years that the boy fully realized the sad
ness of his early life.-Fred A. Wilson in
The Graphic.
= The dressiest hats are made of tulle
lace and silk gauzes over very Sigh
wire frames.
White laces are restored to fashiona
bic favor, but black and colored ones ar
. also in vogue.
The popular hat Of the passing mont
is the light sailor hat of straw in an
color preferred.