Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1890-05-09

at every step. He quite expected the
"swcll" to ride oil now and leave him to
the rapidly deepening gloom and the
wild, cherries night; but the horse was
kept steadily alongside of him, and his
rider spoke again.
Cant you get into regular work and
leave this tramp business.'
"No; there's nonc'l have the likes of
me. don't look respectable enough"
Nonsense, man. Don't get down on
your luck, but pick yourself up. Now,
look here, | will give you chance my
self. if you will take IT."
Jim could not believe his cars. Some
one actually talking to him as if he was
an honest man, and not some sort of YER
min or vcnomous beast. A real "tip-top
gentleman" too. lie must be mudllcd.
But the brown eyes were looking coolly
enough ut hini. and their owner was say
ing: ''Wcll, what do you say?"
"fcr don't know what be; I'm a
bad lot! I've been in quod oft enough, :"
blurred ont Jim. feeling somehow he
could not take his new-fo,md patron in.
81 dare say you have, and deserved it :,
too. But believe you can pull round
yet if you like; and, rs | said, | will
give you the chance of regular work and
pay. viii you take it,"
In the depth of .Jim's warped nature
there glimmcred something like spark
OF gratitude IN dim longing after Il
new life. for moment; but old habits
were too strong for him. and the clouds
closed darker again as he shook his head
nnH SuII i'm fnnre l,;,l, ir,nI 10 L. I'LL
"No, guv'nor; yer mean well; but it's
no go now. I'm no good for auythink
but cadgng and tramping, an doan
want to work for any mastcr-an' won't,
ncythcr."
lie expected IN angry lecture and
round abuse for refusing; but the other
said quietly, stroking his boot with the
handle of his hunting-crop: "That is n
dangerous way of thinking. my friend,
and will get you into trouble again. You
are fool not 10 try 10 pull out bit;
hut you know your own affairs best.
We'll, here is supper and bed for you,
anyway. Look out" lie tossed half
crown to Jim with careless, easy good
nature, and, shaking up his horse, trottcd
oil with Il nod and tgood luck"
How costlcss II word or two of sympa-
thy are. and yet how priceless they may
become! How easy 10 be gracious, and
yet how far-rcaching the results. We
scatter kindly greetings here and there
as We journey on lifc's roadway, and 10!
they spring up bright flowers to gladden.
some sad, weary wayfarcr.
Hugh Boynton, smoking his high
priced Havana after dinner that evening
in the luxurious case of his favoritc
lounging chair. had utterly forgotten all
about the few words and the silver coin
which he had thrown TO the tramp whom
he Ind oycrtnkcn rs he role home from
hounds. Jim, curlcl up under tho Ice
of il clover rick, turned the half-crown
over and over in his hand and thought
of how for once in his life he had been
spoken kindly to by IL real gentleman.
Five drcary years passed over Jim's
lucklcss head, their monotony broken by
police court, prison cell, and vagrant
ward experiences. He had wandered up
and down some dozen counties. and seen
the inside of most of their iails, and
now, had driftcl toward York. lie had
scarcely tasted food for ii week, and had
almost forgotten the feel OF copper
coin.
The afternoon was closing as he found
himself in the long Struggling village of
Marston, foo.sorc and done mn. The
lights at the groccr's shop threw broad
band Of brightness across the road, and
lin could see Il man in white apron
busliy piling up pyramid OF loavcs
which II boy had just brought in crisp
and hot from the bnkchousc. The sight
was too much for the furnished fellow,
AMI hc pushed his way into the shop
Now, then, what is it!' cried the shop
man sharply, rs he scanned Jim's tattcrcd
appearance.
"Will yc give me yam ov them little
uns, guv'nor! I'm nigh clcmmcd !" and
he nodded toward the bread pile.
No. certainly not, never give to
bcggars or tramps.
''I'vc not tasted bite nor sup this
blessed day, God knows"
Cant help that! Come. get out of
the shop, do you hcar!--or I'll set the
constable onto you. The likes of you
ought not to bc allowed to 90 about the
country. Come, off with you!'
N'' WV opNltl oilNttSt Mtilh lOFtll lnLD
the night hungry and insultcd, and the
sleek tradcsman rubbed his hands and
stacked his loavcs, con.ratuating him.
self the while on his refusal to countc-
nance worthless vagabond, who, re-
gardrd from the lofty standpoint Of
political economy. had no right to live
on the earth.
Three times did Jim try his luck down
the length Of the village street, with no
better success; aud then he gave it up
: and bitterly left the houses of his fellow
creatures behind him and faced the
bleak open country again. lie dragged
himself along for IL few weary miles, then
! opening gate crawlcd into half-ruincd
cowshcd and flung himself down upon
some bracScn and straw litter in inc
furthcst corner, and dozcd oil. When he
woke up the moon had risen, and was
shining in through the chinks OF the