Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1890-05-10

ride of now and leave him to the rap
idly deepening gloom and the wild,
cherries night, but the horse was kept
steadily alongside of him, and the rider
spoke again.
Cant you get into regular work and
leave this tramp business?"
mo; there's none1l haye the likes OF
me. Idon'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 ears. Some
one actually talking to him as if he was
an honest man, and not some sort OF
vermin or venomous beast. A real
"tip-top gentleman" too. He must be
muddled. But the brown eyes were
looking coolly enough at him, and their
owner was saying: well, what do you
say?"
"Yer don't know what l be; I'm bad
lott I've been In quod oft enough,
blurted out Jim, feeling somehow he
could not take his new found patron in.
Il dare say you have, and you de-
served it, too. But believe you can
pull round yet if you ike; and, as L
said, I will give you the chance of reg
uIar work and pay. Will you take it ?"
In the depth of Jim's warped nature
there glimmered something like spark
of gratitude and dim longing after a
new life for moment; but old habits
were too strong for him, and the clouds
closed darker again as he shook
his head and said in tones which
tried to be civil: "No, guv'nop;
yer mean well, but it's no go
now. I'm no good for anything but
cadging and tramping, an dean want
to work for any master-an' won't, ney-
ther."
He expected an angry lecture and
round abuse for refusing; but the other
said quietly, stroking his boot with the
handle of his hunting crop, "That
is a dangerous way of thinking,
my friend, and will get you
into trouble again. You are a
fool not to try and pull up a bit;
but you know your own affairs best.
Well, here is supper and bed for you
anyway. Look out" He tossed a
half-crown to Jim with careless, easy
good-nature, and, shaking up his horse,
trotted off with nod and Good luck"
How costless word of two of sym
patty are, and yet how priceless they
may become! How easy to be gra-
cious, and yet how far-reaching the re-
sultsl We scatter kindly greetings
here and there as we journey on life's
roadway, and 10! they spring up bright
flowers to gladden. some sad, weary
wayfarer. We perform thoughtlessly
now and again trivial services of cour-
tesy and forget them, but they shine in
lone, loveless hearts as glittering stars
to cheer the midnight sky.
Hugh Boynton, smoking his high
priced Havana after dinner that even
ing in the luxurious ease of his favor
lite lounging-chair, had utterly for
gotten all about the few words
and the silver coin which he had
thrown to the tramp whom he had
overtaken as he rode home from
hounds. Jim, curled up under the lee
of a clover rick, turned the half-crown
over and over in his hand and thought
how for once in his life he had been
spoken kindly to by real gentleman.
Five dreary years passed over Jim's
luckless head-their monotony broken
by police-court, prison-cell, and va
grant-ward experiences. He had wan
dered up and down some dozen coun-
ties, and seen the inside of most of
drew near, had drifted toward York;
not that he had any particular reason
for getting there, but because it lay in
his way north, and he happened to be
making in that direction; why, not
even he himself knew, for north, south
east, and west we're alike to him. He
had had run of bad luck lately. Once
or twice he had found a casual's well
come and slept under cover; but he had
q rooted objection to its concomitants,
and chose rather the cold and expos
ure of the open air. He had scarcely
tasted food for a week, and had almost
forgotten the feel of copper coin; for
somehow the near approach of the fes-
tival of peace and goodwill seemed to
have shut up mems pockets, and sharp
refusals and scornful silence we're all he
got from those of whom he asked help.
The afternoon was closing as he
found himself in the long, struggling
village of Marston, footsore and done
up. The lights at the grocer's shop
threw broad band of brightness across
the road, and Jim could see man in a
white apron busily piling up pyramid
of loaves which boy had just brought
in crisp and hot from the bakehouse.
The sight was too much for the fam
ished fellow, and he pushed his way
into the shop. Now, then, what is it ?"
cried the shopman sharply, as he
scanned Jim's tattered appearance.
will We give me van of them little
uns, guv'nor? I'm nigh clemmed," and
he nodded toward the bread pile.
%No, certainly not; never give to
beggars or tramps."
1--WE not tasted bite nor sup this
blessed day, God knows"
Cant help that! Come, get out of
the shop. do you hear? or I'll set the
constable onto you. The likes of you
ought not to be allowed to go about
the country. Come. off with you.S