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

He was bad lott Magistrates, jail
cbaplains, and police had all at various
times told him so; and he quietly &C
cepted their Judgment, knowing it to be
pretty near the truth. An outcast from
his very babyhood, what chance had he
ever had? Left by an unfeeling mother
to die in a roadside ditch, he had been
taken to the nearest Union to be brought
up q workhouse founding, until he was
old enough to be bound prentice and
the guardians could wash their hands
of him entirely. A drunken saddler
covenanted to clothe, board, and teach
him his trade, and at his hands poor
Jim had dogs life, until, goaded to
madness by every species of i'll treat
ment, he struck his master and fled.
For awhile he tried hard to get work in
the villages through which he passed; ;
but no one would take on the strange,
friendless lad, and so he made up his
mind to enlist for soldier.
If only he had reached New York an
hour or two earlier Her Majesty's army
had gained useful recruit, and poor
Jim would have had a chance to rise
and become a credit to the service But
i'll luck would not let him go. He was
routed out of an old stable by a zeal
Gus member of the city police, and
charged next day with sleeping out at
night or some equally heinous crime,
the result being that he was committed
to prison for seven days. This broke
down his last shred of self-respect, and
hot ,o, 10
heaven help him, for his doom is sealed.
Jim came out of jail utterly reckless,
with wild hatred of everybody and
everything.
Yes there was no doubling it; he
was an out-and-out bad lot! And
he looked it, too, as he slouched
along the country lane with
hands deep in his empty pockets and
his head bent to meet the rain which
the November wind drove in his face.
But he was too much used to discom-
fort to heed the weather and plodded
sullenly on through the puddles in the
deepening gloom, half asleep, and so
utterly careless of everything around
that he never heard the beat of hoofs
until CHEEKY voice cried, Now, my
good fellow, if you don't want the whole
road to yourself, perhaps you will let
me pass.
Jim never looked around, but skunk
closer to the dripping hedgerow, ex-
pecting the horsman to ride on without
another world, but something quite I'M
expected happened, for the CHEEKY
voice said, "Thanksp
It was the first time that any one had
ever thanked the good-for-nothing, and
he stared up in blank amazement, and
saw q man of about his own age in red
coat and top boots, plentifully be-
spattered with mud, looking down at
him from the back of weight-carry-
ing hunter without the least CLEAN of
aversion or suspicion in his pleasant,
fresh-colored face.
you look rather done up; been long
on the road?"
"a week an more!" The reply was
surly enough-not that Jim resented
the question, but simply because he
was so used to insults and rough speak
ing that the idea of a blooming swell"
speaking civilly to such as he took him
utterly by surprise.
%Going homer"
Jim gave contemptuous grunt.
Never hs yam, Tuv'nor!"
%Poor chap! But you live some
where, suppose?"
%Oh, yes, with grim chuckle; %I
live neutrality-suspicious.. Use not
like some folks, must have everything
tip-top. No, that's not my style. Ye've
3 big house, in course, and lots of
slaves to wait on ye. I lives just where
I can, and has to fend for mysen, and
don't often get my meals regular"
And the cruel contrast between him
self and his companion filled the tramp's
heart with bitter thoughts. Why have
some folk all the good things of life and
others none of them? Here was man
no older than himself with fine clothes
on his back and horse to carry him,
while he, poor fellow, had to trudge
along ankle-deep in the mud, with
scarcely o whole thread to cover him.
WHY, the very horse was long way
better off and more cared for; it at least
had a warm, dry stable and plenty of
food waiting for it, while he had never
resting place nor q crust of bread to
eat
Again the CHEEKY, kind tones startled
him: But you have friends some
where, I suppose?"
%No-not mel There's never a
single soul, guv'nor, in this wide world
Is cares rap for me; and, when l lies
down some day and dies In the ditch,
there1l moan be, man, woman, or child,
ash miss me. Mcneil be sorry, 'cep-
tin the parish-bums as'll have to put
me underground, and they'll grudge
doing of that even" Jim gave a short,
ugly laugh and slouched on-the water
squish, squish, squishing out of the
gaping rents of his old boots at every
step, he quite expected the swell" to