The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1890-06-06

one actually talking to him as if he was
an honest man, and not some sort of YER
min or venomous beast. A real "tip-top
gentleman" too. He must be muddled.
But the DrOwn SyTo- we're looking coolly
enough at HIM. and their owner was say
ing: "Well, what do you sayl"
eyer don't know what 1 be; Pm a
bad lott I've been in quod oft enough, "
blurted out Jim, feeling somehow he
could not take his new-found patron in.
81 dare say you have, and deserved il,
too But believe you can pull round
yet if you like; and, as 1 said, 1 will
give you the chance of regular work and
pay. Will you take itl"
In the depth of Jim's warped nature
there glimmered something like a 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 ne shook his head
and said in tones which tried to be civil:
"No, guv'nor; yer mean well; but it's
no go now. Pm no good for aDythink
but cadging and tramping, an l doan
want to work for any master-an' won't,
neyther"
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 to pull out a bit;
but you know your own affairs best.
* ~. here is supper and bed for you,
sayway,s Look out" He tossed half
crown TO Jim with careless, easy good
nature, and, shaking up his horse, trotted
off with a nod and ''good luck"
How costless a word or two of sympa-
thy are, and yet how priceless they may
becomel How easy to be gracious, and
yet how far-reaching the resultsl 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.
Hugh Boynton, smoking his high
priced Havana after dinner that evening
in the luxurious ease of his favorite
lounging-chair, had utterly forgotten 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
of how for once in his life he had been
spoken kindly to by real gentleman.
Five dreary years passed over Jim's
luckIess 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 jails, and
now, had drifted toward York He had
scarcely tasted food for week, and had
almost forgotten the feel of 4 copper
coin.
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 J
band of brightness across the road, and
jim could see man in white apron
buslly piling up a pyramid of loayes
which boy had Just brought in crisp
and hot from the bakehouse. The sight |
was too much for the famished fellow,
and he pushed his way into the shop.
''Now, then, what is it2" cried the shop |
man sharply, as he scanned Jim's tattered
appearance.
"Will We give me yam ov them little
uns, guv'norl I'm nigh clemmed;" and !
he nodSsd toward the bread pile.
-. rsIv-uot; never give to