Evening journal., 1892-09-27


she carry them HERSELF"
mo, she had servant answered
Caspar angrily He did not wish to pro
long the conversation, so he turned
away. remarking. "Good night" in
surly accent
But youn treat frstg called the
other after him. "I'm chilled TO the
bone.
mo let me alone I've something to
DO az home and he strobe on.
You'll give all the lads drop at The
Bull tonight, anyway" cried the man.
"When one has such luck rs that he
doesn't forget his friends III tell the
lads TO expect YOU
Lame Caspars anger arose. He INIT
tered an oath rs he limped on in the
darkening twilight Treatl Not hel
He meant TO keep the gold piece for him
self. II was hard, indeed, if a man
couldn't keep what belonged to him.
but it doesn't belong to you" a voice
seemed 10 cry within him. 1T belongs
to the golden. haired boy" Caspar
turned to SEQ if any one was following
him. de saw nobody, yet q peculiar
dread possessed him. When he reached
his hut. on the outskirts Of the settle
ment. he carefully bolted the door be-
fore he lighted the candle that he stuck
into the neck Of bottle. He sat down
by the rickety old table and examined
the gold piece lcisurely. 10 scinhllated
in the dim, red candle light like "a living
thing He was afraid to sit there hold
ing It in his hand for any length Of time
Il Ind already been discovered in his
possession and soon tho whole village
wonld know Of it. Possibly the news
might spread to the little boys ears, and
then
As this thought occurred to him his
fingers trembled so violently that the
gold piece foil Gathering on tho table
lie began to regret that he had not given
it TO the boy. but it WAS too late now,
and besides he wanted it. He loved to
look mt it. It was the most beautiful
thing he had ever seen; but hemust hide
it away s0newhere-hido it until he
made mp his mind to spend It. He there
fore placed it in acup and locked the
cup IN a closet After this he cooked
his supper and went to bed
Through his feverish dreams all night
long brilliant showers Of gold danced
and twined themselves into fantastic
shapes. Sometimes they seemed TO fall
from an immense height and threaten TO
crush him beneath their weight, and he
cried out in desperate terror. His rest
was broken and frightful visions as
sailed him. Once or twice the face of "A
golden hnired boy nose before him alter
nately wreathed in smiles and bathed in
tears.
With the advent Of tho dawn Lame
Casparawoke, troubled and unreireshed
AS he walked to his boat, that was
moorod some distance away, a woman's
fresh voice called TO him from u window.
Good morning, Caspar ! hear that
you have a gold piece that q lady gave
you for a few fish What luck"
He stopped short and scowlod back at
her "Well, what OF itg' he snapped
five right to my own, 1 suppose"
"Nobody said you hadn't, but the lads
seemed to think you might treat for
once. They waited for you at The Bull
last night and wero voxed because you
didn't come. Are you going to treat to-
night
"No" he answered and passed on out
of sight into the duh tinted morning.
All day. sitting among his nets and
tackle. he reflected upon what ho had
doae and the possible result Il would
be silly in the extreme to keep the gold
piece forever in the cupboard when b,
stood in need Of SO many things Sill
ne did not feel like spending it imme
| diately. A superstitious dread overcam,
him whenever he contemplated parting
with it.
! Generally speaking. he was success
ful fisherman. but today he got scarcely
anything. and he came home in the oven
ing tired and out of temper. Upon on'
point his mind WAS made up. He woul,
not go near tho tavern. Ho resented DO
ing pressed to spend the money in drink
But the other fishermen, when the,
found he did not come, sent = delegation
TO his house. About six men rappo,
loudly on the door. more in spirit o
mischief than downright vexation. bu
it was sufficient 20 rouse Lamo Caspa
20 furious opposition.
"What do you want?" he shouted
hinging the door wide open and con
fronting them with fierce hostilit
depicted on every line OF his counte
nance.
1--WE want you 20 treat Aren't yoI
coming to The Bully
mo; I'm sick. Go away and lot IN
alone" And be tried TO shut the door
But the men resisted the action
Sick, nonsenser' cried one. What
come over you. man; Have You turne
miaery'
Lets see your gold piece anyway,
/ said another 1--WE never get sue
things Lets see what it looks like,
and he tried to force his way into tn
! rabin.
4 YES. let's see the gold pieoel- shoute
The others in n chorus. But Caspar
: features grew liyid with passion. Il
4 strobe forward with clinched FIST.
4 "Outof hero every mothers son Of We
a he shouted. ''lll not spend a penny
! make We more drunken than ye are. Oh
q Of here, 1 sayg
y The men drew back surprised at IN
strange Outburst For 4 moment no on