The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1892-09-22

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He had been a jockey, and then q
vagrant sweep; his antecedents were
not reassuring; but clean clothes, reg
ular diet, and regular employment re-
formed him, and perhaps the feeling
that he was trusted helped him more
than anything. Willoughby took a
strong fancy to him, and let him into
his confidence in q small way Tom
adored his master. When Willoughby
went out shooting. Tom carried the
game; when he went out to card
parties, Tom drove him there and
back; when Tom was running the
machine over the grass, Willoughby
would sit near on a garden-seat and
chat. At night, when Tom knocked
at the door OF the smoking-room, and
entered to report his days work and
receive Instructions for the morrow,
Willoughby would sometimes ask him
to sit down. Ii the weather was cold,
he would pour him out a glass OF
whisky, but he could never persuade
him to take q second.
Come, Tom, you might as we'll
have another-it's sharp night"
mo, thank, We, SIR"
"Why not? You must have drunk
heavily in your time-eh?"
81 have sir; but never again."
Elbows that2"
"Bad example, to Others"
In this way the worthy fellow strove
to lead his master in the right direct
ion, not without some result.
"You have been here g. year now,
Tom," said Willoughby one day.
"Haven't you found out a pretty
girl to marry vet?"
mo, sir. I don't intend marrying
at present."
"Not at present - Ell? When
then?''
"When you do, sir"
Willoughby laughed aloud; but
from that day he understood Tom
perfectly.
"He wishes to reform me-" he
would sometimes say to himself;
hand;.,,EP perhaps he may. Who
II shall want the brown mare up
Tomorrow" said Willoughby to
Tom in the smoking-room; Pm going
to Mr.. Ferguson's. Well have the
dog-cart, and you shall drive me,
as my ankle is still weak. He had
spralned it about a month be-
FORE
''None OF them contemporaries, l
hope, SIR" said Tom.
"Shut the door and sit down."
Tom obeyed.
Look here, Tom, you forget your
self. What isit to you whether Iplay
cards ornot?''
81 am sorry to offend, sir. You've
been very kind to me, but can't help
speaking out, and l don't like to see
you wasting your money. You know,
sir, you have told me as how you lose
sometimes" ~; 49, >'..-.~ -
"But I win sometimes"
Tom looked at the floor and said
nothing. There was a long pause.
Willoughby pulled hard at his pipe;
suddenly he broke out with:
n DO you know what mortgages are,
Eyes, sir; we call EN- monkeys"
swell, Tom, there are a good many
monkeys on my farm, and the owners
OF the monkeys-that is, the mortga-
ges-will want their interest in a
months time. II they don't get it
they will sell me up. I have not the
money. Now, do you understand
why am going to play cards to-mor-
row."
Tom looked at his master sympa-
thetically, but did not speak.
!t's not my fault" he went on,
~ had the money in the beginning OF
the year; but a relative borrowed
$500 to start up in business, and
and-But you underestimate"
you mean you won't see the color
OF that money again, sir?'
EXACTLY So" ~..-
"Tm right down sorry to hear it.,
sir. But is there no way except this
cardplaying? Couldn't you put off
them monkeygees for year? Couldn't
you, tell 'em that you were going to
work hard, and save, and pull things
round? Knock off my wage, sir; I
don't want it. And put me on to
some harder work; I could do as
much again as do"
Tom rose to his feet somewhat ex-
citedly, pulling his waistcoat down
and stiffening his back, as though to
show off his physical capacity for ad-
ditional tolls.
Rubbish, Tom! Sit down. Kind
ly meant, but rubbish. I shall play
tomorrow night; if I lose, I shall stop
before much damage is done; if I win,
! shall follow my luck. There, my
friend, let that quiet your fears. Good
night"
Good night, sir. But promise me
one thing; if you arc lucky you'll
never play for money again"
~ PROMISE"
"Then may you be lucky, sir, for
this once. Good night, SIR And
Tom disappeared.
1.-THE beginning of the REFORM"
thought Willoughby. II wonder if
he'll make me sign the pledge, next y
It was late in the afternoon when
Tom drove the dog-cart up to the
front door. :
"Put a little corn in" shouted Will
loughby from his bedroom window,
"and a. basket. shall want you to
fetch Lightning up for me in the Bent
Garth"
Lightning was horse with a good
deal OF blood in him, very dear to