Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1894-10-26

ed if the number was caprice of fate or
place reserved for people of wild and
disordered aspect, but he did not trouble
himself about it Why should he p? What
had he to do with presentiments or spec
ulation of any kind, now that he s
about to determine for himself all the
problems of life ? He only wanted to
sleep for the last time.
Then another diversion of fate pre-
sented itself. He was so tired and the
bed looked so inviting thai he threw
himself upon it and was instantly asleep
with no thought of the tiny vial in his
vest pocket which held for him the elixir
of death.
He slept many hours, and awakened
to wonder first where he was, and next
why he was there He had no watch
and opened his door to ask the time from
any one he might see An old woman
with white hair was scrubbing the pas
sage
Gould you tell me what time it is ?"
he asked pleasantly
IL can that" she answered, "for I
just looked meself at the clock inside
lts-there ye are, sir--its striking 4
| mind the time, ye see, sir, for | must
be home at 5 to give Jimmy his medi-
cine"
who is Jimmy y asked Cyril, not
because he wanted to know, but it seem
cd brutal to shut the door while she was
speaking.
me crippled boy, God bless him, sir
He's all I've got in the world, an | do
be thinkin' of him every minute DO
workin'."
"But you would be better off without
him." remarked Cyril, who was follow
ing out his own train Of thought.
Better off without my Jimmy
Man, you must be crazy to say the likes
of that"
"Thcn he would be better off,"
THAT amt for us to say at all. f" aud
looking at him sharply she closed her
lips firmly and went on with her work
He returned to bis room and locked
the door. His purpose was as strong
as ever, but there was no hurry He
wondered what would become Of Duff.
and vaguely hoped tho dog would never
know of his cowardce in deserving him.
Somebody will DO good to him for
his own sake" he said to himself rs he
walked about the room, which was bare
aud cheerless Some one who had oc-
cupied it before him had written over
the cheap wooden mantel four lines,
which Cyril read several times before no
comprehended their meaning.
"Our plans may seem disjointed,
But we may calmly rest;
What God hath once appointed
Is better than our best"
Sentiment" he snoered, "God does
not trouble II imself about our miserable
lives. We are only atoms in His sight,
and He does not change any of His
universal laws to help the creatures of
His will Besides, how do We know
that there is any God 7 The fool hath
said in his heart, there is no God-per-
haps the fool was right. Tonight l
shall know"
lie took from his pocket the vial Of
prussic acid
This will clear up the mystery.
When drink it, thought will cease---
no more worry about the problem Of
life--a moments blind, dizzy. cropping
in the dark, and then--after death,
what :"
Ile turned the white, colorless fluid,
with its pungent odor, into glass, and
stood with it in his hand before the open
window. There came peculiar scratch
ing at the door,
What is that?" cried Cyril. He
thrust the glass into a drawer, and went
to the door. A low whine pierced his
heart He pulled the door opeu, and
battered and bruised dog, with blood
shot eyes and protruding tongue, lay
painting on the mat, unable to drag itself
Il step further.
duff, dear old boy Have the brutos
almost killed you p end he lifted him
in his arms and carried him ia. Oae
leg being limp and broken, moving him
caused great pain.
Cyril Faber took the glass with the
deadly potion 10 it, and threw both out
of the window.
duff, he said, kneeling down by
bis best friend, you've taught me q
lesson. If cannot be as worthy Of my
charge as you have been Of yours, my
poor fellow, do not deserve the name
Of man. Duff. old boy. We are pards
again, and this time it's for life. Aud
I'll make the fellows who hurt you like
this ask your pardon on their knees be-
fore I'm done with them Do you hear
me Duff p
Yes, Duff heard He lifted his poor
stricken head aud looked with loving
eyes into his masters face, aud tried to
lick the hands that we're touching him
with caressing tenderness. Then he
gave faint, contented sigh, and stretch
cd himself out for a sleep that would be
no more disturbed by any vagaries Of
man. ~ Detroit Free Press.
II found a queer specimen to-day"