The advocate., 1894-03-28

nence, but IT pains me 10 see YOU look
so worn and weary"
"Oh, Pm not tired, said John, try
| ing to brace up and look Spry. "Tm
not tired"
Would you have had him confess it
in such a presence? Then you have
never loved a pretty girl and you have
much to learn.
"Were you on that car that just went
up?" he asked, much as he might have
inquired if she had been to the moon.
Eyes, and when one of the men said
that, l looked out and saw you. Why
do you walkI"
John was silent from embarrassment,
and she continued:
"The men on the car said you walk
to save money for your father. But
that isn't so. | have found you out in
your sins, Mr.. Cotterel, 50 you had as
well confess. You are saving money
for somebody else in Graham.
John was astOnished. Did she think
he was saving up nickels in order to
marry some woman? Her remark,
much more her manner, puzzled him.
He waited for her to continue.
81 know all about it. You are walk
ing because you have been paying a
poor sick mans rent. Confess it.
"Who told you that, Miss Graham ?
l hope no one on the car said anything
like that" And poor John was as
much troubled as the criminal who
fears his wickednesS has become pub
licly known.
mo, Mr.. Cotteren, your secret is un-
known to the world. The sick mans
wife herself told me about your good
ness to them, and about your walking,
too, in order to save and help others.
She told it to me while tears Of gratitude
were in her eyes, poor WOmanp'
elbow long have you known these
folks?"
"Oh-two or three hours"
"Where'd you see them?"
"Pray, where could | have seen them
but in their own house? The poor man
is down i'll and his wife cannot leave
him."
"Miss Graham, you've convicted
yourself of the same crime, for they
wouldn't have been talking so freely
unless you had got their confidence" ."
And he laughed as does the policeman
who has "gOt the deadWOOd' on some
poor wretch and gleefully sees a prison
yawning for him in the distance. "But
how are they fixed? She's kept tell
ing me they've plenty to eat and keep
'em warm, but I'm almost sure they're
starving. Did you find out?"
"They had nothing whatever in the
house to eat, but they have plenty now.
l left the wife at a good supper and
even the sick husband was able to eat
some fruit"
"Miss Graham, you're an angel!' ex-
claimed the blacksmith impulsively. 81
didn't believe there could be such a
young woman among your class Of peO-
ple."
"And what have l done but spend a
little of the money which my class has
taken from yours? You see l have
profted by your lecture. Compare
what did with your noble self-sacri-
fee! | gave of an abundance which
will be made up to me again without
privation or effort on my part, while
you gave outright what you have
worked so hard for. And, then, see
how you are walking after your hard
days labor! If you call me an angel,
Mr.. Cotterell, you must confess your
self a god"
"Why, what would you have a man
do? Let people suffer and not try to
help 'em? couldn't act like that, Miss
Graham. It's not in me to do that"
II would have you do the noble thing
you have been doing only you ought
not to walk. That is going too far.
Think how few men are like you-if
any are; and if you ruin your health
you will be unable to do anybody good.
Don't walk any more. Please don't.
ANnnlt un,n rnrnrn icn ma thnA %,