The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-07-15

and sou viii ma twenty-five 'rn', .,n
/ always take, in ,ase | have to roe
home Accordingly he opened It, ex-
amined the money, and then sai l.. no 10
Won mean me TO carry it:' yes she
replied though expecting 20 see HI"
dart ou, Of sigh: n The 'rst COZ NM.
He walked steadily IN ~ her s'ie'
however. iii they reached her door,
when she said, ''wm you unlock the
door for me-" mo, ! won't do H. u
you're a bully woman" AMI away ne
ran, while she wondered more any
good Impression could ever ne mace Gu
such boy. A.,
The next morning as she entered the
school. hardly expecting 20 see him again.
there he was, ragged and solled as nsual,
evidently waiting for her. Ereauy W
her surprise he came up 10 het anu
asked did you mean what you sald
Yesterday, that you wanted me to keep
ORDER" Certainly | meant H. ana
should like 1t very much. she sal1.
Well, you bet, you never had sucn
order In your school as / shall keep
he answered.
The day passed without incident. and as
she was returning In the evening Tom
again darted out OF the dark alley. again
snatched books and satchel. and again
asked the same questions. rs your
pocket-book In II, and is there money IN
Il 2' She said as before "YOu NAV open
1t and see for yourself" still expecting
him 10 disappear with II suddenly. But
lie only looked, as VI 10 SdtlSIy Ills cum
Osity, and asked is this the same
~ erty-iive cents that was here yes
terday?' and she answered, Yes" lie
escorted her quietly home and skipping
up the steps said. Give US your key,
and III unlock the door" Much sur
prised she gave It to him. and he UNI
locked tho door and walked m, saying.
I'm make your fire for you. This ne
did and also filled the tea-kettle. Then
she asked him to stay and have cup
Of 20 with bpr tNO won't do IL,
but you're a bully woman" he said,
and bounded Off
After this Tom kept the school in order
in masterful manner. such order as was
never seen before in that school, but by
what extraordinary means this was eff
fected We are not informed. As he was
doing 50 well, the ladies decided 20 give
him some better and more comfortable
clothes for his encouragement. He con-
tinued doing escort duty every night TO
the teacher and always darting out of
the alley-way in the same sort Of desper-
ate manner and always paying her at
parting his highest Of compliments,
you're bully woman
One night he said to her, Don't you
like 10 go TO night meetings." Very
much, was her reply, but it is too far
and l don't like to go alone" "Oh, If you
want 70 go, Ill take you there, and bring
you home too" SO whenever she could go
Tom was always ready to go with her,
and walt around to see her home; but
little gamin that he was, he was not often
persuaded 70 80 inside. Thus things went
on for nearly year, Tom being the
teachers right hand man, however rough
and uncOuth he might be Now they
thought ii would be a good thing to give
him an entire new suit of clothes some
thing he had never had in all his life.
Naturally a new ambition was stirred
within him at this stride toward man
hood, and the teacher told him that he
might keep his new suit In her closet
cont. 4
muir, and occasionally ne would be will
ing TO stay and take an evening meal, and
sometimes on Sunday he would even go
10 Church, or perhaps 70 Sunday school
50 that though his old bohemian life
was still strong upon him, they felt that
his case was by no means hopeless.
One bright Sunday morning he went as
usual 10 her room TO take off his old
clothes and put on his best suit. and then
he walked 10 Church with her and re-
turned and dlned with her. After dinner
they read little together, then he went
out as he was In the habit OF doing
though he always came back 10 take her
to Church in the evening. This time
however he fingered moment at the
door. looked shyiy at her, and said IN his
queer abrupt manner Il thank you for
all you've done for me, ana you're the
bulliest woman | ever saw
She thought 1t only an expression OF his
gratitude, as he had really improved won
derfuy. and she told him what help
and comfort he was 10 her. and that she
had great hope Of him After he had gone
out and shut the door he came back
again. and said Good bye" 1t was very
strange, though still she thought nothing
serious Of IL till supper time came and
no Tom. Church time and Tom did not
appear. At school next morning Tom was
not there TO keep order. So weeks and
months went by, and no sight nor sound
of Tom, and the teachers heart was sad
and as the months rolled on into years she
gave up all hope of him. She kept his
old clothes hanging up I'm her closet. as
touching sort OF reminder OF the grdceleSS
boy, for she yearned over him still.
After several years, as she was walking
down Fifth avenue one lovely Sunday
morning. she noticed a finely dressed
young man looking intently at her as
he advanced toward her. He stopped
suddenly, in front Of her as they met,
and said. Don't you know me. Miss
D?'' She looked at him doubtfuiiy for
moment and then exclaimed. Tom,
can IL be you% Yes" he answered,
Il never felt so mean In all my life as
on that last Sunday when | left you with
that new OF suit of clothes on. But Sat
urday morning., as | was sweeping q
crossing. / heard two gentlemen talking.
one said, looking at me, There, II could
get such boy as that to 90 to the place
where | am going | would make his
fortune" Then | stepped right up to
him and said, Sir | heard what you
just said can ! 20 with your NO" he
replied, mot with such old clothes as
those But I've got a good nice suit
TO wear, If you'll take me-" Every we'll"
he said, put them on and meet me at the
Grand Central depot, al such a time
Monday morning. and I'll take you"
The meanest thing / ever did was to
with you. but I went with the gentleman,
and vowed that / WOuii never con1e hack