Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1894-08-17

AVvh iihS q ohiVcOSr. uC COpo Ht
what?" from Wallace), "Well, the per
lice d be sure to pounce on yer an
take yer to the station 'us. But yer
can come with me; I've got a home,
as some boys amt with evident
pride). There's only one bed, an
mann an the little gals has that
sleeps on the 1oor-an' mebbe-yer
could bunk down, too?"--hesitatingly.
"0f course l could, and glad of the
chance. I've slept on the ground be.
fore now, when we camped out. Thank
you eves so much"
Tommy wasn'tused to being thanked,
and he seemed embarrassed Earlier
IN the day Wallace had asked him
to share his abundant lunch, and the
bootblack tasted such food as seldom
touched his hungry tongue. But it
won his heart In return he had
freely replenished Wallace's backing
when the little box gave out.
That night was revelation. Wal
lace had never before come face to
face with poverty, and this was be-
yond belief. Yet the one room was as
clean as room could be in which all
the processes of living went on.
Tommy, too, with great politeness,
offered the tin wash. basin for Wal
lace's use before he scrubbed his own
face and hands In rough way he was
kind to his mother and his little sis
tiers; a pair of twins they were, not
three years old. He was evidently
proud to introduce his new acquaint-
ance. 1t was proof of Wallace's fine
training that he felt only pitiful and
not superior, Mrs. Mills, in her young
days, had been nearer to his world than
she was now-that is, she had been a
servant in respectable family. 1t
was a comfort to tell the story of her
hard life even to this boy, he had such
plying eyes.
Tommy has never been week in
the coutry in all his life, sor, an him
goin' on thirteen. I've tried to have
him go with them fresh-airers, but he
wouldn't go an leave me with the
babies-hes that good, Tommy is, an
his father dead two years come Jan
uary." Wallace's heart was soft for the
little fellow whose fate had been sc
different from his own.
When bedtime came Mrs Mills made
what shift she could for decency by
hanging tattered sheet across the
room. Then both boys laid down OIL
an old quilt for mattress, and were
no longer one poor and the other rich
for sleep led them both into the happy
land of dreams.
1t took the novice the best part O
two days to earn his fare home, and he
felt very proud when he found he has
little more than enough. He learned
much in those days of show the othel
half lives"-not by any means thu
worst of them either, because their
was an honest life at least. They pait
ten dollars month rent for that on,
poor room. Wallace thought of com
Portable whole house belonging to hi
father which didn't bring in so mucl
as that.
"It's only little while, spring an
fall, that Tommy's work is brisk lil1
it is now," Mrs. Mills said. can, any
way, faint like it was before thes
Eyetalians took it up, an the bi,
hotels has their own sinners. Not hal
SO much chance for the boys. But wit
me SEWN for shops an Tommy's work
we amt never come to the -starvir
point yet-praise God for that" sh
added, reverently.
"1'll never forget you, Tommy" sal
Wallace, as they went to the Gran
Central station on the morning of tn
third day. I've put down just wher
you live, and Pm going to write to yor
see if don't, and-and-" but he didn
conclude the sentence. There weT
vague ideas of what his powerful pap
could do which he did not care to di.
close.
well vum!"-which seemed to
Tommy's usual expression when SUI
prise overcame him. The boys shoe
hands, though the bootblack was ev
IDENTIFY unused to such courtesy. Wa
lace had ten cents left after buyin
his ticket. Forty-two shines in tw
days-that wasn't bad for beginne
He wanted to offer the ten cents I
Tommy, but an innate delicacy pr,
vented him-the hospitality had bee
too true for that.
Mr.. Ainslie came to his dinner earl
that day. He looked anxious, and ca
ried an open letter.
hol
set