The Penn's Grove record., 1894-03-09
THE DEBT WAS PAID.

'Chariie, l have brought you an
other little SON."
"Another what?' gasped Mr., Sim
mons, springing from his chair and
rubbing his hands vigorously across
his forehead as if half afraid he was
still sleeping before the fire. AN
other? Say that again, will you? L
! don't think l quite caught what you
said," and Mr.. Simmons ciutched
conyulsiyely at the table for support.
"My dear" said Mrs. Simmons, in
! no wise dauntcd by this uncompro-
| missing reception, and smiling a
sweet, sad smile, 'Hook here" She
shook the snowlakcs from the
~threadbare mantel that covered her
own shoulders, and, opening a big
basket she carried in her arms, she
displayed a little baby wrapped in a
tiny, ragged shirt, which lay there
sleeping contentedly, and quite I'M
conscious of the attention it was at
tracing.
Great Scott, woman" groans Mr..
Simmons, falling back a pace in hor-
ror, 81 can't allow that, my dear.
You'll have to take it back. That's
what it comes to. There's the rent
due tomorrow, and goodness only
knows how it will be raised. 1t we
can't fill three mouths it's q mathe-
matical certainty we can't Ill foar.
AS Euclid says"
''Oh, never mind Euclid" put in
Mrs. Simmons sweetly, hell kce ,.
He doesn't match well with tho
smallest in a model dwelling house.
Now, as to this little baby, it's go
ing to stop. Just hold it a minute
while | get the bottle" and before
Door Mr.. Simmons knew where he
was he was sitting in his chair again
and rocking the little infant to and
fro in a melancholy sort of way, and
vaguely wondering how no could get
rid Of it.
s'Don't look so sad" said Mrs.
lSimmons, busting in again with the
bottle halt-tilled with miik-her pOr-
ton for supper that night. you'll
give the baby bad dreams. No, I'm
not going to be scoldcd. l will never
do it again, but Pm not going back
now. And l know you will not wish
me to either when you hear. l was
returning along the Embankment,
from selling my work" she went on
Eagerly, 'and, at the foot of Cleo
patra's needle, / found myself in the
midst of a little crowd. l stopped
land saw two policemen trying to
lrOuse a woman, who was leaning
back against the parapct, holding IL
child in her arms, 1t was crying, oh,
so bitterly, and clinging to her
breast.
She is dead said the constable.
She has been dead for an hour it
was only too true. And the little
baby was dying, too. 1t was starry
ling, and had nothing but that thin
shirt to kec it from the cold. How
could l leave it there? gave my
name and address to the policeman,
and told him l would care for the
little one. Then l brought it here"
and the good woman bent yer and
kissed her husbands forehead.
We'll, as Mrs. Simmons had said it
must. the child stopped. II was a
hard pinch during the winter, lut
when summer came round, things
went more smoothly. And so the
years passed By and the little found
ling, Paul, grew up by the side Of
their own son, Edward. or course,
the real son hated the intruder, and
the intruder heaped Goals Of tire upon
his head by loving him in return,
This is the inevitable situat on in u
story like this Years ran by, and
Paul's one ambition was to repay is
kind friends. He longcd to prove II
them Ills gratitude and his devotion.
He gained a position in a bank,
and, once there, he soon worked les
way to promotion. The walf Of the
street found a brilliant future OPEN
ing before him. Edward, too, had
started well in life; hut he was lazy,
and he was desperately Jealous of his
half brothers success.
Instead of applying himself TO his
work, he was always scheming for
some plan whereby he could be ONE
rich without any trouble, and be able
to look down on his self-crcatcd rival,
Paul. They still all dwClt together,
but the two upper rooms had been
exchanged for cosy little villa, aud it
was Paul who pa d the rent,
One day he came back late, His
face was beaming, Tho chief, he
told them. had been suddenly called
away, and, as the morrow was pay
DAY, he had trusted him to make up
the money and to arrange the ac-
counts. lie was glad that his chief
trusted him so, and he knew that tie
news would bring his beuefactOrs Joy
and comfort.
1t was all there iE the safe, he
said, elC. 900, ready counted into
bundles waiting to be paid over the
counter.
Edward sat at the table listening
In silence, but his eyes cleaned with
mailc GUS pleasure as ne saw the keys
~glistening In his adopted b.otueTs
hands. A life full Of ease and pleas
ure, q triumph over Paul, all seemed