The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1895-06-28

cheeks hung III Odds. u his SIKH
seemed too much for his attenuated
body; his wool was white. and his
gums were almost toothless; and his
nose so f1attened with age to be almost
invisible. looking at him as / was look
ing, in profile. His hands were as soft
as any woman's. but icy cold: and his
eyes We're red and fiery.
"Boule-de-neige, what do you think
of himY'
"Him berry fine young man, massa
him beautiful young men: got lubly
abbatite, DEVELOPED. l tink; him last
long time. much longer time dan last
oder young man. Cluck! Him poor
trash, dat young man: dam poor trash;
use up ana go to debbel in a month.
Cluck! Dis young man go lubly stuns-
jack, strong as a bull. Cluck-cluck!
How much you ttink him eat to-nighty'
1--WE shall see Boule-de-neige. We
will try him with a simple dinner, and
the pronounce on his performances.
Young men do not always come up to
their professions. But he looks well,
and perhaps. Boule-de-neige-perhaps--
abr He nodded With Il deep sigh.
"What time mass dine himselfy"
81 don't know" the old gentleman
answered, with another heavy sigh.
perhaps not till nine o'clock; perhaps
not then. 1t all depends on this youth.
Vanish, Boule-dc-neige, and serve"
There was evidently something in my
hosts mind by the way he sighed. Why
did it depend upon me? And did Boul.-
de-neige go through the floor? Did
the table sink when he disappeared.
and come up loaded with dishes: 1t
seemed so.
l sprang from my couch. The sight
and smell OF the food brought back my
raging hunger.
LET mo eat!" I cried.
"You shall. One moment tirst-only
a single moment. Young man. tell me
again and explicitly the nature and ex-
tent of your appetite. Be truthful. on.
be TRUTHFUL! Our little tongues should
lie for mutton chop or apple pie.
You know the hymn. l hope you have
been religiously brought up. and know
that hymn"
I've got a devil Of an appetite. What
is there to lie about?"
MY dear young friend. there arc
many kinds OF appetiteS. Yours may
be fierce at first and promise great
things. and then end in Il miSerably
small performance. | have known
such, and mOurned to see them. Is it
a lasting appetite. now? Is it a steady
through "a long dinner? Is it regular in
its recurrence"
You shall see something Of my per-
formance,' l laughed, insensate wretch
"You shall see. l never had a long
dinner in my life. because l always
made short work of mine. It is steady
through a good many pounds of steak,
and as regular as a clock"
THAT is always something. Steak is
as healthy a rest as I know. Is it.
secondly. an appetite that RECEIVERS IL
self quickly? That is very important.
Is it a day-by-day or an ho%ur-by-hour
appetite? Is it good at all times Of the
day."
ALAS. l wish it were mott
Hush, young man, do not bias
pheme! Tell me, if you eat your fill
now-it is half past four-when do
you think you might be ready again?''
His eyes glistened like a couple of
great rubies in the candle-light and his
hands trembled.
Il should say about eight. But l
might do something light at seven, I
dare say. Just 0 l feel as if I could
eat Il mountain
"He feels as if he could cat a noun
tain. Wonderful are the gifts of PROV
idence! My dear young friend, l am
very thankful-deeply thankful-thay [
met you. Sit down, and let M take
the V off for you; l long to see you
eat. This is a blessed day-a truly
blessed day! l will wait upon o
myself. No me else. Boule-de-neiga,
vanish!!'
AS he was about to take off the COW
ers he stopped short.
"Stay. You are without occupations"
II can get none"
"Iou are of any 'tradc?"
81 am an actor
"A bad trade-an un-Christian trade.
Actors are yagabonds by Act of Par
Actors can never be in a state
of grace. | shall be happy in being a
humble instrument in removing you
from a calling fatal to the Christian
warrior. Why did you leave your last
situation? No dishonesty? No embez-
Element? No tampering with ac-
countS|'
"Sir, l have always been an honest
man. And. besides. l have never been
tempted by the handling Of other peo-
pies money!
"Ha! You have not no wife,
\ sir; | am unmarried
you have got mol trust l am tax
ing to my bosom no deceiver Of
You are not tl2 father of an illegiti-
mate offspring. | hope and pray
mo sir; / am not
Young man, YOU are about to enter.
upon a most serious act. perhaps the
most serious act Of your life, and these