The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1896-01-18
A WOMAN'S SAVING HAND.
BY EMILY BARTON.

BY EMILY BARTON.
He was ruined. As he left the ga ~
bling house on Eearney street, Ea,,
en- Gate park he had absolutely not IA
dollar in his pockets wherewith to pur-
chase lodging or a meal. The down
cast profile was clehr-cut and firm, ar
Ruins powerful individuality in it's
owner, and yet a mania had seized hiIn
as it had seized many a weaker man.
and he had staked his all and lost.
The moonlight touched his bowed
head softly, silvered the outlines of his
figure and revealed his haggard white
ness.
1t fell on something else-something
that glittcred in his hands like steel.
'Stop! Don't do thati''
1t was a woman's voice that spoke, u
wonan's touch that rested lightly on
his sleeve. womnn's great dusky eyes.
set in a face such as one sees but st>l-
dom in a lifetime, which were raised to
his. She had strol1cd out to enjoy the
beauty of the evening, and, absorbed IN
mctlita ton, had wandered farther than
she knew.
The mans arm dropped to his side.
He looked at her in silence, wondering,
odmiring, perhaps little ashamed.
''Why did you want to do it?'' pur-
6uc(1 the RcntIc voice.. DOcS LIE seem
60 evil a thing to your
II have been a fool-a malmnnI
am ruined!"
But you are q man. You can work.
You can regain all that you have lost"
He shook his head.
II cannot find employment here, AMI
l haven't the means to return to my
home, in Chicago"
Her hand slipped into her pocket AMI
4 I ~, -
away from him and pressed something
into his hand in it's place.
''See. 1 have bought this thing Of
you," she said, hurriedly. 'You need
not feel too grateful. Christians should
help each other. If you want to repay
nue.. swear to yourself that you will
never do-what you attempted just
NOW. l must leave you now. Good-by."
And she was gone before he could
ktay or thank her-swallowed up aud
lost in the shadow of the trees.
"Miss Ferris, allow me to introduce
you to Mr.. Fergus Landeck."
The first time they had met a lone I'M
der the stars, in San Francisco; now
they were amid fashionable gathering
in the home of one of the railroad mag
mates in New York. She was in evening
dress, with diamonds sparkling on her
throat and in her hair.
For an instant she returned his gaze,
questioning, perPlexcd; then there was
a flash of recognition. and he saw she
knew.
'Will you take me into the conserva-
tory, Mr.. Landeck? 1t is so warm
here.'
They left the ballroom and strolled
under the dolned glasshouse where the
palms and lilies grew.
ssNo,, 1,nvo not fhe1, ?'s
It was his voice, low and tremulous,
which broke the silence.
mo; nor you, it seems"
''There are moments in mans life
which he never forgets. That was one
of them. Do you know 1 have often
wondered whether we should ever meet
again, and ] dared not indulge a hope
until this evening. when for the first
time learned your name. Miss Fer
ris, shall we sit down for awhile? lam
very grateful for this opportunity OF
speaking to you alone. want want
tc return to you. with many tina nks, the
the gift you gave me five years ago.
All, don't say no. The obligation I'M
der which you placed me Will none the
less exist, and-and I shall always keep
the little purse, always-in remem-
brance of that night-and you."
"Fortune has evidently favored you
since," she said, after q pause.
Eyes, fortune has indeed favored me,
Miss Ferris. Your gift was like the en-
chanted purses in the children's fairy
1t enabled me to
reach the home of my parents in CHI
caRo. I became a reformed man, and
soon secured employment as secretary
TO the manager of a car construction
company in Detroit. BY industry and
thrift / saved a little money. With it
1 bought land in a rising town of North
Dakota. The starting of big factory
there gave the town a boom, and the
and 1 had bought for a few hundred
dollars was able to dispose of for $751;
700. I engaged in other speculations,
exercising my best Judgment, and ev-
.rythin9 1 touched seemed to turn to
zold; whatever did was right. Money
came to me In tens of Thousands. am
fc-day worth 5000. 900. and If it had not |
been for you should be lying in a sui
,ide's grave"
Something glistcned on her lashes.
She dropped her eyes and toyed with
the feathers of her fan.
81 am glad. very glad, you have sue
seeded"