Sharp County record., 1896-04-24
HIS TEMPTATION.

"John, what shall we do? Here is
your story returned again"
"Send it somewhere else, OF course
replied the special correspondent,
cheerily.
But we need the money so much
now" continued his wife, tremor in
her lips.
Dropping into chair, the special
correspondent took up the evening pa
per and hurriedly scanned the head
lines, in the habit of man long accus-
toned to handling papers to get the
most out of them in the shortest time.
"How you startled me, dear" said his
wife, with frightened look, as he rose
abruptly from his chair.
81 have it now, Maggie have it! If
this doesn't bring me some ready cash
don't know news when seeit."
"What is it, John?" her face lighting
up with eager expectancy.
Haven't time to tell you now," he
replied, hastily drawing on his overcoat.
"Go to sleep. Don't wait for me"
"A. G. Royal died here to-day. Do
you want the story?" The special cor
respondent wired this query to lead
ing paper in a city 800 miles distant,
Royals former home, where he had
been a prominent figure in the ccm-
munity, successful in business and
foremost in the work of the church.
For Is years mothers had pointed him
out to their sons as worthy of their
imitation. The head of his firm, resd-
ing in distant part Of the state, had
sent his son to town to learn the busi-
ness, placing him under the special care
OF Royal.
After putting the query on the wires
the special correspondent set out to get
the details Of the story, his news NJ
stinct assuring him that his laborwould
not be lost. In his younger days, be.
fore Royal had risen to eminece, and
before the special correspondent had
drifted away from his native city into
Bohemia, he had enjoyed Royals friend.
ship and counted it one of the choice
blessings of his life. Although he was
newspaper man who rarely got left,
he had not heard of Royals presence
in the city until he read the brief an,
nouncement Of his death in the Even.
Ing Star.
A keen regret smote his heart when
he read the short item; regret that
comes only in the presence Of death
with the realization that the poor, cold
clay before you will nevermore warm
responsive TO the kind offices Of love-
AS he himself soid he was "oll broke
up over II, to think that he did not
know and could not be with him in his
last hours
The special correspondent knew Roy
MIS- secret, which made II important
that the lNtter's presence In the state
should not be known, and the knowl-
edge had long been in itself source
of sorrow TO him, But news Is news,
ana TO tho special correspondent IL
money, Brushing aside the tenr that
would come, u tribute TO the past, and
swallowing u great lump In his throat
he hurried TO the undertOkcr's office.
ayes, we've got The body here" sod
The undertaken, nonchONntlN In reply
20 his question, "They are embalmipg
Il now ready for shipment Would you
like to see it7"
The special correspondent looked
down the long building, where the
dim, flickerlng gas shed pale light
on the rows OF collins on each side of the
narrow aisle, A careless lOugh from
The brightly lighted embOlming room
in the. reGg fell upon hi. eors' sending
through his frame u SILVER of rcpug.
nance,
"'rhoy say his folks aro pretty well
fSed and ! guess tie boss gets u good
price for this job" fell upon the speeIul
correspondence ears.