The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-11-14

hurried along with light, springy
gait. His steps were not lighter than
his heart. It was about five o'clock
and Mr.. Throckton had returned from
his clearinghouse, and was in his
library. He was not particularly en-.
gagged, and he told the servingman to
show the boy in.
II came to pay you the quarter,
Mr.. Throckton," said Bernard, adj
vancing into the splendid room, and
holding out the money. "T'm much
'bliged to you fer trustin' me;
couldn't git it for you any sooner"
Mr.. Throckton gave Bernard a
searching look. Have you not made
a mistake. my boy7" he asked. 81
never lent you a quarter, to my
knowledge"
eft was on the street, sir" said
Bernard, lone night"
"Oh no, yes, I do remember you
now! Well, we'll, welll" Mr.. Throck-
ton laughed again as the recollection
defined itself more clearly, $50 you
are that little chap that wasn't beg
gings"
Eyes, sir" and Bernard laid the
silver coin on the table beside Mr..
Throckton's hand.
The man of business appeared to
be interested. swell, my little fell
low" he said, 81 confess you have
taken me by surprise" He leaned
back in his armchair and regarded
the boy narrowly while he slipped
the quarter in his vest pocket. Mr..
Throckton liked to investigate the
motives and actions that seemed
strange to him. Directly he resumed:
snow, little boy, if you don't mind
telling me, I should very much like
to know why you returned this
money. Didn't you understand at
the time that never expected to see
it or you again?"
II kind of thought that away, sir"
said Bernard; "but 1 didn't low as
that made any difference"
eyes, I see," said Mr.. Throckton,
"you wanted to feel that you were
honest, and it isn't bad thing to
plume ones self on, either. Was
that it?"
"No, sir, l don't know as twas"
answered little Bernard thoughtfully,
looking his questioner in the eyes.
"It was more this away: If hadn't
brought you back your money, you
would have thought was deceivin'
you. Then, 'sposin' somebody else'd
asked you for somethin', some one as
was real honest and needin', and you
thinkin' Of me and the mean trick I'd
played on you, would say No to the
other fellow, then I'd be 'sponsible.
I'd be 'sponsible for making you
mean and spicious and onfeelin-
see?"
Mr.. Throckton did not smile now.
His fine, self-satisfied face flushed as
he looked at the earnest little speaker
before him. He was perhaps more
surprised now than he had ever been
in his life. He was touched, too. The
idea of this crude, little, common
street boy considering himself re-
sponsible for the doings of John
Throckton! The man felt his hard
ness ebbing away, and in its place
there came to him desire to do
something good and worthy with his
money. And what better thing could
he do, he reasoned, than to care for
the child that had been the means
of saving him from his own selfish
ness?
Mr.. Throckton's acquaintance
were considerably amazed when they
learned that the bright-faced little
boy that had appeared often in Mr..
Throckton's company was an orpha n
whom the rich man had adopted. A
friend said to him one day:
II wonder you were not afraid to
assume so great responsibility, Mr..
Throckton, as the guardianship of
child"
my little boy was my guardian
first" answered Mr.. Throckton with