Sharp County record., 1896-04-24

firms name to bolster up my individ'
ual paper, pledged stocks of the firm
and, don't you know, l did it at home
in my library, with my wife in the next
room dying-dying.'
1T was pitiful to see him, said Gray
"a fit of coughing came on, followed
by hemorrhage. l could not but feel
sorry for him in his wretched condi'
ton, and could not do less than endeay'
OF to palliate his offense."
"'No, no, he said, when he had slight
ly recovered. L transgressed and
have suffered the penalty-what awful
punishment you can never imagine.
never before knew what baniRhment
means. In my illness | have lain on
a cot under the shade of the magnolia
in Florida, when the clear skies and the
blue mountains of my native state would
come floating before my eyes; the
childish prattle of my children, their
sunny smiles of welcome, their sweet
voices lisping papa" when Iwent home
in the evening-all came to me again
ana again. just cannot stand ii
any longer, and l am going back to take
the consequences. must see my chill
dren once more
"Poor fellow! he is free at last"
81 thank you very much," said the
special correspondent, pressing Gray's
hand as he turned to leave.
Hang me, if l can do it," when he
had reached the street. II can't trade
in flesh and blood. I'll stop at the tele.
graph Office and wire the paper few
lines"
Going in, he found awaiting him:
"Yes; rush full particulars. Two col
umns, or more if necessary"
He started to write brief dispatch
and suddenly tore it up.
This won't work. Hopkins" (the
managing editor of the paper in ques.
tion) sis on to this now, and he will
have the story whether send it TO him
or not"
Going out on the street, that he might
think more clearly, his eyes were
caught by the display in florists win.
dow near. Pausing a moment to look
at the flowers, he snapped his fingers
vigorously, eXclaiming again; "I,have
it!" Mechanically he thrust his hand
in his pocket, and the contact with a
few loose pieces of coin brought him
back to the realization of his poverty.
twenty-five and so, rs; fve,v ten,
Just 80 cents, and that fve-dollar
bill in my vest pocket-$5.9Q be.
tween us and the poorhouse,' he mused
as he finished the change. ut does
look like the widest folly, but il will
have to go, The paper pays pretty
well, and it ought to pay double for q
scoop on the story"
Going inside, he bought the best
floral cross he could get for five dollars
his last five dollars, and ordered it sent
Immediately to Collins undertaking
rooms. He then went down to take a
farewell look at the features he once
loved, and to place the floral tribute
upon Royals breast.
Hurrying back to the telegraph office
he began to rush his story, turning over
the sheets as fast as they were finished
to the operator. He wrote a vivid de.
scripton, giving the details of Royals
death, and closed his special as&olEsts:
"a touching scene was enacted in the
undertaker's room after the body had
been embalmed for shipment. A
stranger came in and stood, for some
minutes, looking earnestly at the pale
face of the corpse, While he was still
regarding 1t with emotions he could
scarcely CONTROL a beautiful floral cross
was brought in. This he requested
permission to place in the coffin. On
the plain white card pinned to the
flowers was written: From one who
loved him in brighter days."
"Here it is, Maggie" said the special
correspondent, as he walked into his
room three days later and threw down
a check. Hopkins was liberal this
time"
"Fifty dollarsl" she exclaimed, joy.
fully, throwing her arms around her
husbands neck and burying her face in
his bosom.-N. O. Times-Democrat.