Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1897-07-29

the side of the mattress with his face il
his hands. a pale moon sent a shaft Of
light on to the boys sleeping face, ant
it looked white and drawn and cold
as il already the shadow of death lay
upon it.
Jem stopped in di ,uken surprise. A
stupid grin crossed his face. He stared
and waved his arm wildly in the air
He tried to speak, but his voice. was
hoarse with brandy, and the figures OF
the boy and his father danced before his
eyes by the dozen.
He muttered some words-indistin-
guishable and meaningless; and, col
lapsing suddenly, ne tumbled down on
his mattress and huddlcd himself to-
gether in a drunken sleep.
When he awoke a gray dawn was
peeping slowly in through the small
square of glass in the roof and every
thing in the dingy garnet appeared un-
real and lifeless. The boy on the bed
seemed scarcely to breathe.
Jem raised himself on his elbow and
looked round, and some remembrance
of the last nights scene began to pass
through his mind. He looked, and 1t
seemed to him that John Endleton had
never moved. The moonlight had gone
from the boys face and the dawn had
come instead, but John Endleton was
Ftill sitting there, huddled up on the
floor with his face buried in his hands.
Jem lifted himself slowly from his
mattress and stretched himself with 4
big yawn. Then he looked again at the
two in the corner, and after minute
got up and went towards them.
"Ain't the little 'un well?" he asked,
clumsily. "Wot's up with 'un?"
John Endleton stirred impatiently.
The sound Of the eX-convict's voice
seemed to rouse all his hatred and dis
gust. He looked round with repulsion
upon his face, and Jem, seeing it,
shrugged his shoulders and sneered.
ooh, well, if ye're so mighty hinde-
pendent an 'aughty, why don't yer tals'
lodgin's in tn Grand? A-course if yer
don't want no 'elp I don't care. Only
thought he added, brutally, cas- tn
chaps dyin' like, as yer might want
somethin' for i'm"
John Endleton started and looked
down at the boy, with his wan face,
with his thin hands and faltering
breath. For moment it seemed 10 his
excited imagination that the boy had
ceased TO breathe, and he leant for
ward hurriedly and with trembling fin
gers pulled back the sheet.
Hes all right! He's not dying!" he
exclaimed, eagerly But at the same
time it was borne upon him that I'M
less he had nourishing things to eat, and
those quickly, there would be no hope of
ever pulling him round again, and the
thought stabbed his heart with sudden
bitterness.
He turned to the burglar 1t was pos
sibie that Jem could help him. Jem
might know where to get help, or work,
or even charity; but Endleton's pride
still stood up in arms, and with de-
termination to have nothing TO do with
him he turned away.
Jcm, with q fierce sneer on his lips
and a burning hatred in his heart
against Endleton, turned away, too.
Not finger would he li1t-not an inch
would he stir-not if the boy was dying
fifty times over!
rs he turned he caught sight of
Jackie's pallid face lying on the dirty
pillow.
"Oh, Lor', wot little blolle it isl" he
thought; and then he went out, STUN
bling down the stairs, swearing TO him
self-a man apparently without the
faintest hope OF better life, without
knowledge of anything except things
evil, and yet with one clean spot in his
black heart.