The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1897-02-13

IN ~ ~ AIM "4Ai-cHb <e'.' My
~ W. walking along With
i~M/F his head hanging
gX D. q down, and his eyes
/ Sp;y VI fixed on the ground.
Nobody spoke to him, nor did he
speak to anybody. His clothes were
in rags. He wore no collar. Some
! times & red scarf was fastened round
his neck but oftcncr tLaa not Lis neck
and chest were bare to tie cutting
winds Nobody knew where be came
from, and nobody cared.
\ Some said he had been an actor at
ono timo--otilers that he had been a
Il doctor, while many maintained that he
d was man VINO lad gamblad away q
n largo fortune. Whatever be might
{ have been, we could all see tha5 he was
no common yaernnt.
l do not know whether the peaco
and good will which are supposed to
a como to all men Ut Christmas time had
q anything to do with it, but When I
passed him one Christmas Eve few
years ago, as was hurrying off home,
q sudden impulse led me to stop.
"Wili you come home with me and
have your supper, iiobin?" I said.
Flo stopped and lifted up his head.
Poor fellow! I noticed tho tears
spring to bis eyes. Kind words were
strangers to him.
"My-my support" he gasped. 81
never naTe a1T supper
Iquite believed him. In fact, il he
had said he never hal anything to eat
( at any time, | should not have con-
tradicted him.
"But make an exception tonight"
urged. Christmas time. you know.
People break tl.o ordinary routine of
their lives ut Christmas. Comealong. "
/ Ho made 10 nnswer; at least not
/ with words, but his eyes spoke plainly
/ enough, and, Quichening his pace, We
/ STROBE along together toward my
Z home.
At last We reached tho house, and
my wife opened the door. My little
Mabel came toddiing to meet me, and
rs ! Lifted her up and carried her back
On my shoulder, l told ley wife I had
brought friend home for supper.
Robin and l sat talking together
while Annie was getting tho meal
ready. his face had frightened, and
his brilliant conversation confirmed
the opinion had formed Of him, that
he was man OF culture.
Mabel climbed down from my knee,
and went across to Robin.
"Have 90 no little djrl? ,she llsped.
He stroked her hair gently, and
shook his head.
"And no mammal" she asked, look
ing first ut me, and then ct the smil-
ing face OF my wife.
Robin turued his face away. Trust
child for finding the way to q man S
heart.
"No, no mamma lie replied, after
pause.
Mabel sighed, and came across to
mn.
"Is CO poor mar?' she asked.
The intervention OF my wife with
the information that supper was ready
saved me from replying.
The meal over. my wife rose to take
Mabel to bed, but before she left the
room the little girl ran back, and
climbing on Robins knee, kissed him
"Dood night" Then Eobin and
pulled our chairs to the fire. His eyes
were shining. He\ seemed different
man. / handed him cigar, and We
sat smoking for while without speak.
ing.
"Wouid you like to hear the history
OF Rambling Rohin?'" he asked,
bending forward. eli you would,
will tell you the first part. The second
part only begins tonight. You shall
hear that III q year or two"
I did not quite understand him
bat l nodded and waited for him &c
start.
"rwo lines, nc began, frequent
ly occur to me. You remember
them:
Who fails from all he knows OF bliss,
Cares little INFO what abyss.
Tkey are the truest lines ever writ
ten, he said, and he stared into tn
fire for a time without speaking.
'Listen, and l will tell you how
fell. Five years ago | was a young
man. Do look young now?' and h
pointed to his sunken checks and gray
streaked hair. "And yet Eve year:
have made the difference.
"My name is Robin Alerne. I wa:
living with my father ir Scotland, ant
it was there | met my Flora. lean SET
her now, as she was the day I first NE
her. 1t was glorious day in June.
had sauntered out with my rod in tht
morning, and was whipping the stream
which ran along the outskirts of thu
wood, when the sound OF sweet music
feli on my car. / turned round ant
Saw o woman. She had not seen me-
and as she came along she sang in O