Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1897-08-27
UNTO HIM FOURFOLD,

There was a sharp tinge of frost in
the air; early in the afternoon snow
had fallen, clothing the city for Il brief
spell in Il mantle of dazz!ing whiteness,
but now it was trodden under foot into
CRIME and slush, making the pave
ments and roads wet and slippery.
A feeble moon could be seen, but it's
pale, wan light was entirely lost and
swallowed up by the glare and glitter
of the London streets.
As he sailed ON the morrow, John
Forsythe was giving Il parting dinner
to q few old cronies; and now walked
leisurely to his club, where they We're
to meet. His reflections We're not UNI
pleasant.
Adventure he craved for; the thought
of rustling for his living stirred his
blood pleasantly; lie was rather pug
nacious by nature, and whatever he
took in hand, he stuck to it until he
carried it out.
And it was just as we'll that he was
going; the old place was not the same
since the Guv'nor departed, and Car
ringford was not all one cared for in an
elder brother.
He reached the club steps, and was
about to enter, when IL tiny figure
darted in front of him, and n small
grimy fist held out a paper; a thin voice
piped plainly:
Buy a paper, sir? Oh, do, sir; 1
amt 'ad no luck this dy, an if yer
would
A pair of great eyes gazed up at
him from under 81 tangle of red hair,
and the little face was pinched and
blue from hunger and cold.
NO luck, chg" said John, kindly. talk
ing the paper from the rough bleeding
hand, raw from chaps. Poor little
soul, you look hungry. Here. take this
and get IL good feed with it, and get
something. too, to keep you warm"
"This." was IL half-sovereign. and
the chfld's eyes seemed to start out of
her head with wonder at the unexpect-
ed gift. John laughed amusedly at l,cr
establishment.
"Tlere. e along" lie said, giving her
a good-natured push. and. as she began
to slowly move away, she heard him
greeted by name by Il couple Of men,
and then they disappeared into the
building.
With the gold firmly clutcled in her
paw, she made her way to the nearest
coffee palace, picking up Il pal" OH the
road. and together they had a meal,
such rs they'd never eaten in their
lives before. And in her after life
nothing v tasted exactly SO good as
this unlocked for dinner did, to the
lonely waif of the streets.
Forsythe's friends insisted ON know
Ing upon what lie was so busily en-
gagged that he did not notice their ap-
proach: and their chaff was plentiful
when he confessed his D~hilanthroDic
act.
Bread upon the waters, Forsythc,"
said one, look out for it's return after
many days." he added, jestingly.
John laughed and shook his head.
mo fear. old man; it's only in Sun
day school books that the hero's good
deeds are rewarded; in real life they
are speedily forgotten
The e n day he sailed. and it was
many years before London saw him
again.
Once more he walked upon the
asphalt of London, no longer plain
John l'Orsythe, but, by a series of
events, Earl Of Carringford.
Having been singularly lucky in all
his ventures, he was now n very rich
man, and OF the death of his brother in
the hunting field. had returned home
after Il prolonged tour. to succeed to the
title and what was left of the estates.
Most of the land once owned by the
Clearinghouse had been sold or mort
gagged by his dissipated elder, and his
FIRST act was to buy back as much as he
could. and to restore the old Court to
something of its former splendor, and
70 find a suitable mistress to grace his
home.
In spite of the encouragement given
to a wealthy man., and an earl to boot,
John had, up to the present, remained
placidly lleart-whole. and saw every
prospect of SO remaining, as he had
seen no oma yet who made his
pulses beat amy faster for her sake, and
he had come to the conclusion that he
aad better take the first who presented
herself, and trust to luck.
As lie strollcd down to his old clab
where lie was to meet the snme men
with whom he had spent his last even
ing ten years ago. his mind went back
to tile little bcggar, to whom he had
proved such n Santa Claus, and lie
wondered abscntly what had become
Of her.
And curiously enough 1t was receued
! to hia again later in the evening, ny