The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1897-12-31

vs. Byers is the title. 1t has been in
the courts for the past ten years, and
is good for ten years more. Now nv
dear young lady, don't you think
"Tnink," repeated Clara, springing
to her feet. ~ should say l did think.
| think yoa are horrid mean man.
On Pa, it's he, my, poor, dear, pale
young man; sick, wounded, deserted,
pennlless, on New Years Eve. And
| setting here in luxury with that
that? Oh, | cannot speak. Wait just
moment and I'll be ready. We will
go to him at once, won't we, Pa? you
wouldn't want me to go out alone:'
and away Clara sped to her dressing
room.
Mr.. Oatfield gasped and rolled his
eyes like landed fish. "I'm afraid
don't know; don't quite understand y
he gasped.
"Don't mind our little girl,'' said
Catherine soothingly. "She's i'm
pulsive and excitable and her father
spoils her."
But Elijih smiled placidly. II fear
my friend," he said, "that when you
put you foot down so immovably you
put 1T plum into it,
Howard Brummell sat that New
Years Eve before the fire in his study
in the fremont Building. A rather
pretentious set of rooms he occupied,
and awkward in their pretentiousness.
The architect evidently had tried to
harmonic the likelihood of a physi-
clan or dentist as tenant with the
conformation of the building. There
was narrow, shallow ante-room, a
blind alley in fact, main apartment
light and airy, and a chubby hole
beyond whose walls single bed
strained.
Howard had leased this set for the
current year when industry and steady
employment made money free with
him, and luckily the terms had been
strictly in advance. Luckily, else he
had been without shelter this night,
and as it was, the morrow would find
him so. The morrow, the beginning
of q new year, and yet the continual
tion of the old! He was hungry, lame
and penniless; would not hunger, hurt
and poverty still remain with him?
Howard smiled at his wastefulness as
he heaped wood on the hearth. How
prodigal he was of his only possession
and yet he could not we'll take it away
with him, though there would be an
appropriate similtude to a martyr
bearing the fagots of his doom.
"Well, we'll, pile on the fuel, for
while there was light and heat there
was comfort. But little beyond lay
ashes and cold and privation; yet the
dancing sparks thought naught of
those ashes; why, then, should he
anticipate that cold and privation?
After all, he had done nothing wrong.
Man might condemn, but surely God
would not disapprove. He had strug-
gled, and had failed. Since that day,
two years before, when his college
course had been so abruptly ended by
the financial ruin and death of his faith
er, he had labored and achieved.
Achieved what? Not much, indeed;
the payment of the debts of his care
lessness and his own support. But he
had served hard taskmaster and
faithfully, and with what reward? A
dishonorable dimissal, which had shut
the doors of every other law office in
his face.
He had sought employment, oh, yes;
but what chance was there in the
surging crowd of work seekers for
man disabled from injury and hamper
ed by such I clog? He had friends,
oh, yes, and he meant to keep them;
therefore he had held his troubles
within himself But that very even
ing he had hcsitatcd rs he had trulged
along the street, knowing that chum
of his better days lived in luxury
few doors away; he lad hesitated until
his eyes had caught picture display
ed in an adjacent show window: a man
well fed, well dressed, arrogant of mein
seated ut his desk; tremulous, cover
ing, poverty-stricken wretch standing
besides him, with hand extended. That
was all, but that was enough. Howard
Brummell had returned to his rooms,
and in the luxury of the fire was striv-
ing to ignore the necessity for
| food
But he could not feel bitter; oh no,
not while the touch of that kiss linger-
| ed on his lips; not while the blessing
of those eyes warmed his heart. To
think OF it! Was there ever a happen
ing SO fortunate, so wonderful? He
had saved from an awful death that
sweet girl whom when unknown he
had dared to watch, to adore. Had
she ever been conscious of his furtive