The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-12-25
The Beggar,

The Beggar.
II is quite little story. slight and thin;
so thin, even, so slight. that I fear, in fix
ing il on paper with written words, 10 rob
it of its frail grace. its light SAVIOR. Why.
then, when it was related to Us one
evening. in all the complicated and dec
GRATED luxury of modern talk, by the
charming woman who was the heroine OF
the episode-why did it make such te-
nacious impression upon us all that II mas
become, in one little corner of Partisan
life. one of those classic tales, patrimony
of each group Of society. 10 wnicn anu
sion is always understood and welcomed!
Perhaps because it was clear gap in the
chatter of infdeiity. in the hackneyed
gossip Of politics and literature Per-
haps because as an attitude, gesture al
times may suffice to reveal 10 US whole
feminine body beneath its clOthing-at
times it also needs but a few sincere
words uttered by d woman to disrooe her
soul completely.
We had been talking Of mysterious So
licitations. today classed and named by
science, from which 50 few of US are eN-
empt. which invincibly compel some 10
add up the flowers of a wall paper. the
volumes of a library. everything that Is
additional under their eyes; others 10 inl-
pose upon themselves the task, walking
along the side path of a street, 10 reach
such a gas jet before the cab rolling up
behind them is abreast Of them. or puo-
lie clock has struck its last note; and
others, again. each night before going 70
ned. 10 practice strange habits in dispos-
ing of objects visiting cupboards and cOf-
fers. We discussed all the light diseases
of our contemporary brains. crumbs Of
monomania and madness transmitted by
inheritance after inheritance. and finally
dispersed throughout the whole of our
worn humanity. And We all confessed
our weakness. the absurdities of our ma
Mas, treasured by the confession Of the
others, delighted to find them like our
selves. worse even than ourselves.
young woman had said nothing. She
listened TO us. touch of surprise on her
peaceful. pretty visase. which was franz
cd by even, black coils
Somebody asked her: "And you. mad
am, are you quite free of orr modern
manias? Have you not a single little ner-
vous habit to confess?''
She appeared to search her memory IN
all sincerity: She made sign with her
head: mo. no. We felt that she spoke
the truth, so much did all that we saw
and knew of her, her restful bearing her
renown as an unblemished wife. lift her
above the fashionable dolls who had Just
been confessing the unsettled state of
their systems.
Doubtless her modesty feared the boast
Of so complete an indemnity when every
one around her had acknowledged all
sorts of little troubles. She corrected
herself:
Good heavens, 7 can't say that I
hah oil
that | make an inventory of all by dress
Is before gOirg to bed. Still. the Other
day I experienced something that suffi-
GENTLY resembles what you have been de-
scribing. if have understood you right-a
kind of interior impulsiOn. a force which
compels you to accomplish an Indifferent
act on the spot, as if it were matter of
life or DEATH
We insisted on hearing the story. and
she told it most sraciously, with the air
of begging pardon for the claim on the
attention of others by so slight an adven-
tUre.
I'm two words this is what happened 10
me. Five or six days ago l had gone out
with my little girl Suzon-you know her.
she is 81 was taking her to her class
for this big girl already follows classes.
AS it was very fine we had decided on
going on foot by the Champs Elysees
and the boulevards from my home to the
Rue Laftte. And so we were walking
along quite gay, chattering together
when at the top of the Round Point a
lame man. rather young. lmped up to us
holding out his hand without saying any
thing. I carried by parasol in my right
hand with my left hand I held up my
skirts; confess had not the patience 10
stop and hunt for my purse. I went on
and gave nothing to the baggar.
''Suzon and | continued to walk along
the Champs Elysees. The little one had
suddenly ceased TO talk and I also. with
cut quite knowing why. no longer felt any
wish to talk. We were al the Place de ia
Concorde. and yet we had neither of us
opened our lips since We had passed the
teggar. And little by little felt stir and
increase a kind of disquietude and I'M
easiness. the feeling of having accom-
plished an irreparable action. of being
threatened for that very reason. with
vague peril in the future In general. I
strive to see clearly within myself as
far as possible. And thus all in walk
ing I began to examine my conscience.
LET US see said I to myself. have
sinned very grievously against
charity in giving nothing to that beggaro
| never pretend to regard it as my duty
. give to every beggar ] meet. ! will be
more generous with the nsat. that is all"
'But all my arguments did not succeed
in convincing me- and my inward discOn-
tent increased-became a sort OF anguish.
so that ten times | felt wish to turn
back to the spot where we had met that
man. viii you believe it? II was a false
sentiment of human respect that withheld
me from doing so in the presence of my
little daughter. We are really worth
nothing more the moment we act in view
of the judgment Of others.
I'VE had nearly come to the end Of our
walk and We're going 10 turn the corner
OF the Rue Lafitte when Suzon pulled
gently at my dress to stop me.
Mamma" she cried.
What do you want darling2'
''She fixed her great blue eyes on ne
and said gravely:
Mamma. why did YOU give nothing 20
that poor man in the Champs Elyseesg
Like me. she had thought of nothing
else since our meeting with that man:
her heart was oppressed like mine; only.
better than her mother. or more sincere.
she confessed quite simply her uneasl-
ness.
Il did not hesitate an instant. You are
right. dearest / said 70 her.
we had walked more quickly than
usual under the obsession OF our fixed
idea: twenty minutes or 81 still remained
before the class hour. I called cab.
jumped into il with Suz0n. and the dr.Ve-
went mp 70 the Champs EIysees at 2
quick pace under promise OF a generous
III.
.'Suzon and held each others hand.
and I beg YOU 20 believe that we were IA
from treasured. II the beggar should
have gone away Suppose We could not
hnd him again. Arrived a. the R0rf
Point ne jumped % the ground: We OK