Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1899-09-15
CHADD
----v ~ By William
Zachary
H-V-,.r qladwin.
A ShlitIess Boy Becomes &c
Energetic Man.


1t was the middle Of May, and the
belated last lecture Of the course was
TO be given In Wilburg.
Here, Chadd," said old Esek Harm
haw. holding out n. bit Of p%asteboard.
"Here's n ticket for that there lecture.
All about ambition. that lecture is
the right kind Of ambition and how TO
get 1t and how to keep IT,"
The big ~17-year-old boy looked In
differently at Mr.. Uarnhaw, and did
not offer to take the ticket.
esquire Huyick, him they call Old
Crusty.' you know, he give It TO me
and told me to give 1t TO the most
wuthless and ambltionless fellow in
town. told him I'D give 1t to you, but
1 had my doubts about your takln 1t.
Even II you did take 1t, | said, 'twould
be only to tear 1t to pieces In them big,
lazy fingers of yours. Says l, Squire,
II isn't no sort OF use givin II to him.
But the squire he Just bumped up his
shoulders and went off. Some says
humpin Cp your shoulders means one
thing and some says II means another.
/ took II to mean he didn't think much
Of you, nohow."
There was Il fash of temper in the
boys eyes. He reached out abruptly
and took the ticket. He did not tear 1t
In pieces. however. Instead, he SLOUGH
cd Off down the street, holding it tight
ly In his hand. Meddlesome old Esek
looked after him. "Now. wouldn't it
be n great note II he went to that lee
turef" he said to himself. "'Twould
mortify me considerable II he did, aft
er me a-prognosticatlng to the squire
so positive"
The boy lounged on. Suddenly the
same idea that vas a~gitatirg old Esek
struck him. Yondcr was the church
where the lecture was to be given.
What II he should got He paused n
moment and looked down at the tick
ct in his hand. It was almost time for
the lecture to begin. Then he raised
his head with decision. "'The most
wuthless and ambitlonless fellow in
town will go to the lecture" no said
ms he entered the church.
Cant never count on nobody In this
world" grunbled old Essex. "IIl feel
pretty foolish tomorrow, l guess"
1t was not to be wondered Mt that
Chadd had no ambition. From child
hood he and his twin sister, Fannie,
had lived ut the edge Of town with n
misery old uncle and aunt who never
had made II OF any advantage to the
children to work. However much they
tolled, they had no reward but scant
food aud patched and frayed clothing.
Fannie was still held down to toll by
the misery aunt, but Chadd had re-
bellcd. lie did the most necessary of
the heaviest work about the place and
the remainder OF the time idled about
the town. Time l had a resting spell,
l guess" he told himself. III uncle
and aun had hired anybody else to
work the way they made me work for
nothing 'twould have cost 'em some
thing. now, ! warrant you"
Nobody knew of these thoughts that
filed the boys mind, for he was no
talker. And he was mlsjudged by
those who look only on appearances,
as many another person has been.
Chadd had never heard n lecture be
fore, but he had enough Instructive
sense Of the proprieties to sit W
straight in his seat and give the speak.
err his attention. Soon he was lost tc
his surroundings. When the lecture
was over, with n sigh Chadd arose
with the rest OF the audience and
passed out OF the church. "Tl do it,
he said, AZ he stumbled along the III
paved street that led to his home. "Tl
get m an ambition tomorrow. set
your mark the lecturer said. And TO
morrow I'm going TO set It,"
The next morning he rose and me
chanically did the heavy work he had
taken for his share and then set Oh
for the town. All day he loafed and
loitered, to all appearances the same
hoy that he had been the day before.
Lecture didn't do him no good, II he
did 60" commented old Essex Harm.
haw. Reckon he Just went out OF
spite, anyhow. That was a kind or a
dare l give him. and 1t runs in the
Ettelman blood not to take a dare"
And all the time ChAdd, with his
undlsciplined mind. was thinking hard
He had no conceit. No glorious visions
of future Advancement and splendoT
for himself dazzled him. He was liter.
ally at sea lie could find no ambition.
II was late In the afternoon. and he
was passing along the street that was
lined with the better class VI resi-
dences. when a door just opposite him
opened. and a pretty girl stood there
looking out upon him. A moment
Chadd gazed. almost open mOuthed.
Not at the girl before him. Suddenly
his ambition had come to him. In the
place OF the pretty girl he saw his
sister. Then the door closed. and
Chadd reused himself and walked on
with a brisk step. He had set his
1aark.
FRunie's hands were rough and red
from hard work. Fannie's hair was
tumbled. FannIe's face was fretful be-
cause the poor girl was always over
lived. Cbndd loved bis sister. but for
she lrst time 1t occurred to him that