The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-07-20
The Stranger.

His shoes were suspiciOusly like a wo
mans, and his Alpine hat much like ,
boys. His face-an humble haggar,
countenance it was--looked plnched an,
anxious, and about his brown eye,
,there was such an expression of plead
ing that the rising laugh his clothe,
excited died on our llps.
There were two Of US unhappv news
paper men lingering about the Morgu,
when he came. and TO us he addressec
himself, shyly, as one who is used tc
rebuff.
"They brought a young man here
last night" ne said-"the body of a
| young man that was"-he gulped-
killed In the nght on the Bowery. The
| paper called -.lm Mulford Do you
think-please, may l see him?"
| There was such catch in his voice
| that Thompson hooked at me and /
| looked at Thompson. and both of us
| grinned foolishy, l fear, To dissenlble a
feeling not cold and professional.
Then Thompson said WAIT a mo-
ment, sir, and III Inform Mr. Squires OF
| your presence"
time that j knew was rot he,ne
| wasted came back with The official and
| beckoned US 10 follow. As v,e na,ssed
| The great iron gates that guard an MANY
| tragic mysteries, our visitor baaveJ a
| sigh -andI-lO hooked -Lh-.-.-,l+--+.-,,sav "a
he dashed a hand across those nelan-
choly eyes Of his
About the receptacle that held the
earthly remains " Milford We srood
| mute and uncovered. The stranger
caught his breath when first ma dsad
face came TO view then stood silent
and reyeTential. with bowed head
When at last he spoke his voica V-as
so soft and sweet that even The keeper
booked up with startled interest
1T is my brother" he said s.mply:
my brother Charles AZ last / have
found him. And now I am without
funds. He will have 10 lie i'm the Pof-
ter's Field. Poor boy, 70 think I should
find him here" He turned and walked
slowly away.
Thompson and Mr.. Squares and
Joined him i'm the lobby. We invited
him into the office. and there i'm return
for our sympathies, he told us his story.
1t was two years ago" he said. that
Charley ran away. II took all our
father had saved IN his lifetime to
square the crooked accounts. and then
he died of "A broken heart Mother and
my sister and i determined To stay at
the old home and begin All over again.
Month after month slipped by. and no
word came from the runaway: but
mother hoped on-hOped that some day
he would be heard from, that ne would
reclaim his place in home and society.
"A httle over year. ago we learned i'm
directly OF his presence in New York,
and / was sent here 90 find him"
Our visitor cast his eyes on us FOR a
moment. then dropped tLem. I've
been searching for him ever since" he
murmured quietly.
And in all that time didn't you see
him once?' asked Thompson
Just once" replied the stranger,
'fthe second day that was here. / met
him face TO face on Park row. He was
changed-my God. but he was changed!
and he looked at me like wild beast.
And fool. idiot--I stood there shiv-
ering and let him get away. / had
the chance and l lost IT,
He paused; then-"That night when
/ went TO my lodging l sat down and
deliberately wrote long letter to my
mother i'm my brothers handwriting. IL
told of renewed hope in life and OF hon
est labor to rectify the great mistake,
and put some money into IL and sent
IL away. Then l wrote letter for my
self.
II had found him 50 easily that first
time, / thought khat l,could easily find
him again. And then I would tell him
of the way | had fixed things for him
and everything would be all right. 1t
was my mistake and I've paid the
price.
THE joy those letters brought my
mother was compensation for a hun
dred lies. but | couldn't return home
Week after week passed and still ! did
not find him. Still / kept up my hor-
rible fiction writing double letters fun I
of cheer and putting into his all the /
money + could scIape ard save The !
shoulders OF my coat will show you /
what ] uid for living. At last ] had /
To take my sister into my confidence
She was brave girl and she helped /
quiet mother, who would scarcely hear I
TO my plan Of future reunion. She
wanted 10 come on right away. l ad-
vised her both in my own letters and
in Charley's to wait The boy was too
sensitive as yet l told her, ana
Meanwhile. day in and day out l
was searching for him. ! even prayed
that | might find him. All those weary,
hungry months | was sustained Dy the
thought of the glory and the peace ana
the joy that awaited his coming Now /
now what shall ] say--What Us LETT
for me now?''
Somehow as listened to him, ] for
his odd shoes and all, and ] looked az
TO see what effect me story /
had on him. Thompson was look ng
out of the window and his eyes were
focused on spot that might have been
either the Statue Of Lbcr;y or tne
MORO OF Santiago ! glanced quickly
at Mr.. Squires. He wore the mask Vi
deep meditation.
you'll have to tell them hes dead
II was the keeper who spoke.
And tell them that the stranger
began, In tones of horror.
And tell them that ne died q. pneu-
monia." the keeper continued. calmly. /
They'll never see the Wuuud-its IN mis-
breast. And tell them he hurried On
that you're coming nome
with The remains tonight.
| had just time 10 catch the I0ok on
bewilderment that came over the
strangers face for the keeper turned
TO Thompson and mo and in The next
breath asked Us q kindly withdraw for
I space.
We left them alone. out IN the
'pring sunshine. Thompson and paceu
lp and down, inhaling each cigarette
ma saying nothing. We had just made
Jur turn at the en- of The prom made
hen we gaW ptlr fraXPd visitor issue /