The Wilmington daily Republican., 1899-08-03

lHe sdttoT tVteu Ht6 NNtoc"eU Cooe' VI uso
hnr
thoughtfully "But. sayl You've miss
ed your train, and you had an impor-
tant appointment. didn't you say9 That
was taking grandma home yourself in
carriage.
"She wasn't fit to walk said Tom
my. eff she'd been my mother, I'd
have wanted her taken home.
"Thats right, said the reporter. He
did not say anything else, though he
looked at Tommy with kind of light
ening Of his sharp smile, and just then
Tommy hailed a cab to save the next
train if he could. and so they parted.
Tommy was not lucky enough even
to catch his second train, wherefore he
was obliged to pass the night in the
city and return home in the very early
morning hours in decidedly irritable
frame of mind. He did not repent Of
his humanity, but must confess that
he did wish that his mother had not
put him in the way of being humane
Harry LOSING and another root fast
political friend were waiting at the
depot, nor did their aspect Of reproach-
full gloom tend to ease his mood.
"How are things3' he ventured aft
er they had silently taken his bag and
walked him into the street.
"If you mean the election" said
Harry, "everything is going wrong.
Paulsen is on his high horse.
"Why didn't you show mp at the
meeting?" asked McGinnis, the other
friend, in the tone Of an executioner
demanding Of his victim which side Of
the block he preferred.
II missed the train," said Tommy
meekly.
"You missed the traini" McGinnis'
heavy voice rose note in caustic sar-
casm. "Well, Tom, didn't think you
was the kind of man to miss trains or
. I'd never have gone in for You. Did
you have pleasant timer l hope that
much, for you're likely to miss your
nomination tool"
drop that, McGinpisl" said Loss
ing "You know perfectly well Fitz-
maurice isn't that kind. What was the
matter2 Paulsen makes great olIanse
of your not coming, Says you are not
to be depended on. and this shows it
and a lot of rot
"Aw. Paulsen is only talking for a
blind. He won't vote for an Irshman
nohow And that's where the hair is
thin. I heard he said he never knowed
an Irshman would do good turn to a
German. and he had it from Wade
who'd knowed you from boy, that
you was too slick to be honest Maybe
if you could have got at him yesterday
you might have done something for
him Mr.. LOSING and me, we couldn't
move himl"
"Well, I'm sorry" said Tommy rue.
fully But he didn't explain why he
missed his train. not even when Alder
man McGinnis capped Lossing's 81
think if you promise the chief of police
to German we may do something.
with. "I think it's awful to help fools'
NO" thought Tommy II mean to
be gentleman, and gentleman does
not brag of being barely decent. aud il
Paulsen were TO hear Of it he d think l
was a fool for sure to lose my train
that way" And these mixed motives
prompted him to say, II missed that
train doing a kindness to somebody il
you must know, and that's all there is
about it. y
Alderman McGinnis drew long, sad
sigh from the depths beneath his glossy
shirt front "Only tell me it amt
woman, Tommy that's all | ask" he
moaned
at was very nice, respectable old
woman, said Tommy firmly
"Ard nc young woman for a daueh-
ter or u upice or somewhere hitched to
the outtit2 Good Lord, Tom, you amt
blushing! Tom. this is awful What
made me bet on your One big thing
was you didn't seem to know the differ.
ence between a pretty girl and "A home.
ly one But if you're going to let the
women come game on you and miss
trains-why, great Scott. boy, what
will you do when we send you to the
legislature and they git at you for the
clerkships and them offices, and -
Again Losing looking thoroughly
annoyed, but loyal even in this stress
interfered to rescue Tommy and to
again propose the offering of the head
of the police on Il charger to the power
full Paulsen
Tommy went home red with chagrin
But he is glad to this day that he
swallowed his feelings and bore his fla
ther's reproaches in silence The old
man was broken hearted at the prospect
of losing the office, and the more that
Wade made handle of Tommy 3 not
coming on time and tales net fitted for
1ommys mothers ears, were banded
about among the enemy,
Paulsen had been seen Paulsen had
been offered the disposal of office And
Paulsen had declined to commit him.
self I'm looking round for der best
man, said Paulsen, which was dis.
couragng
Tommy had not reproached his moth
er In fact, he had been more than OF.
dinnrily kind and gentle to her, for the
poor soul was in such deep tribulation
that to be cruel to her wouli have re-
quired heart of stone Patrick. the
sorely wronged and disappointed Pat.
rick himself. did not 20 beyond an elo.
quent dumbness ut me.ls
"An' Tommy IN pity ate 10 mucb zee
.ihi !" gl.i,'pli the spsr,..,