The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1900-05-22

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Mr.. Hardy realized that he was look
ing at a brother man. He choked
down sob and putting his hand in his
pocket pulled out all the change he had
and poured it into the Danes hand.
Then, seeing that it was only 81 or $5,
he pulled out his purse and emptied
that Of its bills, while Burns, the fore
man, and all the men looked on in stu
pefed wonder.
"No, no thanks! I'll do something
more"
Mr.. Hardy walked away, feeling as
if the ground were heavy under him.
What was all his money compared
with that life which had been sacrif1c-
ed in that gas poisoned sepulcher? He
could not Danish from his mind the pic
ture of that face as 1t looked to him
ed at it.
He hurried back to the Office through
the yard and sat down at the well
worn desk The mail had come in, and
half a dozen letters lay there. What
did it all amount to, this grind of busi-
ness, when the heartache Of the world
called for so much sympathy? Then
over him came the sense of his obliga-
tions to his family-Clara's need Of q
fathers help, George going to the bad,
Alice in need of sympathy, his wife
weeping even now at home, the church
and Sunday school where he had been
of so little use, the family of Scoville
to be provided for, the other injured
men to be visited, improvements for
the welfare of the men in the shops to
be looked after and the routine Of his
business-all these things crowded in
upon him, and still he saw the face and
heard the voice Of Eternity, "Seven
days more to live!
He sank into reverie for moment.
He was reused by the sounding Of the
noon whistle. What, noon already? So
swiftly had the time gone! He turned
to his desk, bewildered, and picked up
his letters, glanced over them hurried
ly and then gave directions for the an
swers Of some Of them to his impatient
clerk, who had been wondering at his
employers strange behavior this morn.
ing. Among the letters was one which
made his cheek burn with self re-
proach. 1t was an invitation to club
dinner to be given that evening in hon
or of some visiting railroad president.
1t was just such an occasion as hs
had enjoyed very many times before
and the recollection brought to mind
the number of times he had gone away
from his home and left his wife sitting
drearily by the fire. How could he
have done its He tossed the gilded in
vitation fiercely into the wastebasket
and, rising, walked his room, thinking
thinking. He had so much to do anC
so little time to do it in! He thought
thus moment, then went out ant
walked rapidly over to the hotel where
he was in the habit of getting lunch
when he did not go home. He ate 6
little hurriedly and then hastened out.
As he was going out upon the side
, walk two young men came in and Jos
tied against him. They were smoking
and talking in loud tone. Mr.. Hardy
caught the sound of his own name. HI
looked at the speaker, and it was thu
face of the young man he had seen IL
his dream, the one who had insultet
George and struck him afterward. Fo
a moment Mr.. Hardy was tempted t,
confront the youth and inquire into hi
sons habits.
mo" he said to himself after /,
pause; 81 will have a good talk will
George himself. That will be tn,
| best"
He hurried back to the Office and ar
ranged some necessary work for hi
clerk, took a walk through the othe
Office, then went to the telephone an,
called up the superintendent Of tn
Sunday school, who was bookkeepe
in a clothing house. He felt an intens
desire to arrange for an interview wit
him as soon as possible. Word cam
back from the house that the superin
tendent had been called out of town b.
serious illness In his old home an,
would not be back until Saturday. MI
Hardy felt a disappointment NOR
| Keen lIldu tlle OCCdSlOA SecluCu W w al
rant He was conscious that the tim
was very brief. He had fully made u
his mind that so far as in him lay h
would redeem his selfish past an
make a week such as few men eve
made. He was just beginning to rea
ize that circumstances are not alway
in our control. We are obliged to wa
for time to do some things. We cannc
redeem seven years of selfishness wit
seven days of self denial. The deaf
of Scoville revealed to Mr.. Hardy hi
powerlessness in the face of certai
possibilities. He now feared that til
superintendent would fail to return
time to let him confess to him his ju:
sorrow for his lack Of service in til
school. He sat down to his desk an
under that impulse wrote letter ths
expressed in part how he felt. The
he jotted down the following items
be referred to the proper authorities {
the road:
Item 1. The dust in the blacksmit
shop and in the brass polishing room
is largely unnecessary. The new El