The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1900-02-22
ONLY A QUARTER.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.

"Please, sir, will you buy my chest
nuts?'
"Cbestnuts. Nor' returned Ralph
Moore. looking careleSsly down on the
upturned face, whose large brown
> eyes. Swallowed By tangled curls OF
faxen hair were appealing ptifully
10 his own. what do | want OF chest
nutsT"
'Please, sir, do buy en-" pleaded the
little one, treasured by the rough kind
ness Of his tone Nobody seems TO
care for them, and
She fairly burst into tears. ana
Moore. who had been on the point OF
brushing carelessly past her, stopped
instinctively.
"Are you so very much in want Of
the money!
Indeed, sir, We are" sobbed the
child. Mother sent me out and
'Nay. little one, don't cry" said
Ralph, smoothing her tangled hair. Il
don't want your chestnuts, but here's
a quarter for you II ii will do you any
good"
He did not. stay 10 hear the delighted
thanks the child poured out through
rainbow Of smiles and tears. but strobe
on his way, muttering between his
teeth: 'That cuts of my supply OF CT
CARS for the next "A hours. ! don't
care, though. for the brown eyed object
really did cry as If she hadn't friend
in the world Hang Il! ! wish ! was
rich enough TO help every poor creature
out Of the slough Of despond."
While Ralph Moore was INDUCING In
these very natural reflections the dark
orbed little damsel whom he had COM
forted was dashing down street with
rapid footsteps, utterly regardless OF
the basket Of unsold nuts that still
dangled upon her arm. Down an OBJ
scure alley she darted and up wooden
staircase to a room where pale. neat
looking woman was sewing as busily
as If the breath OF life depended upon
every stitch, and two little ones We're
playing In the sunshine that supplied
the place Of the absent fire. MARY,
back already? Surely you have not
sold your chestnuts so sOonr'
"Oh, mother, seew CALCULATED the
breathless child. "a gentleman gave
me a quarter Only think, mother,
whole quarter"
II Ralph Moore could only have seen
the rapture which his small silver gift
had brought into that poverty stricken
home, he would have grudged still less
his privation Of cigars.
Years came and went. The little
chestnut girl passed entirely out OF
Ralph Moore's memory, but Mary Lee
never forgot the stranger who had Civ.
en- her the silver quarter.
The crimson window curtains were
closely drawn to shut out The storm
and blast Of the bleak December night.
A fire was glowing cheerily in the
CRATE, and the dinner table was aglitter
with cut glass, rare china ard polished
silver. Everything was waiting for
the presence of Mr.. Audley.
what can It be that detains paT
said Mrs. Audley. a fair, handsome
matron Of about 80 as she glanced ST
her tiny watch.
There's a man with him in the
study, come on business" said Robert
Audley, a pretty boy of u years, who
was reading by the fire.
I'll call him again." said Mrs. Aud.
ley, stepping to the door. But as she
opened It the gaslight fell on the face
of a humble looking man in threadbare
garments who was leaving the house
while her husband stood In the door
way Of his study. apparently relieved
to be rid Of his visitor.
"Charles," said Mrs Audley, "who il
that man and what does he wantT'
"His name Is Moore, | believe. love
and he came tC see II would give him
the vacant position in the bank"
"And will your" she eagerly asked.
'Don't know, Mary. must think
about It,"
Charles, give bin the situation"
"Why, my dearT
Because | ask It Of you as favor
and you have said hundred times you
would never deny me anything"
$And l will keep my promise, Mary
said her lover husband, with an affec-
tionate kiss. 81 will write the fellow
note this very evening"
An hour later, when the children
were tucked snugly In bed, Mrs. Aud
ley told her husband why she was In
terested In the fate OF a man whose
face she had not forgotten in 20 years
''That's right, my little wife," said heI
husband when the simple tale was fin
ished. "Never forget one who has
been kind to you In the days when you
needed kindness most"
Ralph Moore was sitting that self
same night in his poor lodgings beside
his wife's sickbed, when a liyeried
brought note from the rich
and prosperous banker, Charles Aud
ley.
Goodness, Bertha" he exclaimed
joyously as be read the words, eve
shall not starvel Mr.. Audley has prom
ised me the position"
"You have dropped something from
the note, Ralph" said Mrs. Moore and
pointed to a slip Of paper on the floor
Moore stopped to pick 1t up. 1t was a
$50 bill neatly folded In a piece Of pa
Der, on which was written:
'In grateful remembrance Of the sill
yer quarter that a kind stranger be-
slowed on a chestnut girl 20 years
ago."
Ralph Moore bad thrown his morsel
Of bread upon the waters of life, and
after many days 1t had returned to
him.-Chicago Herald.
One or the other.