The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1900-01-04
MS. $1.00per year. in advai ce
Six Months 80 cents.

OLA OO ConLS.
sophlcally for a moment and then
after whispering to himself, Give and
let live," would toss it on some finely
dressed person with the thought that
1t would find nicer pickings on better
fed being than himself, or if the person
was wanting, he would set it carefully
on the ground so as not to hurt it. He
had got so low down in the world and
had had so many hard knocks that he
could feel for the comfort of a louise.
and he actually seemed to enjoy their
company, for he never made any at.
tempt to get rid Of them entirely.
Tom had had sweetheart at one time
and they had been very much in love
with one another, but her father.
through stress of pecuniary circum,
stances, had to immigrate from the
foggy island of Johnny Bull to the
congenial land of America, thus put
ting an end to their blissful incoming
affairs.
From that time Tommy had gone
down the broad and easy road at a
rapid pace and his affairs got into a
very bad condition at last. After
spending his little fortune, he sponged
from his old associates as long as they
would stand it and then drifted into
the slums of London. While in Lon
don he heard from a former compan-
ion that his erstwhile sweetheart's
father had prospered we'll in America
and it struck him all of sudden if he
could only get dressed up and some
money he might cross the pond and
win her love again, and, as matter of
, course, her father would donate large,
ly and give her good dover. True,
he was not lord he thought, but
then, the old ties ought to be binding
enough to Over-step that obstacle.
He went around among his old
chums again and told them his hopes
and succeeded in raising. two hundred
pounds, as the boys thought if they
only got him out of the country he
would not be able to get back and
bother them any more, not that they
put any stock in him winning a rich
American as he told them,
Tommy dressed and cleaned up to
kill, for he had not forgotten how to
play the swell, and then took passage
to Montreal, Canada, near which place
he had found his whilom lady love
resided. Upon landing he took quar-
ters in the best hotel in the city and
Immediately dispatched a very loving
eplstle to his monetary attraction. To
his chagrin and dismay, a few days
after, he received letter telling him
she had been married for over six
months and extending him cordial
welcome and invitation, though, to
visit her. He went to see her, and
making the best of bad bargain, bor-
rOwed considerable sum from her
and her father and then settled down
and drew upon their hospitality until
he had completely worn out his well
come.
At this juncture along comes per.
son that knew Tommy'S antecedents
and peached on him. The cOnse-
quence was the old man got shotgun
lntrude his miserable carcass around
the premises again, he would shoot
him.
Tommy lost no time in moving and
went to Montreal where he lived as
long as he could on what money he
had left, but was soon reduced to
ragged, slouchy display-gazer as was
mentioned at starting. While in this
plight and moving from window to
window, he brought up in front of a
money lenders window in which was
displayed a box so well carved and
gilded that it looked exactly as if it
was filled with gold coins. Tommy
stood contemplating it and his fingers
tWitched cOnvulsively in the desire to
handle those COINS
"Bloody well, blawst hit hall, Gavin.
hit be possible thev leave money lying
haround that way?" he calculated.
The more he gaZed at the box the
greater became his desire to have it
and at last the temptation became too
strong. Something impelled him to
raise his foot and drive it through the
window, then capturing the box, he
started on run with it, when to his
amaZement he discovered what it
really was. Then he Immediately suf-
fered feeling of remorse, turned
around, went back to the store and
told the owner OF his temptation and
his condition. But the owner would
not believe him and had him arrested.
There we will leave poor Tommy tell
ing his troubles to the police, where of
course he received scant sympathy.
M. J.