Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1900-01-25
A Wasted Opportunity.
By A. A. Smith.
DIDING in a chair car was an unac

DIDING in a chair car was an unac-
X customed luxury to Martin Lovett'
For several years-just how many he
could not recall-his usual mode OF
transit had been by way OF the rods
or in box cars, with an occasional jour
ney on the "blind baggage" when he
was in great luck. So he leaned back
and enjoyed the luxury Of the swift mo-
ton and the cushioned seat. The
rhythmic "clickety-click,c lickety-click'
of the wheels was conducive to
dreamy, restful languor, and for the
time being he was almost Indifferent to
the black pail Of failure which fate, or
circumstances, or his own inef1eiency,
had cast over him.
Lovett was tramp printer, and for
tune had dealt capriciously with him.
There had been times when she seemed
to smile upon and beckon him onward,
and then she would vanish like mock
ing sprite and plunge him deeper into
the abyss of despair. Again and again
he had entered the race, urged forward
by a subtle instinct which adversely
could subdue but never quite destroy.
Again and again there was the same re-
suit, until now he lay humbled and
passive, with only an occasional CLEAN
of his old hope end energy.
Vague shadows of thoughts fitted
through his weary brain as the great
train rushed along-impressions as
light and indistinct upon the mind as
were the fitting trees and fences to
the eve. The scenes of his early life
touched lightly upon his memory, and
dreamily once more he felt the prompt
ings of ambition, the alternating ela-
ton of success with the sting OF de-
feat, and in fancy he was once more
grasping at the elusive sprite Of oppor-
tunitv. But a little more distinct than
all the other shadows which pressed
upon him was the never-ending prob
lem of existence, and behind it the
specter of what might yet come to him
sickness, starvation, and somewhere
in some neglected spot, nameless pau
per's grave. He had never quite sue
ceeded in banishing that specter
though in his intervals of buoyant res
olution he had driven it to the back
ground. It's gaunt presence was vague
" outlined in his mental vision now
and mechanically he thrust his hand II
his pocket and felt of the coins therein
Their total was two dollars. Thai
meant that with his customary econo
nv in dietary matters he was sure OF
more than half q week of existence
and in that time something was sure tC
turn up." His hard life had taught
him to be philosophically submissive
10 circumstances when he could no
control them, so once more he drove
the specter back into the dim prospect
i've and thought not Of the morrow a.
he watched the flying landscape Of
gazed dreamily at his fellow Passen
gers.
His eyes fell upon a prosperous-look
: ing old gentleman to the right ana
few seats in front of him, and student.
he threw Off his lethargy and awoke Il
lively interest, though why he coul'
hardly tell. lie remembered seeing TIL
) Old gentleman in bank in the town h
had Just left. lie remembered that tn
cashier had given him noney-rolls 0
bills-and that he had put them care
fully away in II small hand bag, Will
: the banker good-naturedly chaffed hin
about his indiscretion in carrying s
much money about. There was tn
l same hand bag now, held on the lap o
the benevolent-looking old gentleman
who did not appear to be in the leas
disturbed by the possession of so niue
treasure. While in the bank cashin
his small check for the work whic
: had enabled him to ride in the chat
: car Lovett had witnessed the tran:
: action, and now the sight of the treas
ure aroused n pang of cupidity an
sent thrill through his long dorman
spirit.
He knew the bag contained $1,000
Two thousand dollarsl What golde
field of opportunity the possession
such n sum would open TO him. Ono
before he had possessed as much and a
J most it had proved the foundation
success, but he had lost it through h
lack of discretion and experience. Fl
I" had lived and learned since then an
. knew that if he could but venture agai
a he would not lose. Two thousand do
? lars; perhaps it was but trifie to ii
man who owned it, but what would
not mean TO him? Then, with n bite
cynical smile he reused himself fro