The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-12-12

10 a dying man: for dying I arm. What
need to hide the truth? I'm not sorry or
afraid either"
1 was about to say something about
such an end being a common one 70 crime
Il had seen IL so oiten-but checked tho
words Just az they were escaping my lips.
but the quick eyes OF the patient were
upon my face at the moment, and he
seemed 10 hear tho words pnspoksn.
Il know what YOU would say; that a
convict or a criminAl can expect moth
ing better, a bad beginning bed end
ing" he eagerly observed but you're
wrong s--compietcly mistaken. This is not
the end OF crime--it Is a broken heart;"
and as he gasped out the words, with a
pink spot on either cheek. and his scant
breath coming I'm quick pants, i saw
the tears creep slowly into his eyes. and
there glistcn till thought them actually
beautiful
"A broken heart?'' echoed In amaze
ment. How so?"
II don't know II can tell you show
So" he wistfully returned THAT de-
pends on yourself. I've heard That you're
not so bad az you're called; that there's
such a thing as real sympathy under your
sharp eve and rough voice and as my
story IN as strange n. II Is true, would
like 10 tell IL 10 YOU, and YOU slsne. But
/ should not like Il TO be used against
any one; as what good would another
suffering 90 20 me or any one? lf you
will promise me that, ! will tell you all"
] thought 4 moment and then reiuc-
tantly answered:
Has 1t anything to do with ausht that
am bound to reveal as part OF my
duty?'
Nothing"
vArnpaiec -
He took my hand again and pre- eased it
gratefully, and then resumed:
II must begin at the beginning. by tell
ing you that / was brought UP at
place near Hamilton. where my COM
panion at school was a boy who went
by the nickname Of Top He and were
seldom long separate in mischief or we'll
doing. and ss consequences / was called
J'eerie.' as much because we were
companions as because We were said
to resemble each other in appearance. At
that time j was if possible, the greater
daredevil OF the two. and many fault
that 'Tep' fell into WAS unninchinely suf-
fered fer by 'Peerie; indeed, we thought
IL manly to bear each others punish
ments But as we grew in years change
took place in sur dispo.itiens. ] became
quiet and studious, while he, for want
OF parents or controlling hands. ran wild
and uncared fer. We were almost drifting
apart on that account, when he took IL
into his head that he would get better In
Glasgow, and thus We were completely
sundered. A. years passed. and we be-
came men, heard OF him frsm time to
time first that he had been convicted
of theft and then Of more serious crimes.
Till al length II became certain to me that
he had degenerated into a low criminal.
a pest TO himself and 70 all abeut him.
Yet always hoped that l had been mis-
taken or nisnformed: and thing that
happened about that time seemed TO
strengthen the feeling. / got out OF work
II was a silk shawl weaver by trade
and had to GO to Glasgow to look for
the landlord. who Of course had NOT been
paid, had the furniture seized, and was
selling IL of by roup when man pushed
into the crowd, after learning the par
ticulsrs. and boldly bought in the whole
and handed the discharged receipts 10 my
mother NY mother. poor body was too
sgitated and fearful To notice much his
appearance, but when he had gone, as
suddenly as he appeared, she asked who
he was and what he was like' The an
swer was: Tie looked like Glasgow
chappie. and wad have passed for your
ain son: deed, it's my belief Ii was nae
body but that ne'er-dae-weel Top
Excuse me" here interposed with
strange interest beginning 10 thrill me
through, and exclaimed: But what was
Tops proper name ?-I think you forgot
to tell me that"
(To BE Continued Tomorrow