The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1900-03-16
Opportunity.


could not recall-his usual mode OF
transit had been byyway 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, clickety click
CT the wheels was conducive to a
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 inef6ciency,
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 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 and 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 eye. The scenes of his early life
touched lightly upon his memory, and
dreamily once more he felt the prompt
iEgs of ambition, the alternating Ella
ton of success with the sting of de-
feat, and in fancy he was once more
grasping at the elusive sprite of oppor-
tunity. But 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, o 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
ly outlined in his mental vision now,
and mechanically he thrust his hand in
his pocket and felt of the coins therein.
Their total was two dollars. That
meant that with his customary econo-
my in dietary matters he was sure of
more than half week of existence,
and in that time something was sure to
turn up" His hard life had taught
him to be philosophically submissive
to circumstances when he could not
control them, so once more he drove
the specter back into the dim prospect
i've and thought not of the morrow as
he watched the flying landscape or
gazed dreamily at his fellow passen-
gers.
His eyes fell upon prosperous-look-
ing old gentleman to the right and a
few seats in front of him, and suddenly
he threw off his lethargy and awoke to
a lively interest, though why he could
hardly tell. He remembered seeing the
old gentleman in bank in the town he
had just left. He remembered that the
cashier had given him money-rolls of
bills-and that he had put them care
fully away in small hand bag, while
the banker good-naturedly chaffed him
about his indiscretion in carving so
much money about. There was the
same hand bag now, held on the lap of
the benevolent-looki1lg old gentleman,
who did not appear to be in the least
disturbed by the possession of so much
treasure. While in the bank cashing
his small check for the work which
had enabled him to ride. In the chair
car Lovett had witnessed the trans
action, and now the sight of the treas
ure aroused a pang of eupidity and
sent thrill through his long dormant
spirit.
lie knew the bag contained So, GOO.
Two thousand dollars! What golden
field of opportunity the possession of
such sum would open to him. Once
before he had possessed as much and al
most it had proved the foundation of
success, but he had lost it through his
lack OF discretion and experience. He
had lived and learned since then and
knew that if he could but venture again
he would not lose. Two thousand dol
lars; perhaps it was but trifle to the
man who owned it, but what would it
not mean to him? Then, with bitter.
cynical smile he reused himself from
his wild fancies and turned to watch
the mad race of the fields and trees as
the train sped along through the deep
ening twilight.
IL passed little station with
church near by. There was a tenn
perance meeting within, and through
the open window he heard the strains
OF song which brought the tears to
his eyes. and flood of memories swept
over him. 1t was simple little tenn
perance song: "Where is my wander
ing boy to-night?" His mother used to
sing 1t to him when he was a bow. and
II was his favorite. AS he heard it he
thought again of his strong-hearted,
cheerful, honest mother, who had
taught him lessons in honor and moral
lty which even his hard life had never
quite effaced, and IN an instant the
mind OF this man, whose life had never
been shaped by priestly council and in
whose early training the element of
Chr'stiaR character had supplanted
creed and dogma, turned from its Bit
ter, CRIMINAL covetousness of the money
TO memories of home and mother. Low
EFT was impplsiye and somewhat UNI
stable. Perhaps the possession of those
qualities rather than those Of cold, call
culating, selfish Judgment largely ac-
counted for his failures.
The little village was left far behind
when there came a Sndf3or r-:.a.-e