Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1900-02-06
ONLY A QUARTER.

III LEASE, sir, viii you buy my
chestnuts?'
"Chestnuts. Nor returned
Ralph Moore. looking carelessly down
ON the upturned face, whose large
brown eyes. Swallowed by tangled curls
of fiaxen hair. We're appealing so pitt
fully to his own. What do l want of
chestnuts?"
But, please. sir, do buy en-" plead
ed the little one, treasured by the rough
Kindness of his tone. Nobody seems
10 care for them, and"
She fairly burst into tears, and Moore
who had been on the point of brushing
careiessIy past her, stopped instine.
lively.
Are you so very much in want of
the money!
Indeed, sir, we are" sobbed the
child; mother sent me out and"
May, little one. don't cry" said
Ralph, smoothing her tangled hair 81
don't want your chestnuts, but here's
a quarter FOR you, if it will do you any
good"
thanks the child poured out through q
rainbow of smiles and tears, but strobe
on his way muttering between his
teeth: ''That cuts off my supply of CT
CARS for the next twenty-four hours.
don't care, though for the brown
eyed object really did cry as If she
hadn't friend in the world. Hang it!
/ wish was rich enough to help every
poor creature out of the slough of de-
spOnd"
While Ralph Moore was INDUCING
IN these very natural reflections. the
dark-robed little damsel whom he had
comforted. was dashing down streets
with rapid footsteps. utterly regard
less of the basket OF unsold nuts that
still dangted upon her arm. Down an
obscure alley she darted, and up a mar
row wooden staircase to a room where
pale, neat-looking woman was sew
ing as busily as il the breath of life
depended upon every stitch, and two
little ones were playing in the sun
shine that supplied the place of the alb
sent fire. Mary! back already? Sure
" You have not sold your chestnuts so
soonf
oh, mother, sect" calculated the
breathless child "a gentleman gave
me a quarterl Only think. mother, a
whole quarterp'
If Ralph Moore could only have seen
the rapture which his small silver gift
had brought into that poverty stricken
home he would have grGdgcd still less
his priyation 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 in a
glitter with cut glass. rare china and
polished silver. Everything was wait
ing for the presence of Mr.. Audley.
What can it be that detains pa ~
said Mrs. Audley. a fair. handsome
natrou of about 80, as she glanced at
her tiny watch
There's a man with him In the
study. come on business" said Roo
ert AutIley. pretty boy of l. years,
who was reading by the fire.
"I'H callthim again. said Mrs. Aud
ley, stepping to the door. But as she
opened it the gas lgls fell on the face
OF a humble-looking man in thread
bare garments, who was leaving the
house. while her husband stood in the
doorway of his study, apparently re-
lieved to be rid of his visitor.
Charles" said Mrs. Audley. who is
that man and what does he want?"
Ills name is Moore. l believe, love.
and he came to see If would give him
the vacant position In the bank"
and yyill YOU" she eagerly asked.
Don't know. Mary. must think
about it,
Charles. give him the situation"
why. any dear?"
"BecauSc | ask it of you rs a favor.
and you have said hundred times
you would never deny me anything"
And VIII keep my promise. Mary"
said her lover husband with an affec-
tionate Kiss II will write the fellow
a note this very evening"
An hour later when the children were
tucked Saugly in bed. Mrs. Audley told
her husband why she was Interested in
the fate OF 4 man whose face she had
not forgotten in twenty years. That's
right, my little wife, said her husband
when The simple tale was finished,
'neyey forget one who has heen kind
to you in the days when you needed
Kindness most"
Ralph Moore was sitting that self
same night in his poor lodgings. be-
side his wife's sick bed. when a iiv-
cried servant brought note from the
rich ANA prosperous banker. Charles
Audiey
Goodness. Berthag' he exclaimed