The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1901-12-30
9t%t%%H~t -, Q = - NTHT~
Z GILES IN LUCK. I


gether in knots and stared at him.
BY a strange turn Of Fortunes wheel
Gle Maidment the oldest inmate Of
Bransion Union, who had in truth for
twenty years known no other home,
DOW found himself, at the age Of Is.
comparatively wealthy man. A distant
relative. a relative so distant indeed thai
Gil had been unaware Of his existence,
had recently died lntestate, and Giles
proved to be his ncxL Of kin.
The prospect ought surely to have
elated him. yet his face wore a very
blank expression as he sat awaiting the
expected summons
He stood up and went shunling from
one to rAe other Of his former croniss.
shaking hands with them all, but with
out speaking.
He received the money which had been
placed in the masters hand for his
actual needs, and scraped his rickety old
foot, and pulled his forelocks. after
forgotten fashion, as he listened to their
kindly words Then they too, shook
hands with him. and accompanied him
to the gate. looking after the feeble old
figure until it disappeared.
Giles tottered down the hill, his eyes
roaming vaguely over the landscape
which was looking its fairest on tiis
mellow June afternoon. AS he shuff' d
along he thought of how he had walt.d
this way last year. with Jim al his side
Jim. the dear old croney, who hal
helped in the union to make his life less
drear-on one Of their rare outings
Farther down the road was a benc1
where It was the old paupers custom &,
ST. awhile on their return journey b.
fore beginning the steep ascent OF the
hill; Giles sat stiffIy down now, and
orce more stared about him BY and by
the town clock struck Z, and he in
stinctively rose to his feet and began
hurriedly to retrace his steps, but h.
pulled himself up of sudden.
Seven o'clock It I'D seem more
mat raj to be goin up along. was
nigh forgettin' be coined away! Mr..
Taper ull think bein't a-comin il /
don't hurry up,o
This time he made up his mind TO
continue his journey without further in.
terruptions, and very soon arrived al
the end OF the lane. and even at the
third house on the right, where he wa,
duly received by Mrs. Taper. She wa.
most civil, not to say respectful, eallc5
him "SIr" and "Mr. Maidmens," hustler
her children out of the way, installed
him in the elbow-chair in the corner
and waited upon him at tea time os
though he had been a gentleman born
At first Giles rather enjoyed IT, but
presently the feeling Of loneliness ard
strangeness. against which he had ben
struggling all day, returned with re
doubled force and when he vas inally
ushered into his clean. tidy little room
and Mrs. Taper, after calling mis- a.
tention to the various preparations she
had made for his comfort. left him T.
himself; he sat down on the side of ths
bed and groaned aloud.
A week later Giles was permitted tn
visit his former friends, laden with such
a store of buns and baccy as woule
have insured his welcome, even had not
most OF his cronles been genuinely glad
10 see him.
Dear heart alive!" cried Jim, receiy-
ing his modicum OF twist with hearty
ohuckle, "these be new times, these b.
Who'd ever ha' thought o. Giles Maid
ment walkIn' in here like a lard WI
presents for as all?"
But Giles was looking round WITH \
foolish, waveIing sort of a smile.
1T d seem real homely in here ~
remarked "Ah. Il do fur sure. There
be the papers as us'al, see-I do miai
papers awful out yonder."
But Giles did not heed him; he ives
gazing hungrlly at the greasy pack ni
cards which lay on the deal table.
"It a seem a marital sight o time
since I've had a game" he exclaimed
Light up, jim; you and me 'ull i.sJ
have time for one afore tea"
When the bell rang for this las;
named meal Giles rose with the rest,
and was preparing to walk with them
down the well-known stairs. when ht
was astonished by receiving an invitN-
ton to tea with no less person than
the matron herself
He smoothed his hair with the palu
OF his hands, pulled up his shirt collar
and followed the messenger with an odd
mixture OF pride and reluctance. 1t was
Lo doubt highly gratifying 10 be thrs
honored before all his former mate
but he was conscious Of a secret yearr-