The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1901-04-16

AlNa ~ Nv" AI0 -r-fc AAll 10 TIE zap
Idly deepening gloom and The wild
oheerless night. but the horse was kepI
steadily alongside Of him, ard the ride
spoke again.
, -Can't you get into regular work and
leave this tramp business p
No; there's nonel have the likes O
me. Idon't look respectable enough.
Nonsense, man. Don't get down on
your luck, but pick youiself up. Now,
look here; / win give you a chance my
self If YOU viii take it
Jim could not believe his ears. Some
one actually talking to him as If be was
an honest man, and not some sort OF
Yermin or Yen0mOus beast. A real
hp-top gentleman, too. He mnst be
muddled. But the brown eyes were
looking coolly enough at him, and their
owner was saying: Well, what do you
savgv
Aer dontknow what be-: I'm bad
lott I've been ia quod oft enough. =
blurted out Jim. feeling somehow he
could not take his new found patron in.
dare say you have, and you de-
served it, too But 1 believe YOU can
pull round yet if you like; and. as
said, l will give you the chance Of reg
ular work aud pay. Will you take it 2
IN the depth Of Jim's warped nature
there glimmered something like a spark
Of gratitude and a dim longing after a
new life for moment; but old habits
were too strong for him, and the clouds
closed darker again as he shook
his head and said in tones which
tried to he civil: mo, guy'nor;
yer mean we'll, but it's Ilo 20
now. I'm no good for anything but
cadgiDg aud iramping, an / dean want
70 work for any master an won't. new
ther."
Heexpected an angry lecture and
round abuse for refusing; but the other
said quietly, stroking his boot with the
handle Of his hunting crop, ~That
IS dangerous way OF thinking.
my friend, and viii get Won
into trouble again. You are a
fool not to try aud pun up a bit
but you know your own affairs best.
Well, here is a supper and bed for YOU
anyway. Look out He tossed a
half-crovn to Jim with careless. easy
good-nature, and, shaking up his horse,
trotted off with nod and Good luck. "
How costless a word of two Of SYM
pathy are, and yet how priceless they /
may becomel How easy to be gra-
cious. and yet how far-reachiug the re.
suits We scatter kindly greetings
here and there as we journey on life's
roadway, and lol they spring up bright
flowers 10 gladden. some sad weary
wayfarer We perform thoughtlessly
now and again trivial services Of cour-
tesY and forget them, but they shine in
lone, loveless hearts as glittering stars
10 cheer the midnight sky.
Hugh Boynton, smoking his high
priced Havana after dinner that even
ng in the luxurious ease Of bis favor
tie lounging- had utterly for,
gotten all about the few words
and the silver coin which he had
.hrown to the tramp whom he had
'yertaken as he rode home from
hounds jim, curled up under the lee
i clover rick, turned the half,crown
ver and over in his hand aud thought
low for once in his life he had been
poken kindly to by a real gentleman.
Five dreary years passed over Jims
uckless head-their monotony broken
y police-court, prison-cell, and va Z
rant-ward experiences. He had wan !
cred up and down some dozen coun- Q
les, and seen the inside Of most Of
heir lails, and now, as Christmas
rev near. had drifted toward York; d
ct that he had any particular reason
,r getting there, but because it lay in Il
is way north, and he happened to be u
laking in that direction; why, not s.
ven he himself knew, for north, south y
lst, aud west were alike to him. He q
ad had a run of bad luck lately. Once I
: twice he had found a casuars vel a
)me and slept under cover; but he had
rooted objection to its concomitants.
Id chose rather the cold and expos
re OF the open air. He had scarcely q,
sted food for a week, and had almost Il
rgotten the feel Of a copper coin; for 9,
mellow the near approach Of the ies- r,
val OF peace and goodwill seemed to
we shut up mems pockets, and sharp a.
iusals and scornful silence were all he n
i from those Of whom'he asked help. :,
The afternoon was closing as lie i,
und himself in the long, Struggling m
llage Of Marston, footsore and done j.
}. The lights at the grocer's shop Z,
rev q broad band Of brightness across 4,
c road. and jim could see a man in q m
lite apron busily piiing up pyramid
loaves which boy had just brought wl
crisp and hot from the bakehouse. a.
he sight was too much for the fam N,
led fellow, and he pushed his way %
% the shop. Now, then, what is it?" 90
ed the shopman sharply, as he No
lnned Jim's tattered appearance. an
Will We give me van Of them little "a
5, guv'nor2 I'm nigh clemmed, and IA
nodded toward the bread pile. A,
No, certainly not; / never give 70
ggars or tramps." n,
I've not tasted bite nor sup this ~
'ssed day, Gcd knows a.
Can't help that Come, get out of Ar
shop. do You hear? or Til set the pl,
stable onto you. The likes Of you til
IN not - n -.