The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1901-04-24


self and his troubles in the depths OF
a winter hunting camp.
After he left evil days fell on the
little household. The old father be-
came i'll, and nurses and doctors ate
up Marlon's little bank account, and
her cheek grew wan and thin trying to
make one dollar do the work of three.
1t had always been her custom to go
on Sunday afternoons to the hospital
to sing to the patients, and 1t chanced,
at this time, there was little lad
there in whom she took great inter.
est. He was jockey who had been
badly hurt in hurdle race and who
was slowly recovering from his In
juries. To him, Marian with her pret-
ty face and glorious voice was the one
bright spot in the dreary days of con.
valescence, and he literally lived upon
her visits.
their worst with her, when she had only
ten dollars left and the numberless i'm.
portunities Of the home and sick room
were calling for 1t she went to see him
and he greeted her with shining eyes,
Say MISS" he said, Ben, he's me
side partner, he was here yesterday, an
he give me dead s.raight tip, an III
put yer next. Anita's Just got a walk
over"
Anita, who's she?" inquired Marian
vaguely.
The boy gasped. "Youse don't know
Anita? BY gee, she's a race mare, an
say, de talent amt on to her. Say,
it's goin' to be a hundred to one shot
Gee, don't l wish l was out of dis" and
he moved impatiently.
Hundred to one shot," repeated
Marian, what's that?"
"Shucks," he cried, and thea talking
very slowly as II explaining things tc
child: "Youse puts up one dollar,
an de boo..ies pays you one hundred
ef youse win out"
"a bet," Marian exclaimed, but
doesn't somebody Loser"
DE bookies dis time, sure" replied
the boy with conviction, but deys
dead lousy wild Doodle, an it's a charity
to relieve 'em. Say, gimme a ten, an
let Ben put it up for you. Dis amt NO
graft. It's lead pipe cinch."
In the end Marian did. On the way
home she told herself that it was be-
cause the money was to use for others
but in her soul she knew she had been
tempted, and had fallen, just like
every other sinner, but all her miser-
| able self-righteousness was swept
| away, and she understood, and pitied,
| and loved, as she had never done be-
fore. all the great SHINING. struggling,
suffering brotherhood of mankind
AS the boy had predicted Anita
won, and the next time she went to
the hospital he put in her hands a
great roll of bills. but for answer she
only gathered him in her arms.
"Oh. Tom. Tom." she cried, II am
| nothing but common, wicked gam
bler!'
Nav yer amt" the boy returned
digustedly, yer amt got de nerve.
Yer amt nothing but bloomin'
saint"
That night very humble letter went
to Jacks club. and being forwarded
brought that gentleman in a few days
to Marian's Loor.
Somehow, in the new light that had
come to her, she knew that a fellow
sinner would understand and forgive.
and that 1t is only the wrath of the
righteous We have to fear. so without
one word she fed to Jacks arms and
sobbed out her story on his breast-her
temptation, her sin. and her yielding.
When she was done he looked at her
with very grave smile in his eyen.
Sweetheart" he said. you were
very earthly as an angel, but you ere
simply heavenly as a sinner" and for
the first time in her life Marian under
! stood.