Middletown transcript., 1901-05-11
Mr. Justin VaIIeau's Secret.
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BY M4TT GRIN.

OO0pOOOOOQOOO-O O-OOOOOOOoDOOOO
thought them emanations of genius, but
in my hour of need all their wit and
beauty vanished
The friendship between them deep
ened as the days went by. Enough of
the freshness of youth still fingered in
his nature to make him sympathize with
her pleasures, her hopes and plans for
future work. And fine, quaint humor
penetrated muchthat he said to her.
Chow fearless and independent you
are" he said once when she casually
mentioned crossing Brooklyn bridge alone
one evening.
Il quail little sometimes, but there
is really no danger. Hundreds of other
women do the same thing every day."
"But it isn't right, it isn't right.
Home is the place for woman. Society
is going all wrong, all wrong, these days"
They went out good deal together,
to theaters, concerts and art exhibi-
tons; and it was delightful to compare
notes and find that their tastes in every
thing harmonized so well.
II have not had SO much pleasure in
all the years have been here" he said
one evening. ''If you knew"
Judith wished that she did know,
feeling always that he kept something
from her But in all their intercourse
he never even touched upon his occu-
patton, nor told her where he lodged. |
And she knew that it was not careless
oversight, but Intentional reticence.
Could pride keep him silent?
1t was a typical winter afternoon,
snowy and cold. Judith DAILY sighed a
little disconsolately as she came down
from the office where she was employed,
and started across City Hall park to take
the Broadway car. She was tired of
being poor and working for her living,
but as she came in sight of the lame,
decrepit old beggar who stood on the
corner her conscience smote her for her
discomfort. He had been a familiar fig
ure on that corner for years, through
winter and summer, sun and storm. The
snow powdered his shabby old hat, the
wind whistled icily through his long
white beard. She knew just how cold he
must be in his thin clothes, and put her
hand in her jacket pocket for something
to give him. She had often dropped
coins into his tin cup, Eever waiting to
take one of his cheap pencils he had for
sale, or to hear his mumbled thanks.
But just before she reached his side
that time he dashed his cup and pencils
to the ground and darted out into the
street. A party of Hungarian immigrants
was crossing the street; picturesque and
dirty, and loaded with packs of bedding
and wearing apparel. A child had been
caught under the sifsfffttiiiaes sifsffttiiaes of Of rFsaHE4
Judith could not tell afterward how
it all happened, but presently the shrek
ing of the women were silenced and the
child lay sobbing on his mothers breast.
But the poor old beggar! Judith's eyes
were drawn from the happy, chattering :
mother and her friends to the middle of ! !
the street. where half dozen men were I
lifting PROSTATE figure.
"What has happened?" she cried.
"Oh, he thought he'd play the hero
and save that brat. He's got his full
reward for being such fool" said
cynical bystander.
They were bringing the limp figure
straight toward her, and Judith retreated !!
a little to make away. But what strange
transformation was being wrought in his
appearance? The long silvery beard had
slipped from his face, leaving it pitifulIy I
bare
cha, disguisep' exclaimed one 1
spectator. "All these beggars are I
frauds''
'Is he dead?'' a
ooh, quite.'s
''To think how many times 1 have Il
given him moneyw
eyes, it is disgusting" n
They turned away, but Judith, who y
was almost as white as that poor face on :
which men grazed contemptuously, press d
ed through the crowd The shock of it c
turned her blind and dizzy for moment. u
Then hot, smarting pain pierced through 'i
her heart as she realized that at last she c
knew Mr.. Valleau's little secret. She II
spread her handkerchief over his face. q