The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1901-08-14

Sure, I'd want no betther III I'd q
hunder' to choose FROM" averred the
little woman, stoutly, but I'd none
other fit to pattern him by but yersilf.
that's the truth. You see, 1t wor this
way. There wor me brothers and me
cousbins in the ould country did be
breaking their heads in their fights;
and there was Mulligan got so In the
way of batting people when he wor on
the police that he cudnt lave off the
thrick while he lived. and there was
you with a good worrud to the fore,
and Joke when a poor garrul blum
dered. and a gintleman's way, whether
1t was to the high or the low-and It's
the way that comes aisy to Tii, now
that he has ye before the two eyes OF
him." said Tid's mother, proudly,
while Mr.. Kane groaned in spirit.
How could he make these people un-
derstand that their attitude toward
him was both unwarranted and unwel-
come? why should he consent to sad
die himself with them? It was only
his foolish good nature that had got
him into this scrape. They had no
real claim'cn bm.
at isn't livery fine glntleman that
I'd pattern him by. that's the truth"
went on Mrs. Mulligan. There's thim
If you'd behave it, wud see but the i'm
pydince and niver the honor of having
poor by thrained afther thin. Like
as If It'd wui be walkin' on the creep
ing things wild no thought for their
hurts. that's how some wud be lookin'
at the poor people that's to do thin
the good turn"
"Oh, assure you that | feel tho
honor of it," murmured Mr.. Kane,
ironically: but the struggle to express
herself filed the womans mind. and
she went on without noticing the in
tcrruption:
But II he thramped thin all out,
he't be thrampin' on the good frinds
ofhim. and thrampin' out the tinder-
ness as wid make the good man OF
hissilf and niver know that he wor
more hurt by his halelessness than
thim That's why I'm thankful to the
Lord that I'd the right kind to pattern
him by" concluded the woman. fer
vently; and no light retort fell from
Mr.. Kanes lips now.
What If this were SO? What IL he
were crushing the better nature that
was struggling in him when he turned
from them? What IL the loss were his
rather than theirs? What If these peo-
pie were sent to awaken his conscience
sal rl, t,s, k. Itstf tis,er
1t was u new thought to him that
the claim of humanity might work
both ways. From this point of view,
he might owe something to the Multi
gans instead OF their owing everything
to him. Suppose he turned them out,
foreclosel the Taft mortgage. seized
the Hone farm, fostered the spirit of
greed and selfshness and thrust aside
sponsibillty, as his impulse had
been how would his gain weigh in
the balance against-what?
Surely, the opening vista held more
than he had considered thus far, II
was not only that he would shatter
their faith in mans goodness by shat
tering the idol they had made OF him.
! There was the hardening Of his own
heart. the turning from his chance to
| become an uplifting force to the people
about him. He was no better and nc
worse than the majority of careless
thoughtless men; but did he not have
| IL in him TO be either better or worse
And which should he choose?
He was still wrestling with that
| problem when q small shadow fell
across the threshold, and Tid stood
! i'm the doorway. He frightened al
sight of the visitor, and turned to his
| mother in triumph.
Didn't | be telling you he would
come wan day? She wor cravin' 6
sight of ye, sir, that she wor. but we
wouldn't be askin' a busy man like
yersllf to come out of yer way fol
that"
Its for the good of ye that he's
ccme now, Tld. He's said as mucn.
"Sure, he's been doin' us the goot
turn since the day we r'ached him,
said It'd, contentedly. Thrust hii
honor for that"
Mr.. Kane stood up and shook hii
shoulders as If he were throwing off 1
load. To crush out trust like this. t
refuse the blesselness of such simpl,
faith and gratitude, surely that wal
not work for Tlinore Kane. Let thu
name mean as much for him as TO
It'd.
"Blarney!" he said, lightly. 81 dom
want the roof here coming in on you
heads and giving you an excuse to SUI
me for damages. I'll just look arount
and see what repairs are needed. And
Tid,"-more slowly-"if you feel read,
to come into the office tomorrow,
find that / am ready to have yol
there"
"IIooray." shouted Tid.-Youth'
Companion.
Twas Her First Love.
On n corner stood a little barefoo
girl in her rags. Her soiled, pulg,