The Wichita daily eagle., 1901-06-19
scoTTYs GIFT.


all meant that the honor-it was spelled
honour" Of Sfr- Scott Asrtin's attend
ance at the wedding Of Miss Caroline
Clements 10 Mr.. Oliver BrundsEe-
Scotty's grimy fingers trem5led a little
as he finally spelled out this precious
document, and MS heart swelled in his
somewhat contracted bosom. Miss Caro-
line hadn't forgotten him.
Miss Caroline had been Scotty's Sunday
school teacher two years before, when
Scotty was a newsboy. How kind she
was. how sweet and gentle.
There were three weeks in which 70
make preparations. Scotty got out his
old Sunday school suit. which he had
worn but once. or possibly twice, since
Miss Caroline went away. He bargained
with the little Polish tailor around the
corner 10 cut his grass, both front and
back. four times-after Office hours. OF
course-ss an equivalent for sponging and
pressing this best suit
Then came the startling thought that be
must give Miss Caroline q wedding pres
ent-and il must be a ereditable one. too,
and worthy OF the lady. And Seotty
knitted his brow over this problem and
thought very hard. But presently his
face cleared and he smiled.
When il was closing time IN the Office
on the day OF the wedding Scotty brought
his employer his light overcoat and his
hat
IN see you later. sir" he said with a
broad smile.
The eminent head Of the house looked
after the boy with an astonished grimaee.
THAT was clearly a slang expression, "
he murmured, but It sounded as II the
cub meant it
That evening was = long dream Of de-
light for Scotty. He went early and he
stayed late, and between these two points
his time was fully taken up. Miss Caro-
line-she would always be Miss Caroline
10 hin-greeted him so sweetly when he
came up a little timioly after the cere-
mony with outstretched hand, that he
knew IN momeat she had never thought
of forgetting him. She had taken kis
Hand, and. right before them all she
had STOPPED and kissed him, and teld him
that she had heard he was a good boy
and that It made her so glad 10 know it,
and she was quite sure he would grow
up to be a worthy and useful man.
And Scetty was glad when he could es-
cape to a sheltered corner and dig a
knuckle furtively into his foolish eyes.
And presently his employer saw him,
and knew him, too, and gravely shook
hands with him, and asked after his
health, and introduced him 10 Mrs En-
ployer who was grand, but very gra-
cious, and to Miss Employer, who was
delightfully."- pretty and viyacious.
Then, before Miss Caroline went away,
she came TO Scotry and bade him good
by. and said he must surely come TO see
her at her new home when she came
back.
And I want to thank you for the
beautiful clock you gave me- she said ia
her gentle voice, "and I shall not forget
the motto. Good-by.''
And when she had gone, Scotty went up
10 the big front room, where all the
presents were displayed. and his eyes
frightened when he saw what q promi-
nent place his gift had been given. And.
leaning Up against it, was the white card
on which he had printed with infinite
pains:
Don't waste a moment"
The next morning Scotty noticed his
employers beckoning forehnger.
Scott" said the great man, II fancy
that these social requirements are wear
ing Oh a limited income"
Yes. SIR said Scotty, little dubi-
ously.
"On that account" said the great man,
you may consider yourself in receipt Of
s2 a week in addition TO your present
'Leavin' the frilIs off that means a
raise, don't it," queried Scotty.
1T means a raise" said the great
man; and when I return from three
months trip abroad Wen see If We can
find a better pIace-with a chance to rise
for you"
And then one day came trouble.
Scottys father had kept out of sight
for some tine. and when he suddenly
turned up he was drunk and extremely
disorderly, and work-house sentence
stared him in the face.
Scotty couldn't bear the disgrace Of
the work-house alternative and so he
1-.-
bad old man went free. But 1t took ev-
cry dollar. and dime. and nickel, that
Scotty possessed. He hurried back to the
office a financial wreck.
II was Sunday afternoon and every
clerk went home earlier than usual. as
was the custom IL the great mans Of
fee, and among the first TO 60 was the
cashier. He was gone when Seotty mus
tered Up sufficient courage to ask HIN
for an advance on his next weeks salary.
For scotty needed the money. He need
ed it badly. A hot flush stole across his
face as he thought Of his necessity.
Really he vas at his Wits ena-
lie seized his hat as soon as he dared
to leave and hurried out in the direction
Of Miss Caroline's home. lie knew the
numbeF-it was on one OF those creamy
invitation caTds-and when he was quite
near the house he sat down on a FIRE
hydrant and waited and watched
Presently be arose. Perhaps the man
he was looking fer had coIse and gorel
The thought quite staggered him. He
walked Up the steps and rang the bell.
The maid stared little and then In
vited him into the neat little parior
And a moment later Miss Carolins. with
q great furry Of draperies, swept in and
caught him ~ the hands
And so you've come TO make your par
" call9 she cried
Scotty hung his head and biushed- Then
he looked the lady straight in the eve.
NO. Miss Caroline" he said. 7 amt.
came about something important. Has
has A man been here about that clock
7 gave your" and then his eye caught
sight Of the time-piece in the room BE-
yon6.
why. no said Miss Caroline; what's
wrong about the cloek7
Scotty locked Up and caught her gentle
glance. His courage rose.
III tell YOU all about Il" he said.
Hell he sure here and you might as
well know about II before he comes You
see / amt been earnin' much II vas OF
~ 81 a week. and 3 oS Il gees 20 mother.
But made up ny mind you must have
q weddin present, an coed ore. too.
ar 7 bought the clock" Re paused and
moistered his frs i hate 70 tell you
this. but there ain's no heip for 81"
GO or. said Miss Carolne, gently.
1T was eight dollars, ar 7 bought g
on the stallmeat pisn-one dcilsr doEn
an one dollar weak TIL you ~ paid
Il all and wher they asked ne sftsrNsr6
where the clock Vas ] had 10 tell err.
SO they'd know Just where % sand for e
when missed On dollar.
And you've missed sad Mss Caro-
rre
.T wouldn't have missed y = hadn't
beeE f1r father" &c cried He got os
again ans Ncke6 z pleecsszn. an they'd
~ gert hsrr 70 the zork-houss sure II
I hadn't put I'D TIE stllG 1e- ia fac a.
L. f-e-