Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1901-10-02

Wasn't there any better model to be
found?"
Sure, I'd want no betther If Ia q
hunder' to choose FROM" ayerred the
little woman, stoutly, "but I'd none
other fit to pattern him by but yersilf.
that's the truth. You see, it wor this
way. There wor me brothers and me
cousbns 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 cudn't lave off the
thrick while he lived, and there was
You with a good worrud to the fore,
and a joke when a poor garrul blum
dered, and gintleman's way, whether
it was to the high or the low-and it's
the way that comes hisy to Tii, now
that he has ye before the two eyes Of
him." said Tid'5 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 on I'm.
"It isn't livery fine gintleman that
I'd pattern him by, that's the truth"
went on Mrs. Mulligan. There's thin,
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 wud be walkin' on TIE 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
ooh, | assure you that / feel tho
honor of it," murmured Mr.. Kane,
ironically: but the struggle to express
herself filled the woman's mind. and
she went on without noticing the in
terruption:
But if he thramped thin all out,
he'd be thrampin' on the good frinds
of him, and thrampin out the tinder-
ness as wud make the good man Of
hissilf, and niver know that he wor
more hurt by his hadelessness than
thin. That's why I'm thankful to the
Lord that Id 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 if he
were crushing the better nature that
was struggling in him when he turned
from them? What if the loss were his
rather than theirs? What if these peo-
| pie were sent to awaken his conscience
and show him where he was drifting?
1t was a 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,
foreclosed the Taft mortgage, seized
the Hope farm, fostered the spirit OF
greed and selfshness and thrust aside
responsibility, 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. 1t
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 no
worse than the majority of careless,
thoughtless men; but did he not have
it in him TO be either better or worse?
And which should he choose?
He was still wrestling with that
problem when a small shadow fell
across the threshold, and It'd stood
in the doorway. He frightened at
sight of the visitor, and turned to his
mother in triumph.
Didn't | be telling you he would
come wan day? She wor cravin' a
| sight of ye, Sir, that she wor, but we
| wouldn't be askin' a busy man like
| yersilf to come out of yer way for
that"
Its for the good of ye that he's
come now, It'd. He's said as much."
Sure, he's been doin' us the good
turn since the day we r'ached him."
said It'd. contentedly. Thrust his
honor for that"
Mr.. Kane stood up and shook his
shoulders as if he were throwing off a
| load. To crush out trust like this, to
refuse the blessedness of such simple
faith and gratitude, surely that was
not work for Tidmore Kane. Let the
name mean as much for him as for
It'd.
"Blarney!" he said, lightly. 81 don't
want the roof here coming in on your
heads and giving you an excuse to sue
me for damages. I'll just look around
and see what repairs are needed. And,
It'd, more slowly-"if you feel ready
to come into the Office tomorrow,
find that l am ready to have you
there"
"Hooray!" shouted Tid.-Youths
Companion.
Twas Her First Love.
On a corner stood little barefoot
girl in her rags. Her soiled, pulgy
| litlla bopJc hrgual opothar bun11a