The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1903-03-12
r HERE he lived amid the term-
ing humanity of the great and
populous city, with the noise

of human voices always buzzing
through his solitude, yet always alone
and lonely, hermit of the flats. The
men of his acquaintance spoke to him
or nodded chcerily across the res
taurant tables. but he was conscious
of divergent interests, so he never
encouraged their friendly advances.
but went his own way N moody
silence. OF women he never thought
years before. when the girl Of his choice
had rejected him for luckier man.
Gradually his solitude hardened him,
and the hardening process crept into
his stories, which took pessimistic
turn. The editors complained because
his otherwise strong. virile work, was
too sombre; others said it lacked natur.
alness and humanity, but whatever the
fault was, Haswell began to realize
that something was seriously amiss.
go out among the people and get
freshened up," said his friend BoyntOn,
who had always liked Haswell's style
of work, "and let yourself live. Then
write what you have learned from
them"
But Haswell declined to take his ad.
vice. saying that the vulgar horde re-
PEELED him, and he preferred to write in
his own way or not at all, so his stories
grew less and less successful. and Has
wells temper soured proportionately.
1t was bitter midwinter night. The
,l, ,,tI h.
alleys and filtered in between the
chinks of Haswell's windows, rattling
the easements unpleesantly. Haswell
was out Of temper with his work and
the exacting editors, who had returned
batch of his stories without so much
as a rejection slip. He rose. plugged
the easements, and drew his ma chine
closer to the glowing hearth, and be-
gan to revise the rejected copy, when
a timid knock at his door interrupted
his thoughts.
A gust Of chilly air rushed up from
the open vestibule below us he threw
back the hall door. revealing the pres
ence of stranger with an awkwardly
wrapped parcel in his arms. A thin
fall of snow hid the threadbarcness c.
his ill-fitting coat, and the dropping
rim of his battered hat obscured his
face, which was very young and dark
and unnaturally thin.
what do you want here:" Haswell
demanded sharply.
"Do Mr.. Severano live here" asked
a very soft, ehildlike voice.
"No, lie doesn't" Haswell answered
brusquely. 'There are no Italians In
this apartment house. You had better
get out before you're put OUT
He told my friend he live here" the
hoy said, apologetically. "He have
promised to let me play for him.
need work very bad, Mister"
'Oh. dare say! Some begging game
of course. Well, you won't make any
thing hero. can tell you" Then fol
the first time he saw the violin under
the boys ragged arm. "Do you play
that thing?" lie asked curiously
You're not more than child"
II am sixteen. Mister" the soft. ap
pealing voice answered.
well, you're mans not here" Has
we'll retorted briefly. closing the dooi
and going back to his cheerful hearth
But that last glimpse of the pathetic
little face made him uncomfortable
He opened the door once more, aEt
leaning over the banisters, called dowr
10 him: Come up" he said rather
grudsingly. II may be able to help yol
md your friend"
The boy pattered softly up the steps
once within the brightly lighted room
his poverty and WEAKNESS became pain
fully apparent; his trousers and Goa
Were frayed and ragged, and his big
loose shoes We're full of gaping holes
Haswell took the old violin from H..
numb grasp and bade him throw of
MS coat. which he did fumbingly, 70
MS hands Were stlff and blue witt
cold. His trousers We're wet to tn
knees. and the melting snow ooze,
steadily from the broken toes Of hi
SHOES. Haswell stared at his sa,
figure helplessly.
Where do you live?" he demands
abruptly.
In Greenwich street. Mister"
Down town. presume. Must yo
go home to-night?"
The boy shrugged his shoulders wit
a gently depreciating smile. "Nobod
don't care II I don't" he answered.
Then you had better stay here. Yo
can sleep on the couch. yonder. whe
you're all cleaned up. You are wrin,
ing wet and cold as ice. Tell you wha
III run tubful of warm water, IN
you can take your bath while hunt u
some dry things. After that YOU ca
tell me about yourself"
When the strange little agur
emerged from the bathroom arrayed
Haswell's spacious pajamas. with nj
Dhck. siiken thatch washed and cur
Ing crisply all around his pale FAC
Haswell noticed that his delicate. r,
hned beauty was quite extraordinar
ana altogether irreconcilable with h
rags and misery. Haswell poured O,
tne coffee he had stepped over h
alcohol lamp. ana set before his que
plate OF crackers and cheese wbic
ne bade him eat, while he finished \
work, but although the host ,ooaa