The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1903-12-31

GOOD MAN, HOW COME YOU TO B4
HERE!'
spiCuous by the length of his locks and
the exceeding breadth of his soft black
tie, lit their cigars as Reynolds rose.
1T was showing he began.
skip all that" hastily put in news
paper man. "Of course, If it was
Christmas eve, it was showing
The hapless Outcasts in the park
had ranged themselves as nearly as
possible according to the tree branches;
but, being large in number, they over
Tapped them, some TO the length of two
branches or more, so that these sat
unprotected from the snow, which soft
ly soaked them
The newspaper man raised his hand
admOnishinSly
will you permit me, Mr.. President"
interrupted he, Ito suggest that all
description be eliminated? Otherwise
well be sitting here in broad day
light"
1t may be as WELL, assented the
president suavely, ito omit descriptions
of scenery, for, as the gentleman has
just stated ii may have the effect Of
OBTAINING us longer than is absolutely
necessary
Reynolds, reaching for glass Of
water, wet his lips before he began
again.
II buttoned my Overcoat to the
throat" he said then, for the wind
was raw and keen. and walked I'D to
the first tramp | came to. He sat near
the fountain on the corner seat Of a
long bench. | touched him gently on
the sleeve and said to him:
"'My good man, how come you to be
here"
The newspaper man leaned forward
absorhcdly, his eyes aglcam.
Were those your exact wordsT' he
inquired i'll so rapt Il manner that the
president once more let fall the fork
Reynolds diSdaninG the question,
sought in several pockets for pocket
handkerchief. and finding one at
length, dclicateiy moppcd his lids
"fhe story he told" he stammcred,
would have brought tears to the eyes
Of the coolest hearted
ut was not so different from the usu-
al run of such StorieS." falt-rcd Reyn-
olds. He had seen better days: he
had not always been obliged to sleep in
q park. etc: nr had wife and two
children; he had been unable to sup
port them; they were all three with his
wife's mother. AS | say. it was not SO
much the story as bis manner of telling
It. 1t affected you beyond description.
1t couldn't help but affect you. took
q five dollar bill from my vest pocket
and thrust ii into his hand"
And then," queried the president.
what did he do?''
He became so deeply affected" re-
turned Reynolds. that whirled about
and left him, unwilling TO witness the
overwhelming nature of his gratitude"
He sat down. The artist cOughed
slightly. covered his mouth with his
nand moment, relit his cigar, which
had gone quite out. and blew the
smoke To the ceiling
The president motioned to his neigh
Dor TO sise. His name was Caruthers.
He scanned his listeners attentively.
frowning as he talked.
My experience" said he. .'resembled
to certain degree that of my friend
Reynolds there. l must have visited
the same park. Union park. was it,"
with nod to Reynolds.
Yes replied Reynolds; Union
park"
Il circled the fountain" he went on
"and proceeded to long bench. where
/ stopped near Il seedy looking individ-
ual who in spite of the steady fall of
snow sat mapping there. l tapped him
on the shoulder. reused him from his
sleep and asked his history. 1t was
rambling. as that related by Reynolds.
he had seen better days. Most Of US
have. He had not always slept in
parks. Few have And, like Reynolds
tramp, he had wife and two children,
whom he had been obliged long before
to send home to the wifes mother.
Like tie story of Reynolds tramp,
there was nothing out Of the ordinary
with the exception Of the manner in
which he stammered and shook telling
it."
At this point Caruthers appeared to
experience some little difficulty in ar
ticulating. When he had recovered.
Really he finished, lit was distress
Ing; most distressing 1t grieved me
deeply. l thrust a five dollar bNl into
his hand and hurried away"