The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1904-06-17
AN ACT OF CHARITY.

was just about to carve, and some NUT
ton outlets, now in front of Miss Lucy
,Westlake, her companion, whose prln-
cipal duty was to read Mrs. Boldero to
sleep after the present meal and din
ner
The pudding was served in white
basin with napkin around it, and the
parlor maid stood interestedly looking
on while Mrs. Boldero cut V-shaped
piece out of the top, placed this on
plate, and began to spoon out the con-
tents. Suddenly, pausing, with the
spoon in her right hand, she turned
wrathfully toward Mary.
Where" she severely demanded,
are the kidneys?"
Cook said the butcher didn't send
them in time," was the answer.
Mrs. Boldero felt disappointed. She
had thought of the pudding once or
twice since her 10 o'clock breakfast.
Take it away" she exclaimed, and
Lucy Westlake tried somewhat marked
ly to look as If the affair possessed no
Interest In the world for herself, as,
indeed, it would if Mr.. Roper had not
CHANGED to pass the house at that mo-
ment. - "Se
h. Mr.. Roper occupied one room in
very small house few hundred yards
away; there he had lived as long as
Mrs. Boldero could remember, and, al
though she had naturally never spoken
to the old man, he was well known to
her and to most other persons in the
neighborhood by sight.
He looked more than 60 years OF age;
he was short, erect, and remarkably
thin. His limp-brimmed felt hat, once
black, and now become green, his tight
ly fitting coat and faded from dark
blue to brown. AS Mrs. Boldero had
often remarked, "a crOsslng-sWeeper
could not have dressed more shabby
yet his white hair was always closely
cut, his chin clearly shaver, his large
mustache carefully curled. From one
of her servants (Mrs. Bodero had
habit of exchanging condolences of the
kind she had learned that Mr.. Roper
half-starved himself. "He certainly
looks as if good meal would do him
good" she would remark.
Nevertheless, Mrs. Boldero felt
kind of interest in the old man, who
often passed her window, and this af-
ternoon she happened to look up in
time to recognize him.
"Ah. she cried, ut would be an act
of charity to give it to that poor mani"
who is that?" asked Lucy, helping
herself to the smallest outlet.
"Mr. Roper" was the answer. ut
would make him a meal every day for
week. | have a good mind to send
#"
II beg your pardon? said Mrs. Boil
fdero, sharply.
Llcy's cheeks were crimson, for she
perceived what Mrs. Boldero could not
see, that, although his clothes were fit
for the dust-bin, Mr.. Roper was gen
tleman
"You couldn't do such thing muir
INJURED Lucy.
mot perform an act of charity? And
why not, pray?' asked Mrs. Boldero.
Mary" she added, take away my
plate and the pudding. will have some
outlets. Cook can put the basin in a
basket and Miss Westlake shall carry
it to poor Mr. Roper directly after
luncheon"
= Lucy Westlake looked inclined to re-
bel. But, although Mrs. Boldero might
trN Ir,ifb w.
respects, Lucy had comfortable home,
with sufficient salary to enable her to
help her own people. Caution prevail
ing, she set forth half an hour later
with tingling cheeks and reluctant
steps. Lucy was %, fair haired, and
pretty; a sensitive plant forced by cir
cumstances into stony garden. A
widebrimmed hat shaded her face from
the sun. the basket hung on her left
arm as she timorously drew near to
the terrace of small houses where Mr..
Roper lodged.
Lucy's voice trembled as a short,
stout red-faced woman opened the
street door.
"May | speak with Mr.. Roper" she
asked. and turning her back, the wom-
an of his house shouted his name at
the foot of the narrow staircase. He
came down few moments later in the
act of buttoning his shrunken, faded
coat too courteous to betray surprise.
TOO hungry to refrain from smiling
slightly as the SAVIOR of the steak pud-
ding tickled his nostrils.
~You wished to see me" he inquired,
with a bow.
oYe--es, If you please" said Lucy,