The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1904-06-17

II was SAID, and not without reason
that GTubbs had no friends. He was
surely an uninviting old fellow, as
those upon whose property he hello
mortgages were well aware, but per
sons better acquainted with him, thai
is to say, those who had gNmpses oil
his inner nature, declared that there
vas good in him. He used to come
down town every morning on the ele,
waited road, and at a station he began
to look for the face Of a small boy at
window. 1t was but a brief satisfac.
ton. for of course the train halted
only a moment, but he appeared to
look forward to it, and would squeeze
himself, though a large man, into a
seat between two other large men in
order to be on the side nearest the
window in which the boys face ap.
peared. Once he was late and missed
the face and the next morning he
made it point to be on time again.
The face was not there in the after
noon when the old man returned
home. at least he had not been able to
see 1t, though he never failed to look
at the window. He had been talking
to an acquaintance, but broke off short
to look. Then he began to grumble.
What's the trOuble?" the acQuaint.
alce asked,
"0h, nothing much" But he shut
10 and held himself in moody silence.
The next morning the face was not
there; the curtain was down. And
thus 1t went on for a week, Grubbs
fFetting all the time. He spoke to
some one. THAT face was the only
bright thing was permitted to see,
aud now it is gone" At night he
dreamed of the face, SO expressive
and full Of wonder and he swore that
It vas shame thus to be deprived Of
IL SO one morning he got off the train
70 look for the face. Up a dark stair.
way ne CROPPED, knocked at a door,
was scolded when he explained in q
sammering manner that he was look.
lag Tor face, went to another door
ana Knocked, A tired woman present
SO herself. She appeared to be of gen
10 bearing and Grubbs, usually gruff,
spoke to her with unwonted kindness.
IN a few words he told Of the face.
IL was a flower to me, madam" The
woman opened wide the door and IN
wed him to enter, and there on a bed
as saw the face. pale with sickness.
ne sat down and the little fellow, who
mao passed the dangerous point and.
was recovering, was amused to see so
us and shaggy a man. In his own
way ne remarked that Grubbs remind.
q MIN OF great dog, and he asked
UsuDBS to bark for him, which he
ula' the woman smiling at him; and
sltdi this Grubbs was known as "the
Jug One morning he said to the
woman;
loa Cont seem to have the means
= Keep yourself properly. How do
sOu support yOurself?"
work at the theater whenever I
Saa get an engagement"
Wnat sort Of work."
IN help fiji out the ballet"
I, ,ae old man frowned, but she did
uo' notice it. Well" said he, you
aast let NE do something Tor you. | |
low" ~ ''i+' '''''' 'e''
!, he bowed over the boy, and the lit.
~ fellow, reaching up and patting
'ue grl2zled head, remarked that he |
!, 9 good dog, and then requested
- - alusic OF grOwl. Often he would |
:. a.ag late-did not seem to care for
sale Several days passed, and he re-
Numbered that the woman had not |
: his offer Of help, neither had
=. !, encouraged him in the belief that |
~ would accept He renewed it. 81 |
= lhat this little fellow Is about !
$ care for. Listen. was coming |
s ~ town one morning after a |
ssaasie at my house with men who |
vs. W. trying to beat me out Of what
: ss'eased TO me, and Suddenly 1t fash
~ SeEoss me that there vas nothing
n and beautiful In this miserable
~, world, and then at that very mo.
~ ,sss' first caught sight Of this Es.tle |
'eiiew and" "'''A'
s. ana you've been good ever since"
ae boy broke in. ~
es' or at least better than was,
s.ss am you must let me help you. / {
81 'sse You said your namo lis Mar. !
IS, e nodded. But my name amt
the boy cried out, and shs baae
soam, viii you do me great
soff be asked.
~. sont know, SIR. But you have
and enough to warrant it."
Aak yen, It has been a guOd