The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1905-01-02
A QUESTION
OF CHARITY

hi,ldea AMONG the branches of h
trees or swinging merrily on invisible
wires Hooded the place with soft light.
There were long tables. over. which
presided young women in white. who
srrov< TO sell you all sorts of dainty,
impossible things; a tent where an oc-
casios-made gypsy told our fortune:
a lottery with prizes ranging from pea
nuts to a French doll; a refreshment
bar where the only change from your
p~rofered bill was u surfeit of gratitude
ana an engaging smile. Well down the
lawn. behind an impromptu screen OF
potted plants. an amateur orchestra
vas struggling -heroically. at least
with classic o~vertures-
For something over half an hour
MIR. Robert Weston had been wander
ing about. making most reckless pur-
chases ut the tables and playing the
lottery with all the abandon of a born
plunger. To all appearances his course
about the place was very lik that OF a
ship without IA rudder. Yet there was
method i'll his madness. and all the
time he was being outrageously swim
died, at he various booths. from the
corner of his Y he WAS watching for
a certain white dress and a crown of
copper colored hair. Presently his pa
tience was rewarded. Far down to-
ward the palm screen he saw her sink
into n lawn chair. He deposited his
bundles i'll an u~ndiynified heap on a
n~eighboring table and made his wa
to the lawn chair.
Nan" he said gravely as he came
up to her. you're tired to death. poor
childr'
oh. no." she sa:d. only I'll be glad
when it's all over"
Come away from it for awhile" he
advised. III take you down to the
boathouse.'
She rose and slipped her hand
through his arm. Together they de-
Scended the slope to the river II
went out To the end of the little pier
by the b~oathoesc. where they sat dow
on a rustic bench.
Well" Weston said. was it a sue
| cess?''
ut would be if everybody spends
money as recklessly as you have been
doing" she replied,
He laughed. 81 was particularly for
tunate In the lottery" he explained. Il
drew four bags of peanuts. a doll and a
box of hairpins. My last purchase was
three aprons and a half dozen tiatiron
holders Imagine it," lie chuckled.
Anyway" she said, you've done
your best to help us out. You're a dear.
good boy
"Ah," he said solemnly. Il knew l
should be discovered some time.
Tell me, Nan. what this is for" he
went on after a pause, prayer books
for the EskinIos or blankets for the
Fiji i~siandersT"
The money goes to ST. Agatha's
Home For Orphans and Foundlings,
We support it mainly she explained,
"H'm-m" he unused. Don't suppose
YOU ever see the orphans and found
iings.' do you? Just turn over the
money to EN- and let it go at that, Ell
Say, Nam" he said, with u sudden seri-
BUSINESS which rather surprised her. Il
lon't believe all this giving money to
charity is the best WY of doing it.
There are plenty of old moneybags
trying to buy a chance to heaven
who'll look out for that end of it. |
.ay. for those who are fitted for it, per
sonal work among the needy is the
uost practical thing"
Perhaps a few details would make
our suggestion more explicit, Bobby
he said.
Undoubtedly" he assented cheerful
y. Now. for instance. take a case i
lnow about. There's an orphan, and
ie's old and hungry and lonesome. Ii
sn't so much money he needs as some
me to take an interest in him. to
.tand behind him, as it We're. You see,
hey won't take him into a home
why not she interrupted.
Well" he said slowly. TO begin
with, his age
What is his ageT'
"Ihirty-one."
Gracious. l should say he wouldn't
get into u home. The age limit at st.
Agatha's is fifteen. ThirIy-one"
4 realize it's Il crime for him to be
thirty-one.' he said Still. that really
isn't his fault"
What's the matter with him z" she
asked sharply. Doesn't he work? Is
re laZy?'
The LATEST rascal alive" he said.
Blu he really doesn't have to work,
sou know. He's got one enough. as
far as that goes-keeps a horse or SC
and an automobile. When / said he
was cold and hungry meant he was
cold for lack of interest and hungry
for sympathy and-oh. hang it, You
know we'll enough what I mean. The
orphan is me- he burst out ingram
matically. and and = for heavens
sake. don send eIl yoI- charity to st
sgatlla's. but n Y a little for the lone
some thirty-one- year-old orphanr"
Bobby" she said severely. you're
proposing again, and 0 promised me-
foa wouldn't-not for a year"
AN abiiity to tell the truth never
lid run in our family" he said dismal
iy. Il assure you I won't offend in ths
proposal line again, however.