The Press., 1906-04-11
By c. B. LEWIS
1905, by E. G. PARCELS

nor decreased after the death of her
husband She went right along in the
same old path, and the slices of bread
and butter and the hunks of cold meat
continued to be handed out When
asked by friends if she ever had met
with one single instance of gratitude
she would reply:
mo, l can't say that l have, but l
expect to some day if l keep on. Some
day | shall be the means of making
a wicked man see the error of his ways
and he'll bless me for it,
1t was hardly three months after her
prophecy that man about thirty years
old came along the highway at late
hour one night and when opposite Aunt
Mary's barn climbed over the big gate
to find the stable door ON the latch.
He was after a horse, and he found
two in their stalls.
Unfortunately for him, one of them
was a kicker, and the man had only
laid hands on him when the equine
dashed out with his heels and there was
a yell of pain. The intruder's leg had
been broken. He tried to crawl back
to the highway, but the pain was too
great. He suffered for half an hour
and then began to shout for help, and
after awhile the hired man appeared
with lantern. 1t was no use for the
man to deny his errand. If the hired
man had been alone he might have
tried a bluff, but when Aunt Mary ap-
peared and he heard her kindly voice
and caught sight of her mOtherly face
he saw his way clear and at once threw
himself upon her generosity.
'I'll get the constable, and We'll have
him in Jail inside of an hour" said the
hired man, who wasn't feeling for his
fellow man to any great extent, but
Aunt Mary shook her head and replied:
"We'll carry him into the house first,
and then you go and get DR.. Walker
But he's a horse thief, and if Billy
hadn't kicked him he might have got
away with both Of EN-"
Eyes. But don't you see how he must
be suffering? I've always contended
that a wicked man would come along
some day and that what would be
able to do for him would change him
into better one. Poor fellow, how he
must suffer-
The stranger saw the opening at once
and took advantage of it. He was the
wicked man for whom she had long
been looking. He had been a wicked
man. He had done everything but cut
throats and burn orphan asylums. He
had been driven into such a career by
seeing that no one cared for him. 1t
had been over twenty years since any
one had given him a kind word, while
policeman or constable had ever stood
ready to order him to move on and to
rap him on the head If he didn't He
had come to steal at least one Of the
horses, as he was ready to admit, and
he had intended to continue his career
Of villainy to the end, but now that a
woman had spoken kindly to him, now
that he was being treated like human
being, now that
But his voice choked up and the tears
rushed to his eyes and he could say nc
more. The hired man had told the doc.
tor about the affair, but the medico
made no comments until he had set the
broken limb. Then he said to Aunt
Mary:
You should notify the authorities
and have this fellow placed in charge OF
a constable until he can be removed to
Jail"
But, doctor. he has repented Of his
wickedness. He has given me his
promise to reform"
And you are idiot enough to believe
nim?'
IF he didn't mean what he says,
would he shed tears?"
What are you going to do with
himY'
Let him stay right here until his leg
is all right, and then I'll help him
choose better path. I've always want
ed to help some real wicked man to re-
form and to feel that he owed his ref
ormation to me-"
well, guess you've got your wick
ed man right enough" observed the
doctor as he made ready to go.
And I'm going to win his gratitude
and make good man of him."
'Humph! Well, go ahead, but 1 shall
have to look to you for my BILL"
The story leaked out, and the sheriff
called at Aunt Mary's and talked about
arresting the stranger, but as he had
committed no crime and as the woman
would make no complaint the patient
was left on her hands
The man was tenderly nursed and
given every comfort, and, being young
and In the best of health, he was soon
on the road to recovery. At the same
time, according to his own statements