The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-05-18
ALEsSoN In GIVING.

They had Just passed one-armed
beggar who had stepped IN front o.
them with his monotonous whine TOT
coins. Howard, after sharp giance,
had said curtly stand aside! mao
brushed away the extended hand ana
taken Beth,s arm to guide her past. But
with an exclamation of pity the girl naa
turned back to empty into the mans
hand all the change in her little gold
mesh purse.
my giving is not indiscriminate.
That man was maimed--he had oniy
one ARMAND the other one was
trembling from palsy or weakness
answered Beth with some heat.
my dear, that mans hand Is tremo.
ling from drink--and as likely as NOT
he has another arm under his coat. you
don't realize what frauds these protes-
sofnal beggars are. Can't you see beth.
that it's the principle of the thing that
Ia wrong. The money you give SO care
lessly might better be USED TOT peo-
ME who really need it--and you seldom
find that kind begging on the streets:
They had reached Beths home py TINS
time. and, as usual, Howard went Ia
with her for the afternoon tea Betn al
wavs made by the living room hre.
When they entered the house the SUP
ject was not continued. tnouen
both felt dissatisfied Beth ousied her
self at the little table, silentiy. lheIe
was an angry light in her eyes-sne
resented Towards interference In sucn
things, and she told herself that HOW
ard was not quite what she hadthougnt
him.
Howard was about to go when the
front door opened and shut, ana beth
uncle John, with whom she nao hNeo
since the death Of her parents came IN
and went IN the stairs to MS room
Howard settled back into his chair Tor
he liked Beth's uncle, who was jolly
old man. But Beth looked unaccounta-
bly nervous, ratified the tea things ana
rang the bell for more hot water. sne
jumped guiltily as an irate voice 1ro"
upstairs called Beth"
Eyes. uncle, what is itT' she called
hack. going to the foot of the stairs
"What have you done with my gray
smoking Jacket and those black Slip
pers? I can't find them anywhere ana
left them right here on the moor. 1
wish Mary wouldn't have cleaning up
streaks!"
Beth darted a queer glance at How
ard and then ran up the stars starr sn as
spoke so softly that Howard could not
hear what she said, but her uncie's
voice was far-reaching, and the young
man listened shamelessly, for ne CUES
| sed what was the matter NOW ne
grLnned silently to himself, as the one
sided conversation went on.
| "what the deuce" he was fairly
roaring" That Jacket is the only one
rye ever had that's any good. And ]
| look like a peeled onion in that purple
| thing, and you know it," There was a
| silence. Then the voice. in somewhat
softer tones. went on.
well, II you can't rest unless you're
giving things away and my Things are
attractive to you, you Just make II
noint to ask me what can get along
without. Well, then, give me my old
slippers"
Another silence.
''Do YOU mean to tell me that you
| gave away that pair of slippers that
I've been breaking In for year ana
just got adjusted to my rect by
| George! who got those
Another silence.
.swelI. he didn't need them as bad as
I do. He couldn't feed my smoking
| Jacket to q starving baby-and those
SINNERS will fit his sick wife to perfec-
ton I suppose. What else did you give
himT
Another silence-then o snort.
."rherel That's enough. Don't tell me
too much OF once I'm liable to get
mad" when he heard Beth's heel-taps
on the stairs. Howard strolled to the
farthest window, and turned innocent
" around to speak TO Beth' as II
nothing had happened. Her TACO was
red and her eyes wet
''UncIe's cross tonight" she SAID,
hirily The acts as IL he had lost
something" She did not speak again,
but began to make fresh tea, ana In
minute or two her uncle appeared IN
the doorway. He had on a purple SILK
Jacket and a purple cap stuck 1auntily
over one ear on his bald head.
Look like the Shah's butler, don't II"
A. o1dar man said a he carefully low
cred his heavy figure into his easy
chair and stuck his feet out before him.
"Your turn will come. You'll live to
see your best shoes tripping down the
street, and you'll meet your hats ana
coats and trousers strolling about the
city until you won't know wnether
you're dreaming or whether there are
two OF you"
Harvey was little uneasy. He look
ed at Beth and smiled, and she looked
back coidly, thinking that she read
81 told you so' In his face. She disap-
peared when she had given her uncle
his tea and did not come down again
until Howard was gone and dinner was
ready.
The next morning Beth spent in over
hauling all her clothes, piling into
great heap on the floor everything that
she did not like, or was a little soiled.
And on the top she put the spring suit
that Howard liked so much. 1t was
little dirty around the edge of the
skirt, though that was not why she ad-
ded It TO the pile.
THAT'S mine at any rate" she said to
herself as she gathered the garments
into her arms and carried them to the
basement, where she bestowed them all
upon the new laundress. That woman
left in a hurry before her days work
was done, fearing that Beth would
change her mind.
Two days later Howard started up
to Reth's in his car to take her out for
n long drive. as arranged with her over
the 'phone. What was his amazement,
therefore. as he drove slowly through
the downtown streets to see Beth in
her gray walking suit and toque just
disappearing around q corner. He cal7
led to her. but she did not hear and
the Young fellow stopped the machine.
with set chin and frightened lips and
hurt eyes he drove slowly on up the
hill and past the house. where Beth,
In a blue dress, waited in the hall.
When she saw Howard whiz by,
never once glancing at the house. she
was first indignant and then angry.
And after an hour Of elaboration, dur
ing which her wrath increased. she
rang for a messenger and put into his
hands a note and little sealed packet
which contained her ring.
She came down TO dinner pale and
wan. Her uncle looked at her sharply,
seeing traces of tears, and decided that
he would act.
Pm sorry to speak about this again."
ne said. clearing his throat. but II