Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1907-10-15

miSSal, with threats. linen he SOU
newspapers, only to find that every
good site was jealo-sly guarded by
gang of roughs who mercilessly bullied
any newcomer. Personal strength and
courage were unavailfng against sEeer
numbers. His face was still swollen
and his ribs sore as the result of being
knocked down and kicked at Ludgate
Circus. At Charing Cross next day he
was hustled under the wheels of an
omnibus and narrowly escaped death
So he was driven into the side street
and the quiet squares, In which, during
three or four days, he manaG to
earn an average of eightpence ally
which he spent on food.
Each night he crept back to the poor
tenement in JOhnson's News. his bleak
''home" amid the solitude of empty
stables and warehouses. The keeper OF
a coffee stall, touched one night by his
woebegone appearance, gave him some
half dried coffee grounds in paper
together with a handful of crusts.
PUT 'arf that in a pint Of water,
he said, looking critically at the sou-
dened mass Of coffee, AN when j.
comes to bile let it settle It'll SUI.
prise you to find 'ow grateful an com
fortin' it tag es on cold night. AS for
the crusts. r You bake 'em over the
fire, they're iI,~t &C good as the ruak.;
you hUv II m"
This GOO! Samaritan had repeated
his gift oil two occasions, and Philip
Lad fairl~ large supply of small coal.
sent to his lother ny the cOlliery corn
pany, 50 hi" position deererate enough
was yet bearable had he but sought to
accustom himself to the new condi-
s;vHs of life. There was a chance that
lis Wild brOodingS would Lave iel ed
10 tt:' rrcnsSity % earn 2 living, and
that when next situc+i Gas offered
- him he would keep it, tut the oc-
trr-ence3 of this stormy night had
ut@er!- chasen him f." the hour. He
was on the verge of lunacy.
As he passed through the dark arch
way leading to his abode, the desolate
stable yard was fitfully lit by lightning
and in the distance he heard the faint
rumble of thunder. The elemental
strife was beginning again. This was
the second and more disastrous out
break of the evening of March 10.
Although wet to the skin, he was
warm now on account of his long and
rapid walk. When he unlocked the
door another flash of lightning re-
vealed the dismal interior. He closed
and locked the door behind him. On
the mantelpiece were farthing candle
and some matches. He CROPPED for
them and soon had a light. On other
occasions his next task was to light a
fire. By sheer force of habit he gath
cred together some sticks and bits of
paper and arranged them in the CRATE.
But the task was irksome to him. 1t
was absurd to seek any degree of COM
fort for the few minutes he had t.
} live. Better end it at once. Moreover,
the storm was sweeping up over the
East End with such marvellous speed
that the lightning now played through
the tiny room with dazzling brilliancy,
and the wretched candle burned with
blue and ghostlike feebleness. The
cold of the house, too, began to strike
/ chilly. He was so exhausted from
/ would not have the strength left to
carry out his dread purpose.
He sprang erect with hooking lit,
tie laugh, picked up the candle and the
piece of rope and climbed the stairs
He paused irresolutely at the top, but
yielding to overwhelming desire, went
on and stood at the side of the bed or
which his mother had died. He fan
cied he could see her lying there still
with Il smile on her wane face anl
unspoken words of welcome on hel
lips.
A food of tears came and he trem
bled violently.
Il am coming to you, mother" h'
murmured. You told me to trust il
God, but l think God has forgotten
me. | don't want to live. | want t
join you, ana then perhaps God will
remember me-"
He stopped and kissed the pillow
nesting his face against it, as he wa
wont TO fondle the dear face that rest
ed there so many weary days Thel
he resolutely turned away, deSCendet
four steps of the ladder-liile stairs ant
tied the clothesiine firmly to a hool
which had been driven into the ceiling
during the harness room period of tn
room beneath. With equal deliberH
ton he knotted the other end of tn
cord round his neck, and he calculates
that by springing from the stairs h
would receive sufficient shock to be
come insensible very quickly, while hi
feet would bangle severa! inches abov
the floor.
There was terrible GOODNESS. a sci
tied fixity of purpose far beyond hi
years, in the manner of these ina
preparations. At last they were con
pleted. He blew out the candle an
stood erect.
At that instant the room became al
solutely flooded with lightning, not
q single vivid flash, but In a trembling
continuous glare that suggested the e
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