The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-05-16
THE EVENING STORY
A Lesson in Giving.
(By Cecilia A. Loizeaux.)

OF course like you to be sympathe-
tic and generous-it's all a part of you.
But I do wish you could be made to see
the evils of such recklessly indiscrim-
mate giving" said Howard.
They had just passed a one-armed
beggar who had stepped in front of them
with his motononous whine for coins.
Howard. after a sharp glance, had said
CURLY, stand aside" had pushed away
the extended hand and taken Beth's
arm to guide her past. But with an
exclamation of pity the girl had 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 only one arm
and the other one was trembling from
palsy or weakness" answered Beth with
some heat.
MY DEAR that mans hand is tremb-
ling from drink-and as likely as not he
has another arm under his coat. You
don't realize what frauds these profess
sional beggars are. Can't you see, Beth
that it's the principle of the thing that
i Is wrong: The money you give SO care care
lessly might better be used for people
who really need it-and you seldom find
that kind begging on the Streets
They had reached Beths home by this
time, and, as usual, Howard went In
with her for the afternoon tea. Both al
ways made by the living room fire.
When they entered the house the sub
ject was not continued, though they
both felt dissatisfied. Beth busted her
self at the little table, silently. There
was an angry light in her eyes-she
resented Howard's interference in such
things, and she told herself that Howard
was not quite what she had thought
him.
Howard was about to go when the
front door opened and shut, and Beth's
uncle John, with whom she had lived
since the death of her parents came in
and went up the stairs to his room.
Howard settled back into his chair, for
he liked Beth's uncle, who was a jolly
old man. But Beth looked unaccounta-
bly, nervous, ratified the tea things and
rang the bell for more hot water. She
jumped guiltily as an irate voice from
upstairs called BETH!
Yes, uncle, what is it?' she called
back, going to the foot of the stairs.
What have you done with my gray
smoking Jacket and those black slip
pers? 1 can't find them anywhere, and
left them right here on the floor: | wish
Mary wouldn't have cleaning up
streaks"
Beth darted a queer glance at How
ard and then ran up the stairs she
spoke so softly that Howard could not
hear what she said, but her uncle's
voice was far-reaching, and the young
man listened shamelessly. for he
guessed what was the matter. Now he
grinned silently to himself, as the one
sided conversation went on.
What the deuce!" he was fairly
roaring. THAT Jacket is the only one
I've 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 some
what softer tones, went on.
well, If you can't rest unless
you're giving things away, and my
things are attractive to you, you just
81 1-Ir -Iraf I OoT1
get along without. Well. then, give
me my old slippers"
Another silence.
do you mean to tell me that you
i've been breaking in for year and
Just got adjusted to my feet? By
George, Who got those ?"
Silence.
IS 1 do. He couldn't feed my smoking
Jacket to a starving baby-and those
slippers will fit his sick wife to per-
lection, 1 suppose. What else did you
give him?"
Another silence-then a snort.
"Therel That's enough. Don't tell
ne too much at once! I'm liable to
get mad" When he heard Beth's
1eeI-taps on the stairs, Howard
;trolled to the farthest window, and
urned innocently around to speak to
Beth, as if nothing had happened. Her
ace was red and her eyes wet:
"Uncle,s cross tonight q she she SAID aid
irly hs sb acts dd as gdf if s me haa
put began to make fresh tea, and in a |
minute or two her uncle appeared in |
he doorway. He had on purple silk |
acket and purple cap stuck jauntily
,ver one ear on his bald head.
Look like the shah's butler, don't |
?" the elder man said, as he care
ully lowered his heavy figure into his
asy chair and stuck his feet out be-
You'll live to see your best shoes
ripping down the street, and you'll
meet your hats and coats and trousers
trolling about the city until you
II whether there are two of you"
Harvey was a little uneasy. He
ooked at Beth and smiled. and she
ooked back coldly. thinking that she
disappeared when she had given her
mole his tea and did not come down
gain until Howard was gone and din
er was ready.
The next morning Beth spent in
verhauling all her clothes, piling into
great heap on the floor everything
hat she did not like. or was little
oiled. And on the top she put the
pring suit that Howard liked so
1uch. 1t was a little dirty around the
dge of the skirt. though that was not
Thy she added it to the pile
That's mine at any rate" she said
D herself as she gathered the gar
lents into her arms and carried them
, the basement, where she bestowed
aem all upon the new laundress. That
-oman left in hurry before her days
-ork was done, fearing that Beth [
-ould change her mind.
Two days later Howard started up
} Beth's in his car to take her out for
long drive, as arranged with her over
ne phone. What was his amazement.
lerefore, as he drove slowly through
ne downtown streets to see Beth in
er gray walking suit and toque just
around corner. He
allied to her. but she did not hear, and
lie young fellow started the ma
hine. With set chin and frightened
ps and hurt eyes he drove slowly on
l. L