The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1907-10-25

thetic and generous-it's all a part. of
you. But l do wish you could be made
to see the evils of such recklessly indis-
criminate giving" said Howard.
They had just passed a n armed
beggar, who had stepped in front of
them with his monotonous whine for
coins. Howard, after n sharp glance,
had said CURLY, STAND aside!" had
brushed 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 indiscriminatc.
That man was maimed-he had only
one ARMAND the other II was trem-
bling from palsy or weakness" an
swered Beth, with some heat.
My dear, that mans hand Is trem-
bling from drink, and as likely as not
lie has another arm under his coat.
You don't realize what frauds these
professional beggars are. Can't you
see, Beth, that it's the principle Of the
thing that is wrong? The money you
give so carelessly might better be used
for people who really need it, and you
seldom find that kind begging on the
streets
They had reached Beth's home by
this time, and, as usual, Howard went
IN with her for the afternoon tea Beth
always made by the ing room fire.
When they entered tie house the sub
ject was not continue, though they
both felt dissatisfied. 18th busted her.
self at the little table s..lently. There
was an angry light in her eyes. She
resented Towards interference in such
things, and she told herself that How
ard 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 u~naccounta-
bly, nervous. ratified the tea things and
rang the bell for more hot water. She
jumped guilty as an irate voice from
upstairs called. 'Beth!"
Eyes, uncle, what is IT," she called
back, going to the foot of the stairs.
"1Vhat have you done with my gray
smoking jacket and those black slip
pers? I can't find them anywhere, and
l left them right here on the floor. I
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 unclc's
voice was far reaching, and the young
man listened shamelessly, for he guess
ed 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 e had that's any good. And l
look like a peeled onion in that purple
thing, and YOU know it." There was a
silence. Then the voice in somewhot
softer tones went on.
"NWell, If you can't rest unless you're
giving things away and my things are
attractive to you, you just make it q
point to ask me what l 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 a year and
just got adjusted to my feet? By
George! Who got those?"
Silence.
well. he didn't need them rs bad
MS I 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.
"There! That's enough! Don't tell
me too much at once! Tn liable to gel
mad!" When he heard Beth's heel
taps on the stairs Howard strolled Il
the farthest window and turned limo.
Gently around to speak to Beth as II
nothing had happened. Her face was
red and her eyes wet.
"Uncle's cross tonight she said air,
lily. "I-hc acts us If he had lost
something" She did not speak again,
but began to make fresh ten, and in
minute or two her uncle appeared In
the doorway. He had on a purple Sill
Jacket and a purple cap stuck jauntily
over one ear on his bald head.
Look like the shah's butler, don't
III the elder MAJ said as he carefully
lowered his heavy figure into his easy
chair and stuck his feet out before
him. "Your turn will come. You'llil live
to e your best shoes tripping down
the street, and you'l meet your hats
and coats and trousers strolling about
the city until you won't know whether
you're dreaming or whether there arr
two of you"
Harvey was a little uneasy. He look.
edf at Beth and smiled, and she looked
back coldly, thinking that she read n
told you SO" In his face. She disap.
peared when she had given her uncle
his ten and did not come down again
until Howard was gone and dinner
was ready.
The next morning Beth spent In
oyerhauling MI her clothes. piling into
q great heap on the floor everything
that she didsnot like OF was d little
soiled. And on the top she put tho
spring suit that Howardelf!;e 50 much
sIt was little dirty around lheslge %
the skirt, though that was MS ssy shG
added it 10 the pile.
That's mine at any said