The daily democrat. [volume] (Anadarko, Oklahoma) 190?-1908, 1907-04-10
the FEMININE
FOR CHARITY

! MI hunter looked DOred ana lnulI'
ferent.
81 know Of other things" he re-
turned cynically, that make the
world go round. For instance, OBJ
serve that young man across the
aisle"
"He's-intoxicatedl" said Mrs Hun.
ter in a shocked voice.
The young man in question was
trying vainly to snatch few minutes
Of sleep With his ear on one edge Of
the window ledge Next 10 him sat
a respectable looking elderly gentle
man, quite mellow, but not exactly
drunk, who picked up the young mans
hat from time to time and nudged him
whenever he was about to fall.
isn't that dlsgusting?' remarked
Mrs. Hunter, drawing her skirts and
wraps close around her. "Why don't
/ you practice charity?" she asked, re-
| turning to the subject on her mind
"If you had heard Mrs Hardpen this
afternoon at the Ladies' Lecture club
I'm sure you would"
90 don't get a chance" broke I'm Mr.
Hunter unfolding his might edition" {"
you give all my clothes away to the
janltor before they are half worn out"
well, ! have to do something 70
placate him. protested Mrs. Hunter
And besides I'm charitable" she add.
ed, virtuously. why, just look at THAI
old man." she whispered, interrupting
herself.
Mr.. Hunter looked over his glasses.
The respectable old gentleman, in the
goodness of his heart, despairing Of
waking up the inebriated youth, had
placed a protecting arm around the
boys shouldero and was holding the
youngsters hat on his knees. Mrs.
Hunter watched him, fascinated.
/ Gradually the young mans head slid
over onto the older mans arm. Then
the old gentleman patted the boys
cheek smartly and began talking to
him, trying to arouse his interest. The
young man answered I'm monosyllables
and without opening his eyes. Every
time the old gentleman would stop
talking he would nod off into the land
of dreams again. Finally the elder
man gave 1t up and pressing the young
fellows brown head down onto his
own shoulder let him slumber there.
Mrs. Hunter fidgeted.
Il do think that's too pathetic" she
whispered
shut up" commanded Mr.. Hunter
IT'S none of your business. Look the
other way If you don't like IT,"
Just then, above the rattle OF the
train and the noise of the passengers
there rose a cracked, high-pitched mas
culine voice. The old man was sing
ing a lullaby! He nod ded across at
Mrs. Hunter and deliberately winked
as he pointed tenderly at his sleeping
companion. Everybody in the train
was smothering a giggle by this time.
But Mrs. Hunter only remained star
ing sorrowfully at the sight before
her. Presently the train reached Fif-
tieth street. The old man shook his
companion gently, rose unsteadily,
pulled the boy up with him as tender
ly as mother might, and still with
his arm around the youths shoulders,
half helped and half dragged him of
the train to the platform.
Mrs Hunter heaved a deep sigh
THAT poor father!" she exclaimed,
pityingly, as the train started forward
again.
Father! What father!" asked Mr..
Hunter, looking up from his paper and
regarding his wife in astonishment.
why. the poor old man with the
drunken son." replied Mrs. Hunter
How his heart must achel"
Don't you worry about his heart"
retorted Mr.. Hunter; its his head
that's going to ache-later And don't
you deceive yourself into thinking that
he's the other fellows father"
"Of course he is" argued Mrs. Hun
ter. IF he isn't his father, why is he
so gentle and tender with him? Why
is he taking him home like that? Why
-"
Because" said Mr.. Hunter, pa
tiently, "the boys drunk, isn't he?
And the old man isn't-that is he isn't
as drunk"
"But that's no reason" retorted
Mrs. Hunter
IT'S reason enough for a man." de-
clared Mr. Hunter. Wouldn't you do
as much for another woman IL you
found her alone and drunk and help
less on the streets"
What" Mrs. Hunters eyes blazed
with indignation. 'Do you think I'd
lower myself to"
NO" SAID Mr.. Hunter. you'd draw
your skirts aside and sweep by like a
blooming Phirisee. That's what you'd
do. And then you'd go next day and
lecture on Charity at your tissue pa
per club. Don't talk to me about fem
mime morality or"
Now you're going to be disagreea-
ble,' said Mrs, Hunter. "Oh, we'll"
she sighed, Il never expect you to un-.
derstand men. Y. Press.
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