The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1907-07-06

~ CECILIA ~ IOlZ6AUA.
Copyrighted, 1901. BY p. c. Eastment.
sOf course I like you to be sympa-
5hetic and generous-it's oil a part of
you. But j. do wish you could be made
to see the evils OF such recklessly indis-
eliminate giving" said Howard.
They had just passed q n armed
beggar, who had stepped in front OF
them with his monotonous whine for
coins. Howard, after a 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 indiscriminate.
That man was maimed-he had only
one armand the other one was trem-
bling from palsy OF weakness" an
swered Beth, with some heat.
"My dear, that mans hand is trem-
bling from drink, and Us likely as not
he 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 80 carelessly might better be used
for people who really need 1t, and you
seldom find that kind begging on the
streets
They had reached Beth's home by
this time, and, rs usual, Howard went
In with her for the afternoon ten Beth
always made By the living fire.
When they entered the house the sub
ject was not continued, though they
both felt dissatisfied. Beth busled her
self at the little table silently. There
was IN angry light in her eyes. She
resented Howard's interference in such
things, and she told herself that How
ara 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
he4 liked Beth's uncle, VINO 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 guilty us an irate voice from
upstairs called, "BethW
6sts-tEUnn ,~ynn1np io ~ 2sS chn Foo Had
back, going to the foot Of the stairs.
'"SWhat have you done with my gray
smoking jacket and those black slip
pers1 I can't find them anywhere, and
left them right here on the floor. l
wish Mary wouldn't have cleaning up
streaks."
Beth darted q queer glance at How
ard and then al up the stairs. She
spoke 80 softly that Howard could not
hear whst she said, but her uncle's
voice was far reaching, and the young
man listened shamelessly, for he guess
Cd what was the matter. Now he
xrinned silently to himself as the one
sided conversation went on.
what the deuce!" he was fairly
roaring. 'aThat jacket Is the only one
I've ever had that's any good. And l
hook Ikea peeled onion In that purple
thing, and You know it.n There was a
silence. Then the voice In somewhat
softer tones went on.
We'll, II you can't rest unless you're
giving things away and my things are
attractive to You, you just make It 4
point to ask me what I 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
Georgel Who got those?'
Silence.
We'll, he didn't need them as bad
asaIsdo. He couldn't feed my smoking
Jacket TO a starving baby, and those
clippers Will at his sick wife to per
1ectdon, ! suppose. What else did you
rive him7s'
Another silence-then a snort.
,syTherel That's enough Don't tell
rae too much at once! I'm liable to get
madl" When he heard Beth's heel
taps On the stairs Howard strolled to
the farthest window and turned limo.
Gently around to speak to Beth az II
nothing had happened. Her face wa
redsand her eyes wet.
uncle's cross tonight" she said air.
= G1-Ytt$ r. NLEr ~ 80