Shiner gazette. [volume] (Shiner, Tex.) 1893-current, 1908-02-20

Fred was working quite late setting
type in the Prospector Office 1t was
past midnight when he retired to his
sleeping ROOM and while slipping the
bolt of his door he heard some one
knocking at the netrance of the
printing office. He fastened to adj
init his visitor and found it to be
j. Arthur Boast
Good evening, Mr.. Rockwell" he
said, II have come to see you at
this unholy hour on a little matter of
great Importance to myself"
Come in" said Fred cheerfully, |
but greatly surprised. 81 have no |
light in this room Come into my
bedroom
you remember a conversation we
had, said Boast, abruptly mot
long ago, about being friends
Fred said that he did.
We'll, ] have come tonight to |
claim a little of the reciprocal friend
ship you promised me at that time.
AS | have observed before, ~ con-
tinued Boast, circumstance control
mans destiny. 10 think of us sit
ting down talking as friends, would,
a little while ago, have seemed pre-
posterous, and yet / am happ to
know that we meet as such tonight"
His eyes were restless and burned
with the brightness of keenest ex-
/ element, Friendship is such an
abused word. Acquaintance, or those
whom we may have known for years,
may be friendly, and yet not friends
Friendship is a sort OF heart senti-
ment' sacred and imperishable. Like
a discovery W -'' - 10
Tred started 70 sneot, b,,4 Do...
waved him to silence and y,,on+ 'U Uo,,
idly on, saving. what imnoiied , pio
to send for Won that night yo,, , i,e
tied me at the hotel am rnob1a 70
explain: an imnulse 7 was NOT st,one,
enough tn overconoa forca H. AZ S ;a'i
[ guess" He laughed IN - ioni,,,
fashion. az feel NJ Rocl,we1, +h ny
have much to he thanffni fnr 'Ni t.,
the eniovnent of vour f ui ~ III
and vet it has all bee nbronebt abo lip
I by circumstances over which boS'o
no control II is not the res,,lt oF
premeditated Judgment Int tba o,t
come of an impulse.n He stunned
short and looked snuarely Of Pg lie
| listener, as IL waiting for a renIv
81 hone" said Fred after on au,l,-
ward pause. passing Roast n cigo1,
and lighting one himself "tbat Won
you have no regrets IN regard to onT
| late friendly Understandable
mo, indeed" renlied Roast beom-
fngly. ION the contrary 7 feel tbaf
/ am tba most fort,,natS LeeI 'Iat
the way, this is an excellent cigar :,
Yes" replied Tred leach ona ;s
a sort of fulfllment The other dav
| received a box fro mone Of nv
New York friends II ie n l1v,,,.y,
that I am NOT abie 70 ind,,Io ruAuny
freely, unless some old cbum han
pens to remember NV isolation in
these Western mountains and shove
remembrance and friendshin in iris
way.
'have | told YOU" said Roast
that / have uuit drinLing ~
MOP replied Fred with a risin D
infection. .
eyes. have obuolsed rod lio,,or
altogether IL ont entireIv TIE
habit got quite a hold ON me and /
was going down hin Mt a nrettv
rapid pace in fact. | had given m
hope of ever being ANYTHING bI,t -
BANKED sot. Scarcely had / recon
ciled myself to that beIief when n
whim, a caprice, an impulse or What
ever you may call it. took hold Of
me and said, No more liquor. /
Arthur Boast; not another thanked
drop, and from that day to this I
have not tasted the abominable
stuff
Fred assured him that he was glad
to know of his reformation.
ITO continue" said Boast. 81 am
in love. desperateiv so . Sgo,n ' ha
laughed in apparent embarrassment,
In love?"
yes, l am in love with nv cousin.
Helen Goodwin, and she reciprodates
my affection. On her account If moi