The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1908-07-23

Ing IN.
From the open, wide windows Of
the<drawing room of the h6dses came
the sounds of music. The young
mistress was playing a strange mel
ody, one that changed suddenly and
surprisingly from brilliance to sad
ness. Shorty did not know it, but he
was listening to an admirable per
Torrance of Reinho1ds "mpromptu,"
and his half doze was rapidly becom-
ing a stupor when he heard yet
sweeter music and nearer-the voices
of two women just on the other side
of the low wall.
Don't you fear the nearness Of
that tramp?" asked one voice.
Dear me, mother" was the reply,
"the poor fellow was hungry and we
couldn't send him away without break
fast. John has pipe he always lends
the tramps when they have finished.
eating"
but all the men-seryants are off on
a holiday"
"The coachman will be back from
the station in an hour"
Shorty nodded benevolently. He
was right. He could carry off the
grand piano II he only felt equal to
the exertion. But he could hardly
exert himself to hearken to these soft
and low voices so near him or to the
melody, the strange melody, coming
from the open, wide windows.
Shorty's soul was STEPPED in ethe-
real and perfumed waves, and 1t
seemed as IL the melody lingering in
the air came from the rich greensward
which cushioned his huge body.
Very dim and distant sounded the
music, and DINNER yet seemed the
chattering of the women's voices.
| Surely he was dreaming.
At his hand was fortune In unset
pearls. Some one seemed to be offer
ing them to, him. They were of ex-
Quisite form, perfect maiden jewels,
untouched by setting of gold.
Shorty moved an arm and Stretched
it. His red eyelids uplifted.
He saw no pearls, but he heard, as
it seemed to him, repeated constantly
the words: Precious pearls Pearls!
| FedrlS! TTlCeiSSs pearls!
six of them, mother" came from a
womans voice across the wall.
4 Beautiful! Beautiful"
Look, mother, how perfect! No
woman ever had the like of these"
Shorty sat up and looked up and
down the road and Their al the honey
sslckled top of the wall.
Il can't help but feel fear that
the tramp may be near u.s.
Don't worry mother. The poor
fellow is trudging along far away from
here now, and William will be back in
half-hour."
But he could take everything we
have and escape
1.-THE only thing I'd mind losing
would be these precious pearls, and
they are safe"
Shorty had digested his breakfast
and had worn off the edge of his
sybaritic snooze. The strange melody
had ceased and the suns rays were
causing'the honeysuckles to shrink
There was only increasing heat ant
: the familiar smell of the pines. Short!
was himself again. He looked agail
up and down the road and whispered
} to himself
2 Its a shame! It's too easy"
= Look, mother, they are the mos
beautiful jewels the good God ever lie
mortal possess!Y exclaimed the swee
voice on the other side.
There was another agreeable SCUM
in the dim distance-the whistle of
freight-and Shorty knew just hoy
long it would take him to finish hi
,cb and catch it. ri
The long and strong fingers of N
ramp cIutchedS the top of the wa
7 through the vines, and in a second b
. lad drawn his head and shoulders t
2 the.top.
Another and nearer shrek of tn
freight babe Shorty hurry. He cav
, twist to his arms and was mned
ately balanced on the wallis SO that h
could throw himself into the garde
easily and quickly:
i "Fll count the precious tlfne
again, mother said radiant Tyoun
woman, speaking to her mother.
One, two, three, four, FIVE, six!
u she said. But there's another Coz
in .ng.
n. And as the tramp lowered Fhinse
"a quietly to the road, the tiny Will
- teeth of the baby ia the young "
mans lap closed on her finger ar
idaho Shorty said:
to "Gee," and smiled as he hurried /,
n. the freight.
lrrepressihIe Laughter.