Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-04

let me make at least small payment on
the great debt l owe your
You owe me nothing" I replied, ear
nestly. Instead l owe you for an Incl
dent which 1 believe has made a man of
me-"
AT any rate, do not quarrel with him, -
she said: "you will promise me that.
81 easily promise that" I replied.
When / turned to go she put her hand
in mine moment and felt it trcmble
dropped 1t at once and fastened away.
have said before what terrible thing
il is to he in love with another man $
wife. and at this moment ] felt it with
all the sting of new bitterness. 1t
would be best for me to avoid her. never
to come into her house again, never to
see her again if could help ii. because
was not as strong as she. and if absence
could not bring TO me forgetfulness II
might at least bring a sOftening of the
pain.
I found Grey and told him good night.
He was bluff and hearty in his SomeWha I
overdone fashion.
Il hope that We'll see a lot Of you,
Clarke. when you finish your studies he
said. i've some good friends here, Cob
bett. Harrison and others. with whom you
might tie up when you go into political
life There might be a lot in it,
] thanked him briefly for his advice. but
I certainly had no intention Of tying
up" as he phrased it, with such men as
Goblet and Harrison. Then ! put on my
which dark with somber clouds
floating past the moon. | preferred to
walk back to the hotel as l had come,
and thereby 1 bore my part in coinci-
dence. AS / left the residence section
and came into the business area ] saw a
man shabbily dressed propelled suddenly
from an establishment with a glittering
glass front and brilliant lights. A big
figure in the white apron of q bartender
drew back the foot that had served as
a hit door
way cursing the limp creature on the
sidewalk in rich and profuse style.
A policeman came up.
What's the natter he asked.
Hes done it before-got drink an then
had nothin' to pay for it. 1t just natu-
rally got my blood up this time. an I've
kicked him into the street"
I stopped. Something in the crouching.
frightened figure of the man who had
been kicked out seemed familiar to me.
came closer. 1t was only a boy, and
the boy was Seth Larkin, my second
comrade of the penitentiary and the cell
Seth. a crushed object. too weak for
the world, his home in the gutter I felt
a great .gush Of sympathy. aye and of
longing, too. Here was an old friend. a
comrade, man who had shared my cap
I'tivity, and he needed me, he needed my
strength to raise him up and to protect
him from the worlds rough hand.
How much is it?' ! asked the bar
tender.
"A quarter this time he replied gruff-
ly. But this is the six or seventh time"
] handed him tWo-dollar bill.
Call it square, | said.
Good enough he replied, taking the
bill and going inside.
The policeman looked on philosoph-
ically
Are you goin' to try to reform him.
he asked, though without curiosity.
Yes
ut never works. he said, but not I'M
kindly. ut amt in en-
II think I'll have a. try, anyhow" I
said.
He turned his back and walked down
the street. whistling softly to himself.
Come. Seth" I said. putting my hand
on his shoulder.
The Seth slipped out unawares, but
he was too much fuddled to notice my
knowledge of his name. He looked up at
me and shrank away as IL here was an
other who would give him blow. My
heart filed with pity. 1 knew Seth. and
knew that there was no evil in him.
only weakness. mental and moral. 1 had
come just in time.
Il mean to help you, not to hurt YOU"
said. You haven't any friends, have
your
Not that I ever heard Of" he replied,
and the reply sounded very pathetic to
We'll, I'm going to introduce a novelty
into your life I said. will you come
with me and work for me if I give you
good clothes, plenty to eat and clean
bed to sleep in?"
He gaZed at me dimly, as il he did not
understand, and, taking him by the arm
again. 1 walked on, carrying him with
me. He made no resistance and answered
my questions vaguely. but. on the whole.
as we'll as he could. / gathered from his
replies that since his release from the
penitentiary he had served a short Jail
sentence in Louisville for petty theft, and
had mo home. living by begging and odd
Jobs. 1t was no wonder that he had been
reduced to the mere semblance Of a man.
Again / reflected that l had just come in
time. and If providence takes any hand
at all in these humble human affairs Of
ours it was certainly taking notice that
night.