The Democratic advocate., 1909-09-24
The stranger laughed.


its cleaning columns and glittering
decorations. and We're taken UP in
the luxurious elevator to a floor high
above the noisy street
The stranger led the way to a door
and pushed it open. In the center OF
the apartment a table was laid for
four, table that CLEANED with silver,
backed by snowy napery.
A lady was standing by the table,
lady beautifully gowned, and be-
side her was a slender young girl
The lady came forward quickly with
her hand extended.
my dear, this is Mr.. Oliver" said
the stranger. MY wife Mr.. Oliver:
my daughter Ethel"
The lady seemed greatly pleased to
meet the old man. She took his hat
table
we are quite ready, dear" she said
to the stranger. Then she touched
bell and waiter entered and the din
ner began
1t was a very good dinner, a much
| better dinner than the old man had
eaten for many years. And the little
| family seemed determined to make
! iliill tuIO9 luE bttu6AOlis AuGEG uhu
been time, SO far back, that II made
him quite dizzy to think Of It, when
| he had been a diner-out, and enjoyed
the good things of the table and good
company.
He sighed as he recalled the misty
period.
1t was a delightful family. this fam
| fly Of the strangers. Never for a mo
ment did they let the old man forget
that he was the honored guest,
It was quite a merry feast, too. The
| lady was a delightful talker, and the
young girl developed q strong vein OF
humor as she told OF her childish OK
| periences In the big hotel
] The old man thawed under the
| pleasant treatment For the time he
seemed 20 forget his cynical views OF
life.
This is feast to remember" he
said "Of course I'm going to wake
up in the morning and find u all a
dream"
And faint smile crossed his
wrlnkled face.
II do that sometimes" said the child
with little sigh
we all do. my dear said the old
man.
But like the beautiful dreams just
the same, said the child.
SO do !, my dear" and the old man
nodded 10 the child. and the pretty
brown head nodded back 10 him. And
then he suddenly laughed. I'D like
/ TO dream them often my dear" he
went on, but I've never been able to
find the food that will produce the
right effect"
The child looked at him with won
dering eyes,
u don't think it is the food" she
said. ITS the fairies"
He nodded.
I'm afraid" he laughed, that the
fairies cut my acquaintance long ago"
And then the dinner was at an end.
and the child kissed father and moth
er good night" and came TO the old
man and put out her hand.
Good night and beautiful dreams, -
she smillngly said
And he suddenly stopped and touch
ed his lips TO the white forehead. and
watched her longingly as she went
away with her maid
"A charming child he murmured
Her name should be Sunshine, 20
said the father.
There was brief silence. The
younger man produced cigar case.
"Will you Join me7" he asked.
The old man looked at the lady, She
smiled and nodded.
Il haven't smoked for many years" {"
he said. MY taste in cigars was too
expensive for my purse. This ia a
very good cigar"
II think II will prove TO be-" the
younger man said ms he passed the
light
IT takes me back long, long
ways" murmured the old man pres
emily.
The younger man looked at the lady
and the lady nodded.
He turned to the old man.
Sir" he said. with your permisr
sion | want to tell brief story. II IL
not a new story. have told II to my
wife" The lady nodded IN confirmation.
and II Ia possible that you have heard
something like H. Nevertheless.
want TO tell II In my own words and
In my own way"
The old man looked az him curious
ly.
you have my close attention" he
said and stared upward at the curling
smoke.
The younger man settled back in
his chair.
I'm going to call this story lngrati-
tude" he began.
The old man suddenly looked at
him.
'Ingratitude." he murmured.
That's the subject" said the
younger man. and the story begins
something more than twenty years
ago. IL begins here I'm this great city,
and II concerns boy named Tom lie
was street boy, this Tom. an orphan
boy who had shifted for himself aimee
he was a youngster OF eight II was
a bad schooling for the boy. He had
picked up associates who were harm
ful. He had no education and no
Ideals It was a bad outlook. And
then one day he attracted the atten-
ton OF mana business man OF
kindly impulses. He offered him work.
Tom came 20 the mans place OF busI-
ness the next morning. The man set
him TO work. Tom didn't like work.
lie stayed dayy or two and then ran
away The man found him and coaXed
him back. Then he ran away again,
and again the man coaxed him back.
At last the boy settled down and
stayed In the mans employ for a
whole year And the man was patient
with him, and taught him things he
should know. and advanced him to a
higher grade and better pay. Tom
learned fast, but the old life still drew
him, the old associates held him In
their grip" He paused and looked at
the old man and enu thaf Tho nIh r,,n !,