The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-10-10


 cares I should not wonder if this bud of friendship opened like4the evening prirn- rose with the sound of a sudden stolen kiss, andlo, the flower of full-bloom love will be open before them" Finally the time came when the Little Gentleman was to make ready for that Journey which is easier to the cripple than to the strong man and upon which no one enters so willingly as he who has borne the lifelong load of inf1rmity during his earthly pil- grimage. A young divinity student who had come to board at the house was ex- ereised with regard to the state of the Little Gentleman's soul and sent word to ask if he might visit him.
 His request was granted, but all that he had come prepared to say vanished from his mind before the condition and the words of the dying man. "Manr' ex- claimed the Little Gentleman in reply to some trite observation of the student. q am not a man, sir. I was born into this world the wreck of a man. and shall not be judged with a race to which I do not belong. When l first came to conscious ness I found myself an object of pity or a sight to show. The first child ever re- member hid his face and would not come near me. l was broken-hearted as well as broken-boded boy. I grew into the emotions of ripening youth and all that could have loved shrank away from me. l grew man in years and had nothing in wifi mar hut IonOduUq My life is the dying pang of a worn-out race and l shall go down alone into the dust out of this world of men and women with out ever knowing the fellowship of the one or the love of the other. do not be- lieve the future state has anything worse in store for me than what l have borne here: l have too much faith for that. God has not left me wholly without comfort even here"
 His eyes turned to the silent Iris seated beside his pillow, and he went on after pause: My thoughts may have been wrong, but I cannot have done many wrong deeds. can honestly say that I think my suffering has been greater than my sin. My cage has been a narrow one and I have paced it alone. I have known what it was to dream of the great pas sions. but since my mother kissed me no vomans lips have ever pressed my cheek nor ever will" Suddenly Iris bent over and kissed him. The Little Gentleman repaid her with the only tear he ever l had been seen to shed Shall I pray with you?" asked the divinity student after a pause--a little while before he would have said flor you" Pray" said l the Little Gentleman, and the young man prayed, subdued and tender. When l the divinity student had gone the Little 1 Gentleman took from a chain around his neck key of antique shape and, hand | ing it to Iris and pointing to little carved cabinet of ancient make which i hung on.the opposite wall, said: Open it and light the lamp"
 The opening of the doors of the cabi- net disclosed deep recess lined with black velvet against which background l hung in white relief an ivory crucifx with silver lamp hanging over it. The girl lit the lamp and coming back tos the bed placed her hand in that of the dy- ] ing man. The Little Gentleman turned ] his eyes upon the crucifix and the agony l of dissolution began. In that agony he clasped Iris hand with a grip which was as if 1t had been in an instrument of i torture. But she uttered no cry only pressed her lips together and was silent. When it was all over and muscles re- faxed in death Iris, relieved at once from : her great physical pain and her care | for the patient, sank down senseless with ! a cry. Iris went into mourning for the Little Gentleman. He died possessed of much wealth and left a very consider able legacy to Iris fin consideration of her manifold acts of kindness, not as a reward, but in token of grateful remem- ! brance."
 The young Marylander now became un-
 mistakably attentive to Iris, but the l boarders were of the opinion that she did not return his attentions. They did not know everything, however, and one Sun day morning, when the young man and 1 the maiden were returning from church, where the sermon had been from the i text, My little children, let us not love 1 in word neither in tongue, but in deed i and in truth,' the Marylander said: "You i and l are not little children, Iris" She smiled faintly. Indeed and in truth, Iris" he continued and took her hand. i The girl blushed and looked down, but 1 did not withdraw her hand and, right i there in the street, the young Mary
 lander lifted it to his lips and touaAed it gently. Tt is mine,' he said. And Iris did not contradict him.
 ] Next Sundays One-Page Classic will l be ~'The Children of The Abbey" by l Regina Maria Roche
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