Middletown transcript., 1909-08-14
rcoNrrSuRD FROM LAST wEEkI

Anu uS 9aAAGAAJ
touched his lips to the white
forehead, aud watched her long
ingly as she went away with her
maid.
A charming child, he mur-
INJURED.
Her name should be Sunshine,
said her father.
There was a brief silence.
The younger man produced e
cigar case.
Will you join mef he asked.
The old man looked at the lady.
She smiled and nodded.
| haven't smoked for many
years, he said. My taste in
cigars was too expensive for, my
purse. This is q very good
cigar.
Think it will prove to be, the
younger man said as he passed
the light.
1t takes me back long, long
ways, murmured the old man
presently.
The younger man looked at
the lady and the lady nodded.
He turned to the old man.
Sir, he said, with your per-
mission l want to tell a brief
story. It is not a new story. ]
have told it to my wife, the lady
nodded in confirmation, and it is
possible you have heard some
thing, like it. Nevertheless, !
want to tell itin my own words
and in my own way.
The old man looked at him
curiously.
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 in
gratitude, he began.
The old man suddenly looked
at him.
Ingratitude, he murmured.
That's the subject, said the
younger man, and the story be-
gins something more than twenty
years ago. It begins here in
this great city, and il concerns a
boy named Tom. He was street
boy, this Tom, an orphan boy
who had shifted for himself since
he was a ycungster Of eight. 1t
: was a bad schooling for the boy.
He had picked up associates who
we're harmful. He had no educa-
tion and no ideals. II was a bad
outlook. And then one day he
attracted the attention of a man
a business man of kindly i'm
pulses. He offered him work.
Tom came to the mans place ot
business the next morning. The
man set him to work. Tom didn't
like work. He stayed q day 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 yeaEee And the man was
patient with him and taught him
things be should know, and
advanced him to 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 saw
that the old man was intently
watching him. One day the man
called him into his room. Tom,
he said, there is money missing.
And Tom nodded. / took it, he
answered. And he said no more,
but just stood still and waited
for the police. But the man
said very gently, It's your
bringing up, Tom, he said. I'm
afraid you don't knowsny better.
Then Tom spoke up very quickly.
Yes, / know better, he said. It
was the gang got il away from
me. But know. better. Then
the man came TO the boy and put
his hand on his shoulder, and
looked in his eyes, and said quite
softly, I'm glad you know better,
Tom, because I'm going to let
You try again. And when Tom
went back to his work there
were tears on bis cheeks-and,
somehow, he wasn't ashamed Of
them. Well, Tom tried very
hard this time and he kept away
from the gang as much as he
could. But there came q day
when the master faced him again.
Tom, he said, there is more
mdney missing-much more
money. Tom nodded as he had