Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1910-09-29
DAILY SHORT STORIES

Having occasion to visit little town
nesting among the green hills OF Yer
mont one autumn ON q matter OF bust
ness, l was walking. satchel in hand,
from the station to the hotel OF the
place when was accosted by a CHEEKY
man. who asked me IL i were going 10
stop overnight In the town. Upon my
telling him that such was my inten-
ton he said to me: ~. ,S
sometimes receive guests I'm my
house and II you like will entertain
YOU"
Not relishing a stay in the average
country hotel. concluded TO 60 with
the man. He led me to the handsom-
est house In the place. 1t had no ap-
pearance or being a hotel. Indeed.
there was nothing public about It. /
was shown TO bedroom containing
every comfort and convenience. ar
rived near the dinner hour and when
1 went down into the dining room
FOUND there only mine host and his
FAMILY about a table ut which there
was but one vacant sent. My host in
troduced me to his wife and daughters
and motioned me to the vacant chair.
Never was l more puzzled. I had
been solicited, 1 supposed. by either n
hotel runner or n landlord, yet seem
ed to be In private house. The con
versation was general and was enliv-
ened by bottle OF wine. This EN-.
barrassed me, for landlords are not
used to furnishing wine unless duly
ordered to be paid for. had ordered
no wine and did not know whether I
would be permitted to return the
hosts civility by doing So After din
ner l spent n very pleasant evening
with him and his family and at bed
| time retired TO my room.
| was given my breakfast the next
morning alone. and. as nothing was
said about remaining longer after
had eaten. 1 took up my satchel for
departure. Each one OF the family
cordially tade me goodby. not one Of
them expressing desire TO see me
again, though the eldest daughters
eyes sank TO the floor at a pressure of
the hand gave her. could not
! bring myself to call for bill. / con
tented myself with expressing my
thanks.
Going straight to the office OF man
with whom had business. informed
him OF my adventure and asked II he
could give me IN explanation. He
smiled and said:
Lave you read in the ARABIAN
| Nights Entertainment the story Of
the man who. Disguised with the self
lshness OF humanity. every evening
invited a stranger TO sup and remain
the night with him and turned him
away In the morning."
II have"
You have been entertained by such
n man."
And / will not be admitted under
his roof again?"
no" f."
I'VE shall see about that. But tell
me the story"
EVAN Thompson inherited the
wealth OF his father and grandfather
EVAN was always very tender hearted
AS soon as he came into his property
he began 10 give 1t to any one who
needed 1t. He never Wasted n penny
or 1t. Every cent was a blessing TO
whomsocver 1t was given. 10 con
dense the story. he gave away lis
whole patrimOny. including the house
In which he now lives. Not being sat.
ished to remain n poor man among
those who had been his associates In
prosperity. be went away and was not
seen again here for ten yesrs. Then
Nc appeared one day ragged and for.
Torn looking. There was scarcely n
person I'm the town who had NOT M
some time been assisted by him. He
applied TO one after another for help.
what assistance was given him was
so rihing that II served him but for
n Drief period. Some OF those be had
helped TO prosperity made him small
loans. realizing that until they were
paid he would not trouble them again
Some paid no attention Whatever 10
MS solicitations. And so. after he had
asked for help from everybody and
All had either refused him OF put him
where be could not we'll ask for more
he discovered that bis former friends
when they saw him coming won,d
turn down cross street before meet
ing him. Indeed. everybody wished
nc would 20 away again and stay
away
lie disappeared one morning, his ab
sence being made manifest by his fail
ing to call on man who had promised
10 lend him quarter. The man told
others Of the circumstance. and II soon
got abroad that 'Seedy' Thompson. rs
he was called, had relieved the town
Of his presence. Then one day some.
fhtnrr hae.s,......U IN
Thompson homestead announced that
be had sold It for twice what be gave
for II. The next startIer was the reg.
lstry Of the deed TO the premises in
the name Of Evan Thompson. Lastly.
one morning n maiden lady passed the
Thompson house and reported that she