El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-02-08

l.
this a gay OF a sad memory, but
\ when I think Of it. it recalls to
me days of Bohemian life. Of gay
laughs, jolly companions sufferings
and disappOintments. and it does no.
seem to have happened a very long time
ago"
The speaker thought of a beautiful
evening, when Paris wore its aristO-
cratic aspect, and when life cOursed
through its veins madly- 1t was at the
end of March and spring had burst upon
the city suddenly in all its glory
I was then living in the Latin quar-
ter. between SOrbOnne and Luxembourg
I was a Bohemian among BOhemfans. I
smoked a pipe, and my soul was rull OF
music Ny credit became exhausted,
and 1 was ON the verge Of despair, when
the strange incident l am going to re-
late changed everything, and gave me
a new grip on life
I intended to commit suicide that
night ANY way, was about to make
a grave resolution OF some kind though
/ was not sure OF what I was going to
do. I had eaten nothing for two days
and my stomach was aching with hun
ger
7 wandered aimlessly about when
suddenly I heard a voice, the broken
hOarse. painful voice OF a beggar-
"A sou for a poor beggars monsieur
the depressed one asked
A hand was held out towards me,
holding a wooden bowl. From mere
force Of habit my hand went to my
pocket the one in which used to carry
my watch, when it was out Of pawn.
Then the miracle happened In
the pocket which 1 thought was
as empty as my. stomach, there
was coin, real colns which
must have been there, unknown
to me, for at least two weeks. On, IL
I had only known few moments be-
fOreI Now it was too late The coin
was between my fingers and threw it
into the wooden bowl Then I went on.
Once more heard the voice Of the
beggar:
What He throws me piece so large
and does not ask for change! Perhaps
he is rich, though he does not look it!
The words made me smile bitterly
I richi The beggar must be a fool. I
went back TO have look at him
He was an old man, dressed in
greenish rags covered with dust and
spotted by rain and mud On his feet
were a pair of disreputable looking
shoes, many sizes too large for him
His features were hidden by an enOr-
nous, unkempt beard, but there was
half kind, half malicious CLINT in his
eyes
Fifty cents to a begger,' he said.
I tell you, young man. you are throw
ing your money away out Of the win
dow If only knew your father
I shook his arm 1t was the right
arm he had no other His other sleeve
was empty. Poor fellow! I could not
help answering him
SO I am throwing my money away
out Of the window What money, and
what window. 1 should like to knoWZ
I have no money and no window any
more. Ny landlady has thrown me out
and you have my last SOU don't want
any thanks for having given il to you
I have made my bed and must lie in it.
4 glanced at a friendly river, run
ming swiftly by The street lamps were
being lighted. The bridge was almOsr
deserted
The man followed me with his eyes.
Then he spoke once more
The water seems to attract you.
young man. It Is a dangerous symp-
tom never cared for a bath. Then
il is really true that you haven't got
J a sou. Tell me how that happensT
Where was I going? Nowhere ]
have no date TO meet anyone, so conse-
quently I was in no hurry Misery
loves company. As well this beggar as
anyone else I told him my history. He
laughed.
Now. all that does not exist young
fellow he said You have lost your
grit because you are hungry That is
quite natural when one is 20 years old.
and even while you eat you are nun
cry. But you have made me interested
in YOU you are an unusual type ]
want to see more Of you, so now, first
here is your money
He held out the wooden bowl The
silver coin was glittering in II like
mirror. I pretended not TO see it
Don't make any fuss the man per-
sisted.
what do YOU want me to do with 50
cents2 That or nothing is Just about
the same
Then YOU want more? Wen. why
nOt2 / an in good humOr today, and
you were kind to me moment ago.
Everybody has his turn. and dollal
may be Of any use to you
It looked at the beggar. There was
q hooking smile in his eyes but his
voice was serious as he said: Don't be
q fool now. You may give IT back "a
me some other day. 1 am always mere
in the evening, and in the morning YOU
a presentiment- Ny dollar VIII bring
you luck and it viii be the beginning
of your fortune
I said nothing. The man produced
from somewhere under his clothes an
unseen arm. the one that ought to have
been in his empty sleeve Then ne
fumbled in his trousers pOcked ana
brought forth, first. a crust OF Dreao
and then a dollar bill
Here you are he said; ! don't neeo
any receipt
7 took the money half unconscious
". and the man laughed, a hearty
jolly laugh
suddenly he stood motiOnless. Some
body was passing and there was nc
time to hide the arm His eyes stared
straight out as he cried; Have pity on
a poor. blind man
Then he said to me in a tone Of
Wen, a fellow must make a liv-
ing"