The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1914-01-31
"A Lesson
In Giving:
1t Came Near Breaking an
Engagement.
BY CECILIA A. LOlZEAUx.

cTllnludle giving, Sulu f1UWuru.
They had just passed one armed
beggar, who had stepped in front of
them with his monotonous whine for
coins. Howard, after sharp glance,
brushed away the extended hand and
taken Beth's arm to guide her past.
But with an exclamation of pity the
girl had turned back to empty into the
mans hand all the change in her little
gold mesh purse.
My giving Is not indlscriminate.
That man was maimed-he had only
one armand the other one was trem-
bling from palsy or weakness" am
swered Beth, with some heat.
"My dear, that mans hand is trem-
bling from drink, and as likely as not
he has another arm under his coat.
You don't realize what frauds these
professional beggars are. Can't you
see, Beth that it's the principle of the
thing that is wrong? The money you
give so car6essly might better be used
for people who really need It, and you
seldom find that kind begging on the
streets.
They had reached Beth's home by
this time, and, as usual, Howard went
in with her for the afternoon tea Beth
always made by the living room fire.
When they entered the house the sub
ject was not continued, though they
hnfh fn1t Hicunti-fnd tnth htrcioI hf.t.-
self at the little table silently There
was an angry light in her eyes. She
told herself that Howard was not
quite what she had thought him.
Howard was about to 20 when the
front door opened and shut. and Beth's
Uncle John. with whom she had lived
since the death of her parents, came in
and went up the stairs to his room.
Howard settled back into his chair. for
he liked Beth's uncle. who was jolly
bly, nervous, ratified the tea things and
rang the bell for more hot water. She
jumped guilty as AN irate voice from
upstairs called. BETH
Yes, uncle. what is it?'' she called
back. going to the foot of the stairs
What have YOU done with my gray
smoking jacket and those black slip
pers? | can't find them anywhere, and
left them right here IN my room. |
wish Mary wouldn't have cleaning up
streaks.'
Beth darted a queer glance at How
ard and then ran up the stairs. She
spoke so softly that Howard could not
hear what she said. but her uncle's
voice was farreaching. and the young
man listened shamelessly, for he guess
cd what was the matter. Now he
grinned silently TO himself as the one
sided conversation went on.
"What the deuceF' he was fairly
roaring. "That jacket is the only one
I've ever had that's any good. And
look like n peeled onion in that purple
thing, and you know it." There YVES
silence. Then the voice in somewhat
softer tones went on:
well. if you can't rest unless you're
giving things away and my things are
attractive TO you, you just make it
point TO ask me what ] can get along
without. Wen, then, give me my old
slippers
Another silence
do you mean to tell me that you
gave away that pair of slippers that
I've been breaking in for year and
just got adjusted to my feet? BY
George, Who got thosei'
Silence.
well. he didn't need them as bad
as | do. He couldn't feed my smoking
jacket to starving baby, and those
slippers will tit his sick wife to per
lection. ! suppose What else did you
give him."
Another silence-then snort.
"Therel That's enough. Don't tell
Inc too much at once, Pm liable to get
madr' When he heard Beth's heel
taps on the stairs Howard strolled TO
the farthest window and turned limo
Gently around TO speak to Beth as ii
nothing had happened. Her face was
red and her eyes wet
"Uncle'S cross tonight" she said air
lily. 'I-he acts as If he had lost
something" she did not speak again.
but began to make fresh tea, and in a
minute or two her uncle appeared in
the doorway He had on purple silk
jacket and purple cap stuck jauntily
over one ear on his bald head.
Look like the shah'S butler. don't
t. the elder man said as he carefully
lowered his heavy figure into his easy
chair and stuck his feet out before
him. Your turn will come. You'H live
10 see your best shoes tripping down
the street. and you'n meet your hats
ana coats aud trousers strolling about
the city until you won't know whether
you're dreaming or whether there are
two Of Won
Howard was a little uneasy. lie lock
ed at Beth and smiled. and She looked
back codly. thinking that she read 4
told You So in his face. She disap-
peared when she had given her uncle
his tes and did not come down again
until Howard was gone and dinner
was ready
The neat morning Beth spent ia
ovsrhluling all her clothes. piiing into