The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1917-12-24

I've turned honest, ma'am, and |
| way to decent life by fitting me out
SO finely"
Il trust 50, | believe So, responded
Mrs. Morley. ''You have good face
and l should feel very sad if | thought
/ YOU would think of selling those
| clothes for drink
I'm through with the red stuff,
| maam, believe me. III be only too
| glad to feel dressed like Il real man,
rs l once was I'll DO myself proud
and straight as Il die, TO show that l
appreciate your kindness"
With the words Ben Dorkins went
on his way. carrying n neat parcel I'M
! der his arm 1t contained It suit az
clothes hat shoes, in fact, Il com
plete outfit Ben had come 10 the Ii
tie Morley home about noon. asking
for food, doWn-at-the-hcel tramp.
He had offered to work for Il mead ana
had done so, tidying UP the back yard
and carrying some ashes TO the al
ley. behind the house.
Mrs, Morley gave Ben DorhinS not
only good meal, but half dollar
Then. noticing his uocoutb attire =
sudden imnuISa swayod her rnnorous
spirit.
''Wait," She said. Il just thought Of
Suit of elotbcs my husband discard
Cd only two DAYS oqo lie is -nse
.bout your sire WouId vou ,.to
,bems ,rbov arn not much worn Int
INV husband has new suit Of fbu
Same Goods"
ooh, ma'am! that's too much 10
think Of giving IN old ragbag like
me i" INT as Mrs Morley artrr . briof
absence reanpaarcd Win The onttit en-
tire. Beu's ewes Cleaned with plpas-
? ure
..You can sion into Tho nevt room
# Won like ana mn them on" suggest
ed Mrs Morley. bur Ben shock his
head vigorously.
Not l." he dissentcd strenuouslv.
I'm bound back for the citx ana work.
which those fine rags VIII helm mo .-ar.
III eton af vour barber Sbop here and
. get n shave and y hair cut Then lis
me for That nrettv river cunning our-
side If tbe ,iIlare IF roI1II mr. in >
niece of soap nIea<p TN make my
, first bath for = month a famops one {"
"I1l do that assnntcd Mrs Morley
q "and there's some coIIars and . rarrin
. Of nocE4ies 81, good, won't Won nov >"
She fra4hed persnaeivclv.
"Ill respect my word. ma'am. You've
set me on my pegs right ana I'll keep
right" pledged Pen Dorkins.
He went on his way rejoicing. he
got the shave and haircut. he reached
I 4 secluded part of the river course
f outside Of the town. where lie was free
D to diSport in the water unseen by 9TH
{ crs and undiSturhede
7, Il feel new MI over" iuulated he.
rs he drew himself erect with pride
: and satisfaction and kicked his dis
q car[led rags into the river. ''Now for
n fifteen-mile tramp and something
better than carrying in coal or beg
i ging my grub.
"a The renovation inspired Ben With
distinctly new ana worthy aspirations.
= lie NOR" than once glanced down III
the trtn-iitting suit. lie began Ia
practice the erect ana manly swing
abandoned into careless Sloughine
when nc fell from the good-hreeding
manners al former Gays, 1t was after
8 dark when Ben reached Fanevil!", halt
ne compass OF ms trip cltyWardS.
He had fifteen cents left of the half
u dollar Mrs. Morley had given him and
he invested ten of it in n cup of cof
fee and some rolls. Then he went
down the street. entered a hotel AND
p sat down in an arm chair in its lobby
Is II was truly agreeable situation tc
have the cntrec TO responsibility once
i more. for no Iynx-eyed porter or Off
e cious desk clerk resented his pres
L. cncc. The salt was conspicuous. bu
y tasteful. not loud, hut ii had a Ger
! tain independent identity. Ii had orig
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