472
WEST SHORE
covered to the pouring rain, and dropped a gold piece
into the driver's hand. As ho weighed the piece, the
driver was seized with a feeling of compunction, and
soliloquized
" He told mo where to take him, and I've done it."
An impatient exclamation from the house recalled
him to bunincsH, and seizing the old man, he pushed
him up the steps and into the hall. Then, hurrying
back, no mounted his box and whipped his horse out
of the street.
Perhaps in the confusion of that diseased, schem
ing brain there came a premonition that this was the
end, for the once erect form, now stooping as from the
weight of a great burden, hesitated, and the white
face, with trembling irresolution, was turned toward
the flying clouds. Then he looked inside. The flare
of the lamp light caused his heavy lids to close. A
hand grasped his shoulder and he entered. The door
closing lieliind him, shut out forever that world where
ho hail plotted only to win defeat, where he had some
bitterness only to reap revenge. There was not one
redeeming light to stay the soul in its descent into
fathomless night.
It was a woman who guided him, and the bleared
eyes in her coarse face were fixed on tho costly jewelry
he wore. She left him standing in tho center of a
room, but he saw nothing of the rich, volumptuoui
furnishings. He heard nothing of the clinking gaw.
es, of the peals of laughter from the room above H
ngni naa gone oui. ine ciauer ceasea. Heavy steps '
uuDucuuiu wio piuiio, biiu vuu ttuiuuu ugum appeared
Taking him by the arm she guided him up the carved
staircase. He saw nothing of the faces that peered at
him from over the balcony, faces which were marked
with the bold stamp of the fallen woman, but he heard
the shriek, and it cut into his calous old heart like the
stab of a knife as it rung out
" Father!"
His hands covered his ears. His knees shook.
There was a rattle in his throat. The once powerful
face was distorted in horrible agony as he turned and
rushed away. Wildly throwing aside the heavy por
tiers, he crashed through the window. A splash wu
heard, and all was over.
The rain had ceased, and the morning sun drew
clouds of steam from the timbers of Rockingham
street bridge. In answer to the hoarse toots of a tug
demanding passage, the draw keeper of the bridge is
sued from his shanty. Slowly the great structure
turned, and the tug with its helpless tow passed
through. The swash threw up floating garbage on
the black mud, and with it the body of Goldthurst.
To t oontinDnd.
NECESSARY PREPARATIONS.
Vuitoii I suppose your daughter la busily preparing for her
wedding f
Momta-Yee; the li up in her room now, destroying all
her old ltttr. .i.
lam PounciAN-Look here, you published a lie about me
thti morning an Infamous lie I I won't itund it 1
Hkhiki Khitor But just think where you would be if e
were to publish the truth aliout you 7Vw llault Erjm$.
A CLEAR TITLE.
Miss Vaw Allwool Are you litre Raron DeSchnag it a gen
uine nobleman T
Ma. McBallastir Sure? Why, be borrowed six hundred
dollars of one man. Tim.
GETTING EVEN.
Fiasr Prni-No wonder I am pale, Clawrence. Fweddy
played mun tl. k on me.
hlCDND Pn What wu It, old fel.T
First i i-WJ.y, I gave him a cigar, y' know, and the
cruael Ml .w made me aUy In the room while he smoked It
bah Jove. Timt. '
OCCULAR DEMONSTRATION.
Cyrii (in the garden)-Fatherl father! look out of th win
dow! Paterfamilias (putting out his head) What a nuisance too
children are. What do you want now t
Cyril (with a triumphant glance at his playfellow) Johnny
Gray wouldn't believe you'd got no hair on top of your heai-I'ick-me-vp,
INFLUENCE OF HEREDITY.
She was a toper'i daughter, yet was I
Her lover and the maiden fair would wed.
I put the question to her. Her reply T
" I don't care if I do," was all she eaid. -Epoch.
A VALUABLE ADJUNCT.
Profibsional Cycler (to manager of Colossal Collection of
Cycling Celebritien, about to make a tour of the world)-rf
don me, sire, but I would like to be honored with a poiitl
among your awegation of talent.
MAAOR-Vhate your specialty?
Phomssional CvcLKR-Well, when I'm rltcked up I
borrow more money on my fare than any man in the country.
Manaoir Say no more, my dear frller, consider youmll
permanently engaged.-n'Wi Oazttlt.