Hard Luck!

Observer, Volume XVI, Issue 925, 3 October 1896, Page 14

Hard Luck!

They were two, a youth and a maid, and the youth was looking sadly at the Bunset eky. ' Tom,' she said, softly, l it's no use, lad, I'll own it; I love you as much B 8 you say you love me ; but how could we live ? You don't earn enough now to keep yourself, and luck seems always against yon.' For a few moments his head fell upon his breast. They sat there in silence. From a pasture far away came the mellow sound of a sheep-bell, and the crow that was still circling over the woods uttered a few harsh cries. Suddenly Tom started to his feet and stretched his hand towards the aun-painted west. ' There 4b gold across the seas, Kitty ; gold in Australia; plenty of it for thpie who care to seek it. Kitty, I am going there to make my fortune. From this hour I am going to be a man, Bad Tom Lowry's luck shall change. I will come back rich to marry you, Kate. You will wait for me ?' Words were not needed for his answer ; one look into her dark eyes was enough. He clasped her in his anna and kissed her. A week later he Btarted on his voyage. For a time she received letters from him, but after a year's ill lack he ceased to write. Another year wore away, and then Kate was married. It was a match of her parents' making, and she consented to please them. Her husband was a well-to- I do youngfarmer, far above he? in position, and he really was fond of her. She found him kind and affectionate, and she surrendered her life into his care, feeling that erh \ps it was best that she shonld do bo. One evening, just at sunset, eight years after Kate's" inrirriagetb Joel Gray, a footsore, weary tramp turned into Gray's farmyard. His clothes were ragged and hiß appearance was that of a man who had seen Hard times, indeed. He came across the yard with a slow, tired step. Near the door a little dark-eyed girl was piaying, and the tramp paußed to gaze steadily at her for several minutes. Kate, who was standing by a window with a baby in her arms, regarding the stranger with some alarm, saw him dash a tear from his eye. Then she knew there was nothing to fear from him. Jußt then Joel came from the barn yard with a brimming milk pail in either hand. The stranger turned toward him as he approach ed and asked if he could have something to eat, and a night's lodging. ' it, is asking much, I know, said the tramp, in an nnsteady voice, ' but if I don't find shelter, I must sleep under the open sky, and it's cold and I'm ill. I have seen better days, sir, but luck always was against me.' Joel Gray had no particular love for tramps, yet there was something unusual about this, man that won his sympathy. As a result, the stranger was given some supper and permission to Btop in the farmhouse that night. The tramp ate his bread and milk in silence, but Kate was conscious that a pair of Bad blue eyes were watching her every movement. The man did not eat much for one who professed to be so hungry, and when Kate spoke to him he replied in a low mumbling manner. When he had finished eating and moved away from the table, little Lucy, the oldest child, came to him and climed upon his knee. He gathered her tip in his arms, while his wkole frame trembled with emotion. The child lay there trustingly, passing her fingers through the man's beard and crooning to herself. And thus he held her while the twilight shadows gathered. That night Joel Gray's buildings were burned to the ground. With difficulty Mr Gray and Kate escaped, the latter with the youngest babe in her arms. Close behind them the tramp came staggering out of the burning house. Joel caught him fiercely by the throat. ' This is your work !' shouted the fanner, hoarsely. 1 As God is my judge, it is not I' Kate seized her husband's arm, as she shrieked : 1 Lucy 1 Lucy ! Where iB she ?' 'Great heavens t' groaned Joel, 'she is inside 1' The tramp at his words, turned, sprang up the steps and vanished through the doorway into the burning building. Every moment that followed seemed like an age of suspense and horror to Joel Gray and his wife. Suddenly a dark figure appeared at one of the windows, and all about him the fierce flames seemed leaping and curling. Heheld a large bundle in hiß arms. There waa a crash of glass, a dark mass shooting downwards, a heavy thud, and the tramp lay at their feet. Joel sprang forward and unwrapped the blanket that enveloped the form of his little daughter, and to hiß joy found her alive. The farmer Jjent over the brave rencaer of his daughter, and as . he ;> turned .tlja. tramp upon bis back the man's eyes opened and he murmured"' Kate I'

There was something familiar in that voice that seemed to touch the very depths of the woman's soul. Quickly she bent over him. 'Kate, don't you know me?' he murmured. ' Tom !' she said wildly, ' Tom, ia it you? Have yon come back after all these years ?' ' Yes, I have come back and brought my old luck with me. I have come back to'dia ! I am going to try my luck in another country, and with the Master to guide me, I think it will turn for the better. The gold that I saw ia the sky that sunset was not for me. My life has been a failure, Kate, but I hope to make-amends up yonder.' And while Joel Gray, the thrifty farmer, worked hard to save his cattle and a part of his tools, Tom Lowry, the man of hard luck and a gentle soul, lay dying with his head resting in Kate's lap. He told her all his sad tale, his sufferings and failures. Told her how he had dug for gold — and had found none, while others on ground adjoining his, had made their fortunes. Then he whispered of a blow on the head that had deprived him of his reason for years, and now, when he was once more himself, he had hastened to find her. He loved her still, and his dying wish was that she might be happy always. And so, with the red light of the burning house all about him, he breathed his last in Kate's arms, happy with another kiss from her sweet month upon his lips.