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To-Day's Short Story.I

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To-Day's Short Story.I 4- JIM'S PAL. I Mr. Ramsey is better," ssid the neatly- g-troed nurse, but he bad better not see grangers, as tadking may do harm." "But I am Jim's poal," said Dick Man- waring, simply. Then you are the gentleman who brought iim hojp-e aftex tlie accident?" asked tihe trarse, eagerly. "Of cowfse, replied Dick. "We were coming away from business together, and Jim slipped as he jumped from the 'bus, and in a. moment a lig'ht van was over him. You are the nurse, I expect, that the doctor promised to send the first thing1 this uiornirig ?" I came juet after you had left," said the nurse. Mr..Ramsey has been asking for you all day, even when he has been delirious. In a few minutes Dick was by his friend's bedside. "Well, old chap, feeling better, eh?" he asked cheerily. "Yes, I'm better, Dick, but I feel sore all over. I shall go to business tomorrow, however." "Go to business!" exclaimed Dick; "why. good Heavens, man, you won't be able to go to business for a month. I've told old Skinner a, I about the smash-up, and he said how sorry he wa-s, that you wei-e to get well over it, and it was lucky you weren't killed. 'Even told me to pay you your month's money in case you were short of cash." That is very good, of him," said the patient, softiy. And do you know, Jim, I've been thinking, and I want you to make me a promise. Have you ever written to your mother sine-e you left her, five years ago?" "No," replied Jim, with a slight flush. "I doa't want to ask disagreeable questions, Jim, old boy," continued Dick, taking: his hand, '"but was the quarrel so terrible that neither can for give? Are you sure, Jim, you were not in the wrong?" "1-1 was in the wrong," Jim said, wearily. "I was a fool. I thought I was a man, and I resented being tied to my mother's apron- strings. I was twenty-one. I wanted to see Bfe. I wanted the few hundred pounds the poor old dad had left me, and I said she was trying to steal, or had stolen, it from me. I think that nearly broke her heart. The next day she gave me the money and said, 'Do as you think best, Jim; but. when, you have seen life and when the- money has gone, come back to me.' With a sneer I toLd her I would take ca.re of my o,wn, and in a year or two probably make a fortune; but in less than nix months it was gone. I had gambled it away at cards and racing." "I know," said Dick, quietly; "and now, Jim, as soon as you can move I want you to go back to her-to have a fortnight in the old home—to be her boy again, fiemein- .ber, Jim, how a mother loves." Jim turned restlessly, and his lip quivered slightly. "I can't go back now," he said., piresently. "It would be too mean to return now." Manwaring was not the man to spoil a good impression by too much talk. lIe gave Jim's hand a squeeze and changed the conversation to other subjects. Presently he said: "We've been pretty botly in the office to- day. The auditors came this morning." "The auditors!" cried Jim. "Why, they are not due till next week." "I know," said Dick. "but they have altered their date. Funny thing, too, old Skinflint came out this morning and asked for your address. Going- to send you a hand- some cheque, perhaps." "Perhaps," murmured Jim, huskily; and then, when a sharp rat-tat came to the door, he started up wildly and whispered, "Tell them I'm not here, Dick." "Why, it's a letter," cried Dick, a moment afterwards. "Re-directed from the office." With a trembling hand Jim grasped it. and then, after glancing at the envelope, sank back on the pillow with a sigh. Dick, alarmed at deadly whiteness, called the nurse, and she gave him a. little brandy. "I'm better now," said Jim, when she had left the room. "See what's in the letter, Dick." It was from the family doctor, and ran:- Dear Mr Bameey,—I have just learned by chance of your whereabouts, and am writ- f ing immediately to tell you that your mother is dangerously ill. Perhaps you know she is now blind, and we are hoping shortly tg operate on her for cataract. 1 regret, however, t.o say she is sinking fast, and if you would see her alive you must ccme at once.—iour truly, J. LBNNOX SMITH. For a few minutes after Dick had read the let.tar they sat there without speaking. Then a hard, wild look came over Jim's face, and he put up his hands to hide it. "I shall never see her now, Dick," he groaned. "Nonsense, man, nonsense," cried Manwar- ing, star-tied by the desparing tone of his "ri&nd's voice. "In a day or two you will t>; tble to travel, and she can't be so dangerously II or the doctor would have wired. Ill tell you what.—I'll run down to Star-bridge to-night and see how she is, and I'll tell her you are j coming, and that you are sorry for the past. By Jove! if the cab moves quickly I can catch the next train. Cheer up, old boy." It was nearing eleven when Dick Man- waring knocked at the silent manor house at Stanbridge, but the doer was quickly opened. "At last," cried the little doctor, drawing him i&-o the light. "Why, who aie you? "? V h y who are you? Where's Jim?" "Jim's helpless in bed from an accwemt ?xp?in?d Dick, rapidiy. "I'm his friend. Tell rae,wlow is his mother?" "She's sin?ing," said the doetar. "She's eaten her 11rt hung'2g for her boy, but she wouldn t let us send." The thin, worn face, with thœe pitiful. wi-d.e-open, sightless eyes, turned towards Dick ae her quick ears caught the strange tread. "Is that you, Jim, dear?" she whispered. Dick took the wasted hand and gently I stroked it. "I'm Jim's pal," he said, softly; and then, as he watched the eager look of hope die on the patient face, he added, quickly, "Jim sent his love." How eagerly the poor, craving heart grasped1 even that poor message of love! With a half sob the mother clapped his hand and carried it to her thin, tr<mbiing lips. Dick stooped quickly and kissed the faded cheek; then, felLiibg on his knees by the bedside, he poured out the story of Jim's penitence. And he told her that Jim was htirt-ju-st a little hurt—

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To-Day's Short Story.I

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