Democratic Sentinel, Volume 15, Number 8, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 March 1891 — A Dead Man's Eyes. [ARTICLE]

A Dead Man's Eyes.

“That man didn’t ask you for anything,” I said to my Chicago friend as we stood in front of theTremont House one day and he slipped a quarter to a hard-up looking man who came to a halt beside us.” “No.” “Do you know him ?" “No.” “Then that’s your way, is it, to pass out quarters to every one who seems to be broke?” “Let me tell you something,” he said, as we moved back a little further out of the way of pedestrians. “I made a bad mistake once, and I’m taking this way to get even with my conscience.” “Well?” “I was in St. Louis on business. It was winter, and you know how cold that town can be when it tri s hard. I was out on the street at 11 o’clock one bitter night w’hen a chap struck me for a dime. Ho was poorly clad, looked hungry and sick, and I ought to have handed out the money at once. I was just brute enough not to do it. He followed me a hundred feet, begging and pleading, and I finally threatened to have him arrested. He turned away with a sob in his throat, and I went on to the hotel.” “I see.” “There was a big snow storm that night, and next morning they found him in a drift, frozen stark and stiff. I saw the body and recognized it. The pale face was pinched and drawn with hunger and suffering, and the eyes were as wide open as yours—great big blue eyes, sunken back in their sockets, and staring at me in an awful way. Yes, sir, they seemed to be fastened on me alone, and to follow me as I moved, and a man in the crowd noticed it, and whispered that I looked guilty of murder. When I heard car drivers, draymen, bootblacks and newsboys saying how gladly they would have given the poor wretch a quarter to buy lodgings and food, I sneaked away feeling that I was a murderer. It hurt me more than I can tell you. I don’t wait now to be asked for alms. I give to some who are no doubt undeserving, but I take my chances on that. That thing rests like a murder on my conscience, and nothing like it shall ever happen again. ”