The story
“A ragged vagabond, followed by a disreputable-looking dog, wanders to the door of a country inn. ‘Get out!’ commands the inn-keeper. But an eccentric rich man, pulling up before the inn just then, dismounts from his horse and orders supper for both himself and the tramp. After they have eaten and drunk, Grossbeck Upham wins from his companion his story. Tim, the beggar, once had wooed and won a beautiful girl. But he could not keep away from the drink. At last, Amelia cast him off. He drank then harder than ever, and sank to the lowest depths of degradation. Only his dog stayed by him. Years later, he saw again the woman he loved. She had married a minister. She did not recognize Tim, but taking him for some unknown beggar, dropped a coin in his hand and passed by. ‘Little did she dream,’ said the vagabond, ‘as she walked on, so self-possessed in her black silk dress, and so ladylike, who kissed the coin her fingers dropped!’”
Summary from Reel Life · 28 August 1915
