Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1848-05-26


ave only wish TO see Mrs. Henry for one mo-
menI, said the poor woman, meekly.
"Mrs. Henry has gone out"
"The young lady, then, can we see herl"
81 tell you she is engsged--if you have any
message, speak out; you cannot expect gentle
man 20 stand here all night" replied the digni.
tary of locks and hinges.
"Wil you be so kind as TO Iel Miss Henry
that there was ten cents due on the linen made
for her-she could not make the exact change,
and"
"a heavy business, that" interrupted the
iootman, sneeringly.
81 would not have travelled here tonight,
but"
A young gentleman, who had alghted from
close carriage to the pavement, while they
were dispuling, came hurredly up the steps, and
interrupted the widow in her humble appeal
She shrunk back, and allowed the vsitorio pass,
for now the door was flung wide open, and the
looIman obsequously rendered his help to re-
lieve the young man of his furred cloak.
"Will you speak TO Miss Henry. Indeed, in
deed, we shall suffer terribly, if she does not
give US the money" persisted the woman, Pla-
cling her hand in desperation against the door, as
the man came back TO close il against lhem.-
He hesitated a moment, and then went 10 the
drawing room door again, just in time 10 see the
small hand Of his mistress snatched from the
clasPing fingers of the young gentleman who
had just entered, and her radiant form covered
with bushes as it was turned toward the door.
She advanced TO the footman, and as he spoke
in the underones of we'll tutored servant, her
companion leaned against the harp and gazed
smilingly upon her while he passed his fingers
idly along the strings.
Miss Henry turned from the servant, went 10
a little work box of rich mosaic and took out
her purse. 1t contained nothing but bank notes.
"Tell her to come again; have no small
change. don't rememberthatany thingis due,
but that is no matter, tell her 10 come again"
The young girl turned away as she spoke,
and gliding TO the side of her lover, began tri.
fling with the harp strings close by his hand, :,
till her arm was once more imprisoned in his
clasp, and they forsook the instrument and sat
down, content with the musical beating of their
own young hearts, and there, upon the door
steps, stood two fellow beings perishing with
want, furnishing from the lack of few pennies,
which thar beautiful girl thoughtlessly withheld.
Alas! when will the rich and prosperous learn
the value of triAes to the poor!
"Who were the two persons found at the
doorl" inquired the lover of Miss Henry, as he
playfully turned the torpoisc ring on her finger.
"The woman's face struck me as peculiarly in
telligent as hurried up the steps," The lady
smiled and answered in a quiet voice thatt was
sewing woman, whom her mamma sometimes
employed out of charity.
at is a dreadful night for any female to be
OUT" said the young man thoughlfuly; and the
face saw beneath that old hood was strangely
wan and sorrowful."
sis it very cold!" enquired the young lady,
beginning TO look serious, 81 have not felt it in
the least"
"God forbid that you ever should feel the in
clemency of night like this!" said the young
man, caresslngly, "and yet, my girl, the poor
woman who stood at your door few minutes
since, may have been loved as tenderly, and
nurured as gently as you are; nothing but terri
BILE destitution would have called her out on
such night as this"
"Do you think sol" replied the young girl,
and the color grew faint on her cheek, 81 am
sorry, +"
The young man looked in that speaking face
with some surprise, it became still more troubled
beneath his glance, and tears stole like dew into
those dark eyes.
"What is the matter, Frances?" he inquired
anxiously, "you are too sensitive, my sweet
girl"
Frances Henry covered her face and wept--
81 have been cruel, careless" she said in a low
voice, "lhe poor woman asked for little change
that she says is due her. expected you, my
heart was full Of you, and sent her away"
"To sufer!" said the young man seriously,
though his voice was still affectionate.
at was so liue-such mere triAe--I could
not think ten cents of the least consequence
1t was only that, but she will come again to-mor-
row, and will give her fifty times the due!''
added the really kind girl with sudden animation,
for she was only thoughtless, not cruel.
"Letus try if she cannot be found tonight"
replied the lover, still very seriously. The foot
man was summoned, but he knew nothing of the
poor woman. She was standing on the steps,
when he closed the door against her, perfectly
mute, but the boy had insisted on coming in,
had rung the bell violently twice after he was
shut out, and for some minutes the sound of his
voice was heard above the wall Of the tempest.
Perhaps he was there yet. Frances Henry and
her lover went eagerly to the door, and looked
out; no one was visible; the steps were covered
with sleet, and drops of frozen rain fell like a
storm of pearls over the dark tresses and mus
lin drapery of the young girl, while the keen
winds almost took away her breath.
"Does any one know where she lvesl" in
quired the young man, taking up his cloak
Frances turned anxiously TO the servant who
did know something of the WIDOWS residence;
but the night was tempestuous, and John had no
idea of wealhering it for the benefit of any one;
so he expressed himself profoundly ignorant,
and hastened to close the door, lest his young
mistress should take cold. 1t was indeed ne
cessary precaution, for she was shivering from
head 10 foot.
The young couple went back to the drawing
room, TO an atmosphere so changed Ihatthe sleet
which had fallen on their garments turned to