Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1851-08-28

|
Lodging-hoase keepers have a strange facult,
OF acquiring. BY some means unknown. pretts
clear insight INTO the finances and position of the
iodgers: Had Millicent possessed any experi.
ence, the gradually thickening clouds on Mrs
Gr'mshaw's brow, at no time particularly radi.
ant would have aIprised her that her insolvency
was suspected. Even as it was, they aggravated
pidiy increasing rent-day with increased dread.
oieepess and wretched was the night preced-
ing, but how unwelcome the dawn! Still pon-
dering what she should do. she suddenly remem-
oered having, in her walk through the town, OBJ
served an announcement on a shop door. that mo-
ney was lent within, and it struck her that she
might obtain small loan, BY representing to the
proprietor how she was situated In anv case
ne might be disposed to purchase her watch and
u'hke's no longer an essential part of her dress;
and as sad as it was to lose such souvenirs of Mrs
! Grantey, the thought that they afforded re-
source, IN this hour Of stern necessity. cheered
! and reassured her.
| ed scanty breakfast. by the appearance of Mrs
Grlmshaw, who in a tone far from concilatory,
! requested payment of the rent
"sery weil,'' replied Millicent, though with
/ some confusion. 81 am going into town in the
afternoon, and will pay ydu when rcturn'
- nope You understands, ma'am, that don't
! give any credit" returned Mrs Grimshaw, fierce
| sYou shall have your the money this evening, y
/ said Millicent.
/ Mrs Grlmshaw had way, as shown on for
iner occasion, of firing partn. sho. outside the
/ door.
"If don't, ont yoa'u pack, can tell vou,"
She now mnttered, on reaching the passage; "and
sil be paid out of your boxes, if there's any thing
/ in EN-
+! Sung BY her inso'ence, MilGcent would have
7 proceeded at once on the errana she con,emnlat-
/ ed, in order 10 hasten the promised payment; but
! was withheld BY hope of receiving letter from
Fanny, for which, Ignorant at what hoar the post
came IN, she waited till late in the dar. At last
she couid delay no longer. and with heavy heart
I now despalrm@ of any communication from Fan
/ ny, though never doaStiuS the truthfulness and
generosity OF her character. she set out for the
/ citv.
/ What strange fluctuations Of hope and fear fiji
/ the bitter cup OF suspense! As Nilhcent. har-
/ raised with thousand conflicting thoughts walk
! ed slowly Oh, her plan Tor raising loaa seemed
less practicable than she had imagined. and she
even began 10 apprehcnl that the aun6 mceuant
on the shop-dncr, by which it had been suggest
et, must be u mistake. 1t is with trembling steps
that she approached the shop, bat glance at the
door. as she drew nearer. restored her confidence
There, h!azoned in gilt letters on blue ground
the nd'Y and cheering words met her ere Mo-
NEy LENT"
Hastily entering. she fotad herself in : sort Of
stall, in froa; Of high counter where a shas,lv
( looking man. IN bib and aproa of black calico,
| was immediately in attendance.
'Am right in sapposinr yolleni money. s;r?'
s'ammered Mllicen'. greatly embarrassed
"Qnte right, ma'am," replied the pawn-bro-
ker, with smile. ''Wnat is the article ma'a,n."
\ glimmcring or the trlth broke on Mhcea..
and she produced her watch and trinkcts. The
pawnbrolcT, taking one hY one. examined them
attentiveiy. at the same time snachug covert
| bat searching glance at Millicent.
Il can let You have twenty pounds on these ar
tlcles, ma'an," he said, at length. perfectly salts
fed with appearances.
Twenty pounds. What fortune did it seem
to the poor. droo2,n-. destitute girl, Gladly and
gratefully she concluded the contract: and secu9-
ing the precious pieces, her purse. left the shop
Impatient 10 reach home. she entered an omai-
bus. followed closely by gentleman with black
curly mustaches, wearing seedy blue surtout.
bntoaea to the throat, and very tightly strapped
trowsers. 1t was Spanish Bill.
SsThev takes thirteen insides to the dozen here
ma'am,",he said, placing himself next NElcent
But Jlm-aions-Josey, as Shakespeare observes.
Off she goes.'
And Off the massive vehicle did 90, carrying
not only thirteen, but an extra one on the steps
Mlllicent, iammed in corner. found very fl-
getty ne;ghbor in Spanish Bill, who was continu-
ally twisting himself abou.; but suddenly. after
proceeding short distance, he called to the con-
ductor to stop, and jumped ont. The omnibus re-
sumed its progress, making occasional stoppages.
ana at length, arrived at the point where MILL
cent was to alisht. But, instead of rising. she
sank back on her seat, with cry OF despair
Her dress had been cut dawn; her per pocket RI
! fled; and all she possessed was gone.
In the confusion that followed she scarcely
took any part, standing like one stupe6cd uncon-
scious. She answered mechanically the questions
put to her; but what was their import, OF how
they bore on her loss, she did not attempt to
think. AT last, the omnibus drove of, and she
found herself pursuing her way alone.
Ga arriving at Mrs Grimshaw,. she gave tre-
mulous knock on the door, and it was opened BY
the worthy hostess. who, however, instead of Civ
ing admittance, blocked up the passage, holding
the door in her hand. Mllicents desparing look
had alarmed her.
"Yoa must pay me my rent ma'am before YOU
comes in, please she said, with the glare Of
tlgress.
81 can not pay you this moment" )" replied Mil
licent in frantic accents. "Sincc went ont.
have had great misfortune. See! my dress and
pocket have been cut open, and all my money
stolen
"a pretty story. truly, and this, too after all
the fine airs as you've give yourself. But YOU
! won't impose upon me. though am a lone wild
ow with nobody to stand up for me. No ma'am.
| your boxes don't badge from here, until you've
paid my rent.''
81 DO not wish it: would not remove them
on any account" said Mlicent, earnestly. "and
il voa will only trust me little time till can
| look around, will pay you with intcres''
''When yoa pays, yol may come in. but not
/ before" returned the ohdurate Grmshaw. And
she slammed the door in her face.
CHAPTER XLII.
! II is night. ana Millicent Is in the streets
hoaseless destitute! The idea is so terribIc--the
! change from afinencc 10 extreme penury so sud-
| den. that as she walks along. with rapid tholgh
! weary steps. wandering she knows not whittier,
| her mind can scarcely realize the dread truth
Bat TOO forcibly does every object attest and pro-
| claim it, She does not drcam!
1t Is growing late. bat multitudes still thread
the streets. winch dare with ten Thousand lights
| What viii it be when, in the dead hour of night,
| the vast thorouglfares are hushed and deserted?
| when the poor forlorn girl will be fitting
| through them alone, or meeting. in her silent and
solitary progress. oalv evil-doers, night walkers,
and men of violence? Already the shops begin
! to shut he bats aud owls of society quit their
! hiding. holes. and vile language and flash apparel.
the livery of vice. announce 10 simplest ease their
! abandoned character.
Unconsc ousv Mtliicent has trarerScd the city.
/ crossed the river. and reached kensingtoa-the
| TuSculum of city saopocrats. Wider intervals
/ between lamps; private hoases with pin box
! gardens and the gradual decrease of passengers,
| warned her. at length that she was Straying from
! town. where, with all its dangers. hnSy streets