Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1861-11-07

: IN 50 hllulDit
Yes, tits. Do you know him?" an
swered Miss Forbes, startled out of her usu
oil imperturablc calmness by the eager
ness Of her questioncr.
A hurried No rs Ada reappeared, sat
ished Miss Forbes, and she did not motto,
how the woman clutched her hands nery
ously and groaned.
Ada held woolen shawl of her own anC
purse in her hand. She folded the shaw
and threw il around the slight shoulders, anC
placed piece OF money into the now passiv,
hand.
oh dear such night to be out p
lehuddsied my dekcately reared child ,shfink
ing back from the cold. The woman still
fingered, gazing eagerly on her, then, ere
Ada could prevent, she took hold Of her hanc
and uttered tervcnt,
God bless you, my child, and guard you
from sin and sorrow. Farewell. I"
In moment more she had glided down
the steps, passing me so closely that hel
dripping garments brushed me, yet evidently
unconscious of my presence
why, how very strange Who can she
be p heard Ada exclaim as she shut in
the warmth and light.
II was strange. Who indeed could it be!
Why should my name move her :? and why
should her voice have SO moved me? A hor.
iible suspicion forced itself upon me.
must follow her and put it to rest or confirm
lit. The lamp at the corner of the crescent
just revealed her for moment, gliding
round the corner. With this clue l pur-
sued, and soon sighted her. Fearful of her
suspectins that she was followed, and trying
to elude, surlnising the quarter of the town
she would be likely to occupy, took short
cut through the back streets, and came out
on Princes street just as she passed. She
walked slowly and YEARLY now. | could
scarce, without suspicion, keep pace with
her, 80 l fingered at the engraver's win
dows, which were still unsbuttered. Now
passing and now allowing hor to pass, tried
to see her face, but it was resolutely turned
from the glaring shop.windows. | could
just tell that it was pale, wasted, delicate
ly outlined face, and l could tell no more,
Several times L almost gave up the chase
asa wild one, when step, a movement, a
glimpse of the figure, would again stir ME,
and with renewed earnestuess / would again
follow. On, on, on, up George the Fourth 5
Bridge (my scene is laid in Edinburgh, J
down Candlemaker's Row, followed slowly
that weary, shabby-looking figure. Closely
she had gathered the shawl my daughter
had given her around her shoulders, yet |
could see that she shuddered. Now she
stopped, and hoarse, hollow racking cough
rung her death -knell to my placticed ear
Her days, be she who she may, were num-
bered-numbered all the more surely aud
shortly Ikuew they mustbe from this night 5
exposure. Now she had passed the Grass.
market, and paused before bakers shop,
which was already crowded to the door with
haggard, hungry-looking men, women, and
children.
L stood at the window, unminjful of the
curious look cast from beared famine sharp
ened eyes at my unwontcd appearance on
such night in such place, at such an
hour. l saw old age, which bore no crown
OF glory, but deep wrinkles traced by vice
and wretcliedness, tottering on staff fierce,
besotted, hardened looking men pinched,
sharp eyed, halfclad women and children
with only fragments of clothing on them, old
IN vice though young in years, alike jostle
the little figure in faded black. "She was
none Of them. What right had she to be
there = was the thought their actions gave
utterance to. 1t might he half an hour for
many who came after her were served before
her, ere she finally succeeded in getting her
errand, a loaf Of bread, for which she put
down half sovereign. II had given it to
my daughter only the night before to buy
new book How the sharp, hungry looking
eyes glistened as they saw the gold. and now
many sharpened, curious faces scanned its
owner. l could not yet see her face, but
she took the change without looking at il,
put the loaf under her shawl, and turned
away. Again followed her, till she disap-
peared down cellar stair, at the head of
which l could just decipher on painted
board
.Cosls, milk and groceries. ..
Managing done here.n
This was not her home, / knew so | stood
back awaiting her temperance, for the first
time asking myself how this was all to end
| could not tell-circumstance must decide.
In a few moments YEARLY she dragged her
self up again, behind her boy carrying
bag with few pieces of coal in it at least
SO judged from its black, sooty appearance.
! had not tar to follow this time. They both
disappeared up narrow arched court that
stood at the head of the stairs.
! tried to grope my way in too, almost
suffocated by the unwhoesome vapors of
the place. Judging it best to await the re-
| appearance Of the boy who was carrying the
GOALS, as he would likely be able to give me
all the information | wanted, retraced
my steps. ! had not long to wait. He
SOOn returned, WnlStllng with true bOylsh
nonchalance Nancy TIN, " swinging his bag
round his arm.
Who is that woman p asked, ap-
preaching him.
''Duzznt know" answered the boy, scan
ming me as closely as he could, though /
had taken the precaution to turn my back
to the light.
HAS she been long here?' s...a.
''Praps. Be you the beak?" (Aaglice,
policeman.) ,rs.. lr,..I
"No," I answered, slipping shilling into
his hand as the surest method of untying
his tongue. ''Tell me all you know about
her. am friend"
Holding the shilling up between his finger
and his thumb for a moment as if to satisfy
himself ofits genuineness, he gave an ac-
count, ofwhich the following is the sub
stance:
That about eighteen months ago or two
years, he was not sure which, Mrs. Arnott
had first come to his mother shop. It was
she who sold GOALS, milk, end groceries. +"
That his mother thought she was widow,
though she never told any one anything
about herself. "Never spoke to nobody"
the boy said. That she did white sewing
for the shops, was dreadful hard up times,
had been sick lately for month, and had