Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1866-12-12
"Sent by Express" I"


Minnie Harlan was alone in the world
her mother just buried.
She was beautiful brown haired girl, with
soft, shy eyes of violet gray, and rosy lips
compressed to a frmness far beyond her
Years. For after all she was scarcely seven
teen, and so Deacon Gray was telling her, as
he sat by the fire spreading his huge hands
over the tardy blaze, and asked:
But what are you goin' to do to arm your
bread and butter, child?''
Il don know haven tthoue eht-mam-
ma had an uncle in New York, who
Eyes, yes, I've heerin tell about him-he
was mad cause your mother didn't marry
just to suit him, wasn't he ?"
Minnie was silent. Deacon Gray waited
few minutes, hoping she would admit him
into her secret medtations; but she did not,
and the Deacon went away home, to tell his
creature he had ever come across.
In the meanwhile Minnie was packing her
few scanty things into little arpet-bag, by
the weird tiickering light Of the dying wood
fire.
II will go to New York" she said to her
self. setting her small pearly teeth firmly to-
gether. My mothers uncle shall hear my
cause pleaded through my own lips Oh, [
wish my heart would not throb SO wildly l
am no Ions er meek Minnie Harlan; | am
an orphan all alone in the world, who must
fight life sbs tiles with my own single hands!"
Lower Broadway at 7 o'clock, 2. M.
w hat a babel of crushing wheels, hurrying
humanity, and conglomerate noise it was
Minnie Harlan sat in the corner of an ex-
press office, under the flare of gas lights,
surrounded by boxes, and wondering wheth-
er the people ever went crazed in this per-
petual din and tumult Her dress was very
pain-gray poplin, with shabby little old
fashioned straw bonnet tied with black rib
bons, and blue veil, while her article of
baggage, the carpet bag, lay in her lap.
She had sat there for two hours, and was
very, very tired
Poor little thing" thought the dark
haired young clerk nearest her, who inhab-
tied sort of wire cage under circlet of gas
lights. And then picked up a pen and
plunged into perfect Atlantic ocean of ac-
counts.
Mr. Evans?''
Sir !"
The dark haired clerk emerged from his
cage with his pen behind his ear, in obedi-
ence to the beckoning finger of his superior.
Il have noticed that young woman sit
ting there for some time-how came she
here ?"
Expressed on, from Millington, Iowa
arrived this afternoon
As though Minnie Harlan were box or
parcel.
Who for?
Consigned to Walter Harrington. ESQ.
And why hasn't she been called for p
=! sent up to Harrington address to no
thy him some time ago; expect an answer
every moment.
Very odd,' said the grey headed gentle
man: taking up newspaper.
Yes, sir, rather. y
Some three quarters of an hour after
wards, Frank Evans came to the pale girl S
side, with an indescribabe pity in his hazel
eyes
Miss Harlan, we have sent to Mr.. Har-
rington's residence"
Minnie looked up with feverish red up
on her cheek, and her hands clasped tightly
on the faded carpet bag.
And We regret to inform you that he
sailed tor Europe at twelve o clock this day. P"
sudden blur came over Minnie eyes
she trembled like leaf In all her calcula-
tons, she made no allowance for an exigen-
cy like this.
Can We do anything further for you p
questioned the young clerk politely.
Nothing-noo one can do anything ao,U.!''
Frank Evans had been turning away, but
something In the piteous tone of her voice
appealed to every manly instinct within him.
Shall | send you to any other of your
j have no friends
Perhaps l can have your things sent to
son e quiet family hotel ?' fst
Mlnne opened her little leather purse
ana showed him two ten cent pieces, with a
smile that was almost tear.
This is all the money l have IN the
world, sir!'
SO young, so beautiful, and so desolate
frank Evans had been New Yorker all his
HE, but he had never met with an exactly
parallel case to this. He bit the end OF his
pen in dire perplexity.
but what are you going to do 2
don't know, sir. Isn't there work
mousse, or some such place could go to till
could find something to do ?'
Hardly" Frank Evans could hardly
help smiling at Minnie's SIMPLICITY.
They are putting out the lights and pre-
pairing to close the office, !" said Minnie start
Ing to her feet II must 60 somewhere"
Miss Harlan" said Frank quietly. my
home is very poor one-I am only five
hundred dollar clerk-but l am sure my
mother will receive you under her roof for
Qav OF two III Won oan tr,,st me- y