Weekly Trinity journal., 1866-12-29
" Sent by Express"
BY AMY RANDOLPH.

Maria 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 COM
pressed to irmness far beyond her years. For
after all she was scarcely seventeen, and so
Deacon Gray was telling her, as he set 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 %
81 don't know haven't ught-Mamma
had an uncle in New York who"
s'Yes, yes-I've heern tell about him-he was
mad cause your mother didn't marry just to
suit him, wasn't he?"
Marian was silent. Mr.. Gray waited a few
minutes, hoping she would admit him into her
secret medtations but she did not, and the
Deacon went home, to tell his wife % that Harlan
gal was the very queerest creature he had ever
come across !"
In the meantime Marian was busy packing her
few scanty things into little carpet bag, by the
weird lickering light of the dying wood fire.
q will 90 to New York, she said to herself,
setting her small pearly teeth firmly together.
"My mothers uncle shall hear my cause pleaded
through my own lips Oh, | wish my heart
would not throb so wildly | am no longer
l
in the world who must fight lifes battles with
my own single hands ?'
Lower Broadway at seven O'Clock, p. NJ
What a babel of crashing wheels, hurrying
humanity, and conglomerate noise it was? Min
ME Harlan sat in the corner Of express office,
under the flare of gas lights surrounded by
boxes, and wondering whether the people ever
went crazed in this perpetual din and tumult--
Her dress was very plain-gray poplin, with Il
boIl oil fa stray ed
with black ribbons, and a blue veil, while her
article of baggage the carpet bag, lay in her
lap She had sat there two hours, and was
very, very tired.
. Poor little thing thought the dark haired
Young clerk nearest her. who inhabited sort OF
wire cage under circlet of gas lights And
then he took up his pen and plunged into per-
feet Atlantic Ocean of accounts.
- Mr.. Evans?''
/" Sir y
The dark haired clerk emerged from his cage
with his pen behind his ear, in obedience to the
beckoning finger of his superior.
81 have noticed that young woman sitting
there for some time-how came she here -
Expressed on, sir, from Millington, Iowa,
arrived this afternoon"
As though Minnie Harlan were a box or a
paper parcel
/. Who for?'
Z" Consigned to Walter Harrington, Esq
Aud why hasn't she been called for ?"
ssI sent up to Mr.. Harrington's address to
notify him some time ago; expect an answer
every moment"
Very odd" said the gray-headed gentleman,
taking up his newspaper.
Yes, sir, rather"
Some three quarters of an hour afterwards,
Frank Evans came to the pale girls side with an
indescribable pity in his hazel eyes.
Miss Harlan, we have sent to Mr.. liarring-
tons residence
Minnie looked up with feversh red upon her
cheek, and her hands clasped tightly on the
handle of her faded carpet Dag
and we regret to inform you that he sailed
for Europe at twelve o'clock this day"
A sudden blur came over Minnie's eyes-sho
trembled like a leaf In all her calculations
she made no allowance for an exigency like
this.
ssCan we do anything further for you p
questioned the young clerk politely.
" Nothing-no one can do anything now
Frank Evans had been turning away, but
something in the piteous tone of her voice ap-
pealed to every manly instinct within him.
Shall | send you to any other of your
friends ?''
81 have no friends"
Perhaps l can have your things sent to some
quiet family hotel?"
Minnie opened her little leather purse and
showed him two ten cent pieces, with smile
that was almost tear.
O This is all the money have in the world
sir p
SO young, so beautiful, and desolate =
Frank Evans had been a New Yorker all his life,
but he had never met with an exactly parallel
case to this He bit the end of his pen in dire
perpexity.
q But what are you going to do ?"
Al don't know, sir. Isn't there a work-house,
or some such place, could go to, until could
find something to do 2"
"Hardly'' Frank Evans could scarcely help
smiling at poor Minnie's simplicity.
They are putting out the lights, and prepar-
ing to close the Office said Minnie, starting to
her feet. 'sImust go somewhere"
:" Miss Harlan" said Frank, quietly, . my
home is very poor one-I am only flve hun,
dred dollar clerk-but sure my mother will
receive YOU under her roof for day or two, if
YOU can trust me-"
Trust you?' Minnie looked at him through
violet eyes obscured in tears. Oh, sir, should
be so thankful u
Z. How late you are, Frank Here, give me