The Portland daily press., 1867-03-02
ssSent by Express.o

"sent by Express.o
Marian Harlan was alone in the world-her
mother just buried.
She was beautiful brown haired girl, with
soft shy eyes of q velvet gray, and rosy lips
compressed to firmness far beyond her years.
For after all she was only seventeen, and so
Deacon Gray was telling her, as he sat Dy tne
fire spreading his huge hands over the tardy
blaze and asked:
But what are you going to do to arm your
bread and butter? =,
81 don't know-Mamma had an Uncle LII
"Yes ves-Pye hearn tell about hlm-he
was mad cause your mother did not marry
Just to suit him, wasn't ne
Margaret was silent Deacon Stay waited
a few minutes. hoping she would admit him
into her secret meditatiOns; but she did not,
and tbe Deacon went home, to tell his wife
that "that Harlan girl was the queerest crea-
ture he had ever come across"
In the meantime Marian was packing her
few scanty things into little carpet bag, by
the weird Pickering light of the dying wood
fire.
Il will go to New York. she said to herself,
setting her pearly teeth together.
"My mothers uncle shall hear her cause
pleaded through my own lips. Oh, wish my
heart would not throb SO wildly! am no
longer meek Minnie Harlan; / am an orphan
all alone in the world who must fight life's bat
tie with her own single hands," .#f4Hf
Lower Broadway at seven O'clock p. N.
What Babel of crashing wheels, hurTying hui
manity and cOnslOmera noise it was. Min
ME Harlan sat in the corner of an express Of
flee, under the flare of gas lights, surrounded
by boxes and wondering whether the people
ever went crazed in this perpetual din and tu-
mutt Her dress was plain-gray poplin, with
a shabby, old fashioned little straw bonnet tied
with black ribbons, and a blue veil, while her
one article ofbageage, the carpet bag, lay on her
lap. She had sat there almost two hours, and
was very, very tired.
"Poor little thing" thought the dark haired
youngest clerk nearest her, who inhabited
SORT of wire cage under circle of gas lights.
"Mr. Evans" .ast.i D. atsIis. ~
The dark haired clerk emerged from his
cage with his pen behind his ear in obedience
to the beckonirg figure of his superior.
81 have noticed that young woman sitting
here for some time-how came she here?"
Expressed on, sir, from Wilmington, Iowa."
AS though Minnie Harlan were box or
paper parcel. t'
.Who for?"
Consigned to Walter Harrington, ESQ.,"
And why has she not been sent forY'
81 sent to Mr.. Harrington's address to no
THY him some time ago. l expect an answer
every moment"
VERY odd" said the grey haired gentleman.
''Yes, sir rather" %
Some three-quarters of an hour afterward,
Frank Evans came to the giTs side with an
understandable pity in his hazel eyes.
Miss Harlan We have sent to Mr.. Harring-
tons residence
Minnie looked with feverish red upcn her
cheeks and her hands elapsed tightly on the
handle of her faded carpet bag
And we reeret to inform VOL that he
sailed tor Europe at twelve o'clock this day.
A sudden blur came over her eyes-she
trembled like a leaf. In all her calculations,
she made no allowance for an EFFICIENCY like
this. ii..5T ~
aCan we do anything further for your" he
asked.
''Nothing-no one can do anything now"
Frank Evans had been turning away, but
something in the pi,eous tones Of her voice
appealed to every manly instinct within him.
Shall l send you to any other OF your
friends?"
~ have no friends" 81
perhaps can have your things sent to
some hotel?" aiiir5N 7I
Minnie opened the little leathern purse and
showed him two ten cent pieces, with smile
that was almost tear. oIira..ll'i 4a,tsiH1
" That is all the money have in the world
So young, so beautiful al d so desoIate Il
Frank Evans had been In New York all his
Ire, but he had never met with an exact par
ailel case to this. He bit the end of his pen
in dire perplexity.
do?" e9
Il don't know, sir. isn't there workhouse
or some such place could so to, until could
find something to do?
Hardly" Frank Evans could scarcely helm
smiling at poor Minnie's simplicity. y.
fhHy are putting out the lights, and pre-
parlnS to close the Office" starting to her feet.
Il must go somewhere" 49, "a q ID
Miss Harlan,' said Frank quietly, ~my
home is very poor one-I am only a five
hundred dollar clerk-but am sure NV moth
er VIII receive YOU under her roof for day or
two, if you can trust me-"
Trust your" Minnie looked at him tbroupb
violet eyes obscured in tears. "Ob. sir. shonld
be SO thankful" ....t -
"How late you are, Frank. Here, give me
your oyeroat-it is all powdered with snow.
and ~
But Frank interrupted his busting. cherry.
checked mother, as she stood ON tip-toe to tai,e
on his outer wrappings.
STAIRS - uo"A
"A young lady, Franlk?"
Yes, mother, expressed on from Iowa 10
old Harrington, the rich merchant. ar I'D she ia
entlrely alone. Mother, she loNlSs like poor
blanche, and knew you would MT refuse her
corner here until she could find something
to do" ON 'Ae
Mrs. Evans went to the door and called
cheerily out ! -.
Come up stairs, my dear; you are welcome
as flowers in May. Frank, you did quite
right 50
The days and weeks passed on. and still
Minnie Harlan remained an inmate of Mrs.
Euan hmm 10 6xunI lin. t.Ux
she had taken our dead BIanche's place. said
the cosy little widow, land she is az usefIl
about the house. don't know how man
aged without her,"
"Now, Minnie, you are not In earnest about
leaving us to- morrow?"
II must, dear Mrs. Evans. Only tbink-
have been he.e two months to-morrow. and
the situation as gOyerness is very advantage
ous.'
very well; shall tell Frank how very
obstinate you aren NY
dearest Mrs. Evans, please on't!-plsusa.
keep my secret?"
what secret is it that is to be 50 reEfpinpus-
ly keptp asked Mr.. Frank Evans. cooIIy
walking into the midst of the discussion. with
MS dark hair tossed about by the wind, and
his hazel brown eyes sparkling archh.
"Secret?' repeated Mrs. Evans, euerpetical-
y wiping her dim spectacle glasses 7IWby.
A",niue Is uetelmlned TO leave us tO-moyrown
minnie"
- must Frank, have no right further to
Iesspass on your kindness
:, no nsnf, eR? Minnie. do von know that
ane louee us been different one since Won
saDn. INTO it? Do you suppose we want to
lose our little sunbeam?"
Minnie smiled sadly, but her hand felt very
cold and passive in Franks grasp. 10y
you'll stay, Minnnie?"
mo" She shook her head determinedlv
"Then you must be made to stay.D said
Frank. "Ive missed something of very great
value lately, and l hereby arrest you on sus-
picion OF the theft J" III .4-
aMissed something's Minnie rose, turued
pale and white. "Oh, Frank, you never can
suspect me" .... .k
But do suspect you. In fact ] am quite
sure the article is in your possession"
The article!' #
My heart, Miss Minnie Now look here:
loVe you Minnie Harland, and | will be a
wifep '''''' gnu 10 my ''''''
90 minnie Harlan, instead of going out as
SoVSrhess' according to the programme. marri-
ca the dark haired clerk in ElIison's Exnress
Ihey were quietly married early in tho
morning,and then Frank went calmIu oho,,.h;S
business in the wire cage, under the circIet Of
"Evansp
"Yes, sir" ~
Frank, with his pen behind his ear .s ..
yore, quietly obeyed the behest of the gra,
headed official. e'"S
"Do you remember the young woman who