North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1867-01-02
gelert gtnry.
SENT BY EXPRESS.
DY AMY RANDOLPH.


her years. For after all she was scarcely
seventeen, so Deacon Grey 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"
II don't know haven't thought-Ma-
/, ma had an uncle IN New York who"
Yes, yes-Pve heern tell about him
he was mad cause yOuI mother did not
,, marry to suit him, wasn't he p
Marian was silent. Deacon Grey wait
nit him into her secret medtations; but
she did not, and the Deacon went away
home, to tell his wife that "that Harlan gal
I was the very queerest creature he had ev-
! or come across"
In the meanwhile Marian was busy
packing her few scanty things into little
carpet bag, by the weird fickeriag light of
the dying wood fire.
Il will go to New York." she said to
herself setting her small pearIy teeth firm
ly together.
my mothers unc!e shall hear my cause
pleaded through my own lips. Oh, | wish
my heart would not throb so wildly! l
am no longer meek Minnie Harlan; | am
an orphan all alone in the world who must
fight life's blttle with my own single
bands p
Lower Broadway at seven o'clock p. NJ.
What babel of crushing wheels, hurrying
humanity and conglomerate it was Mn
ME Harlan sat In the corner of all express
office, under the flare OF gas lights, sur
rounded by boxes, and wondering whether
the people ever went crazed III this perpet-
ual din and tumult. Her dress was very
plain-gray poplin, with shabby old fash
oned little straw bonnet tied with black
ribbons, and 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 inhab
: tied sort of wire cage under a circlet OF
gaslights. And then he took up his pen
and plunged into perfect Atlantic Ocean
of accounts.
"Mr. Evans?"
"Sirw
The dark haired clerk emerged from his
n cage with his pen behind bis ear in obedi-
= = ence to the beckoning fIger of his superb
or.
II have noticed that young woman sit
ting here some time-how came she here?''
Expressed on, sir, from Millington,
Iowa-arrived this afternoon"
As though Minnie Harlan were q box
or paper parcel.
"Who fori"
"Consigned to Waltar Harrington, ESQ" "
"And why hasn't she been called for?"
81 sent up to Mr. Harrington's address
to notify him some time ago; l expect au
answer every moment"
"Very cdd," said the gray-headed gen
tleman, taking up bis newspaper.
''Yes, sir, rather"
Some three quarters ofan hour after
wards, Frank Evans came to the pale girl 8
side with an indiscribable pity in his hazel
eyes.
Miss Harlan, we have sent to Mr.. Har-
rington's residence"
!, ! Minnie looked up with feverish red
), upon her cheek, and her hands clasped
d tightly on the handle of her faded carpet
bag.
"And we regret to inform you that he
sailed for Europe at twelve o'clock this
day.
A sudden blur came over MiDnie's eyes
she tremblcd like leaf. In all her
calculations, she made no allowance for an
exigency like this:
Gar we do anything further for you e.
questioned tie young clerk politely.
'Nothing-no Que can do anything now.
Frank Evans had been turning away,
but something in the piteous tones of her
voice appealed to every manly instinct
within him.
"Shall send you to any other of your
friends ?"
/ have no friendsr'
"Perhaps car. have your things sent to
some quiet family hotelw
Minnie opened her little leather purse
and showed him two ten cent pieces, with
smile that was almost tear.
This is all the money | have in the
world, sir!"
So young, so beautiful, and so desolate
Frank Evans had been New Yorker all
his life, but he had never met with an ex-
actly parallel case to this. He bit the end
!! of his pen in dire perplexity.
! "But what are you going to do?"
81 don't know sir Isn't there work.
house or some snch place, 1 could 60 to,
until could find something to do?''
Hardly" Frank Evans could scarcely
help smiling at poor Minnie's simplicity.
"They are putting out the lights, and
preparing to clos. the Office" said Minnie
c starting to her feet. Il must 60 some
. where
"Miss Harlan" said Frank, quietly
"my home is very poor one-I am only
FIVE hundred dollar clerk-bnt / am sure
Imy mother will receive you under her root