The Daily empire. (Dayton, Ohio) 1865-1867, 1867-02-09
& SENT BY EXPRESS"


with son shy eyes Of violet gray, and
rosy lips compressed to n tirmness beyond
her years. For after all she was only sew
euteen, aud 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 going 70 do to earn
your bread and butter, child9'
IL don't know--I haven't thought--Mam-
ma had an uncle In New York Who
Yes, yes-l have hearu tell about him
he was mad. cause your mother did not
marry just to suit him, wasn't hep"
Marian was silent. Deacon Gray waited
a few moments. hoping she would admit
him into her secret meditations; but she
did not and the deacon went home To tell
his wife that "tbat Harlan girl was the
queerest creature lac ever came across"
In the meantime Marian was packing her
few scanty things into little carpet-bag
by the weird, flickering light of the dying
wood fire.
81 will go to New York." she said to her
self setting her small pearly teeth firmly
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 battle with her own single
handsv
Lower Broadway at seven o'clock, p. NJ.
What a Babel of crashing wheels. hurry
Ing humanity, and conglomerate noise 1t
was Minnie Harlan sat in the corner of
an express office. under the flare of gas
lights, surrounded by boxes, aud wonder
ing whether the people ever went crazy.
She was dressed plainly-grey poplin. with
a shabby old-fashioned little straw bonnet
tied with black ribbons, and a blue veil,
while her article of baggage, the little car
pet-bag, lay In her lap. She had sat there
two hours, and was very tired.
Poor little thingw thought the dark
haired youngest clerk nearest her who in
habited a sort of wire cage under the circlet
of gas lights. And then he took up his pen
and plunged into perfect Atlantic Ocean
of accounts.
"Mr Evans"
The dark -haired clerk emerged from his
cage with his pen behind his ear in obe-
dience to the beckoning finger of his supe-
rior.
II have noticed that young woman sit
ting here for some time-how came she
here?"
"Expressed on, sir, from Millington,
Iowa. arrived this afternoon"
As though Minnie Harlan was box or
paper parcel.
''Who for?"
Consigned TO Walter Harrington, Esq"
"And why hasn't she been called fOr?'
Il sent up to Mr.. Harrington's address to
notify him some time ago expect an an
swer every moment."
Very odd,n said the gray haired gentle
man, taking up his newspaper.
Yes, sir rather"
Some thfee-quarters of an hour after
wards, Frank Evans came to the pale girls
side with an indescribable pity in his hazel
eyes.
Miss Harlan we have sent to Mr.. Har-
lrngton's residence
Minnie looked up with a feverish red
upon her cheek, and her hand clasped
tightly on the handle of the faded carpet
bag.
And we regret to inform you that he
sailed for Europe at twelve o'clock this
| day
i sudden blur came over Minnio's eyes
she trembed like leaf. In all her calcu-
lations she made no allowance for an eXi-
gency like this.
Can we do anything further sfor you?"
questioned the young clerk politely.
! ''Nothing-noone can do anything now"
| Frank Evans was turning away. but
something in the piteous tones of her voice
appealed to every manly instinct within
him.
shall send to any other of your
friends ?"
II have no friends."
perhaps can have your things sent to
some quiet family hotel"
Minnie opened her little leather purse,
and showed him two ten cent pieces, with
a smile that was almost a tear.
This is all the money l have in the
world, SIR
So young, so beautiful, so desolate
Frank Evans had been in New York all his
life, but he had never met an exact parallel
case to this. lie bit the end of his pen in
dire perpleXity.
But what are you going to do3"
Il don't know, sir. Isn't there a work
house. or some such place could go to,
until could find something TO doy"
"Hardly.n Frank Evans could scarcely
lhelp smiling at Minnie's simplicity. They
are putting out the lights, and preparing
to close the Office" said Minnie starting to
her feet. ~ must 90 somewhere"
miss Harlan,r said Frank quietly, my
home is a very poor one--I am only five
: hundred dollar clerk-but l am sure my
mother will receive you under her roof fol
la day or two, if you can trust me-"
Trust your Minnie looked at him
through violent eyes obscured in tears. "Oh
: sir, should be so thankful"