Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1869-02-20

was cleanly scrubbed, the walls were white
ana the wlndow-panes, what few were left,
glistened brightly in the sunlight, but save a
cIean board which, resting upon barrel,
served as a table, and a bed which occupied the
darkest corner of the rom on the iloJr, the
apartment contained no furniture.
SITTING bolt upright upon this latter article
was a woman, wasted away almost TO sx-la-
toa. La both her boDy hands she clutched "a
Loaf OF bread. from which sue had ravenonsly
tern mOuthful. aud wing prone ~ her side
w.;h his face buried in the pillow. and grOau-
ing and sOhbIng piteOusly, was the boy whom
the rich II an had followed.
MT Sey mour was unable TO scan the uoman's
features closely, for the bright glare OF the sun
upon the snow without had temporarily un tit
sd his eyes to view Objects in a subdued light
Dut he saw enough to shock him greatly, and
STOPPING down he placed his hand upon the
shoulder of the boy, and shaking him ger tIy,
he saIo in kindly toni:
'sGet up my little man, and ruu ont for some
more h,tIng food than that, Gou shall want
tor nothing now. Tor l will be your friend.
See, here Is money AHd as be spoke he took
some silver coins from his pocket.
Rising from his recumbent position as the
first tones Of the gentleman's voice fell upon his
ears, the boy turned and faced the latter. who
was surprised 10 see upon his features, not a
look OF gratitude. but an expression amounting
almost to malIgnity.
Go away exclaimed the boy, bitterly, $40
away, and leave me alone l hate you,-'
And why should you hate me- my poor lad ~
surpIise-"1 never injured you!'
''S on have" exclaimed the boy, pass,onately.
lyon have always DJurt me, and such asine.
hate you because you are lich, and because
you don't care " no starves so long as you have
plenty 10 eat and TO drink, and to wear, and
throw away, feel as though 1 could kill you,
and may, too, nyou don't go away, for have
the strength to do il nor, although am only
boy,'
Upon my life 1 believe the boy is getting
crazy exclaimed Mr.. Seymour, in a sort of
half soliloquy.
Il believe i am" returned the boy, vehe-
mently, s.and it wouldn't be much TO wonder
at if L did 1 wish l was crazy or dead, i
wouldn't care which,
Mr.. Seymour was about to make some con-
cilatcry reply, but before he could do SO the
door opened, and little girl about nine years
OF age entered, bearing IN her hand a bowl of
soup. Sne was a beautiful bright-looking
child. although her clothes were untidy, and
her hair was uncomoed, and fell struggling
around her face. Her large blue eyes We're full
of gentlet ess and love, and an almost angelic
look rested upon her meek, retiring counten.
aDce.
She was somewhat disconnected apon dis
covering stranger. but bee cKoning me boy TO
a corner, she said in a whisper, while a smile
OF Joy lighted up her little, thin face:
Here. Charley, I've brought a bowl of real
do her good. Mrs. Maddox, who lives up
stairs. gave II To me for fetching her n pail OF
water. but I'm not hungry, and IT will be so
nice for your poor mother"
The boys lip quivered as he struggled TO sub
due some terrible emotion, and he ans weret, at
Iast, IN a husky voice
''She don: want II Maggie tRoW Shs don't
YOU Eat II Yourself"
Who rs that gentleman - whispered the
giTl, al he same ume stealing glance a. M.
seymour.
He Is a ricb man, answered the boy aloud,
..u no lives III great house up town.
.'Oh. i I'm so glad exclaimed the girl. iOv-
ousIy- "tOT | am sure he " Ill DO something fOT
your mother
..Of course l will, my little lady SAID Mr
Sey mOnr-.-.hat Is " hat 1 came here for
No yOu Won u exclaimed The boy. bitterly.
sshs cause yOu can't help her now, Ii you had
given me only five cents when L first "a ked
YOU Tor IL, II might, p"Tnaps, have done some
good Int IT'S 100 late nov Look at her ~ And
again throwing himself face DOWN ward upon
the ned he gave away 10 another passIL mate
ouj hurst of grief
a hvrrId suspicion flashed across the mind
Of the millionaire. whose eyes by this time had
b.cOne accu tome I'd 10 the moderate light, and
locking dIrec thy al the woman. God of Heaven,
what a sight broke upon his startled vision,
..Msrciful Heaven" be exclaimed, holding
his hancs before his eyes 20 shutoUt The fright
fUI spt ctacle, ''sDe Is dead"
..Yee.- sobbsd the boy, dead -dead-deld,
ALo when they put her IN the cold ground. 1
shall be alone-all alone There will be
one To care for me- theli
While be was Thus wildly lamenting, the lit
tie g'ri had placed her bowl upon the rude ia
bic. ami With the tears standing in her mild
eye had advanced toward HIM. knPel'ng be
size bI m as the despairIng words LEFT his lips,
she threw her little white arms around his
neck, and murmuTed, in tone of mingled
pItnCs ard gentle repToaCh:
No one, did you say, Charley Va on a.
all
lbs .aLily the boy checked his violent grief,
and locking up through his tears. he replied, a.
lie afi. ctionat-ly pressed her hand:
"Oh, torgoI you Maggie forgot you, but
you mustn't blame me- 1 was thinking OF
nothing but her. II Will be so very, very hard
TO see them take her away
By rhs time Mr.. Seymour had recovered
sCmew hat from the first shock which his feel
ings had sustained, ana approaching close 10
the CORPSE, he began 10 peruse the features at
tentIyely. thrIlI OF horror shook his frame
anew as he did so tor Notwithstanding the
change which death had made, he felt morally
certain he had seen the face before under far
dfrr- 1t cIrC umstaDces.
a" What Is your name, boy - be asked, eX-
citedly. turning tow ard the sorrswing lad.
The boy was stubborn, and would not an.
swer. but his little companion replied:
His name Is Charley Holister. sir."
s.It IS she, and We have met again AT last,
but under vbat terrible circumstances, On,
what Il fIightiul, ir-ghtiui Geath for her 10
die ~
He spoke truly Ii ,cas frightfuI death, for
the woman had died OF starvation Starvation
III the MIDST of plenty. lager 10 appease the
fIightful cravings OF hunger she had seized the
loaf and torn from II q mouthful, but even as
she {, sayed To masticate II the fatal reaction
took place. death seized her IN the effort, and
she W Who h4d once tasted the sweets of aiii uence
BOW >at there, The victim of cruel want, a
sufensd corpse, grim, gaunt and ghast!y
Casting 4 look al the children, who, in their
great grlef, had not noticed his agitation, the
millionaire rushed from the house and took his
way toward the Coroner's Office.
An inquest was held upon the body OF
wretehed and-except by the weeping Boy she
had left behind her-apparentIy unknown
womsn-ihe eoroner's jury, com posed of men
W no had suddenly been taken iron their busi-
ness ard forced INTO tine service, had promptly
and without striving very hard TO fnd out who
or what she was returned a verdict that Marv
Hollister, the unknown woman AFORESAID, had
come 10 her death by staryatIon-a wealthy and
exemplary citizen had seen the poor victim OF
cruel want decrntly laid 10 rest IN Green wood
Cemetery, all the expenses attending the fu.
neral having been paid out OF his own pocket
and four persons had assembled IN the room
ad ioiniig the one In which Mary Hollister
died, to talk over the sad event These were
Charles Holhster, the son Of the deceased
woman: the little girl, Maggie; Mrs. Bridget
Celtic origin; and Mr.. Philip Ferry, known in
the neighborhood a. Phil the Philosopher
"And SO the fine gentleman has offered to find
a place for you, has he, Charley, dear!" asked
the widow, addressing the deceased woman's
son.
The poor boy, who, absorbed IN his deep
grief. sat in an Out-of-t he. way corner. dad not
hear her, and little Maggie once more became
his mouih-p piece.
.Pont speak to him now, Mrs. Mullins,
please DON'T" pleaded the little creature he
feels so bad he don't want to talk. know all
about IL, and III answer your questions, Mr..
Seymour has offered to find place for Char
ley i heard him."
The con yersation was interrupted by knock
at the door, which Was opened by Mrs. Null
Inns. and q tall, bilious looking man. Of a sin.
ister expression Of countenance, wriggled his