The Lincoln County herald., 1870-04-07
FOUND In THE STREET.


starved--that l have had iothing to eat
for twenty. -four hours ?"
The young man started at this unex.
pected address: then turned, and. re
garded the speoker for q moment curl
ously.
The scene was Fifth Avenue, and the
time was near midnight.
Horses and carriages were dushing over
the pavement, conveying gay parties from
theatre or supper.
The air was crisp and chill the stars
shone eherfully above the lamps CLEANED
brilliantly below; yet the young man was
thus suddenly accosted, in the most
fashionable thoroughfare in New York, by
. stranger who was almost Starved, aud
had eaten nothing for twenty-four hours
No wonder be turned to look curiously
al her
Caleb, or Gale Gordon, as his intimcs
called him, was hard working journalist
e-hard working but we'll paid for be
was a vastly clever and rapid writer, and
found ready market for all he wrote !;
besides heing on the regular staff Of one
morning paper as musical and dramatic
critic.
And in pursuit OF this part of his vo
cation be had that evening been to the
French opera to hear "Genevive'
stepped into Desmonicos for light sup.
per, and was now IN his way down to the
Office to write up his evenings work.
He had no obe but himself to take care
of; made money enough to supply all his
wants, including light suppers at Delmon
ico's when be desired them and knew
very little about the poverty aud wrcched
ness Of the underworld of the great city
he lived IN.
Therefore he quericd, in tone Of sur
prise, after looking at the qestioner for a
moment: "You say you have eaten aoth.
ing for twenty four hours?'
"a bit Of bread and some coffee last
evening, and nothing before since the day
before" and the girl gave great gulp,
something between sigh and a sob, and
turned her face away.
"Bless my soul |" said Caleb; "come
right along with me and get something"
You see Caleb was quite green he had
only been in the city about six months,
having come we'll gecomenced from a
country newspaper, or else he would have
gwen her quarter aud sent her on her
way-or perhaps something worse might
have come Of it, who knows? Eut as it
was, he took her hand and placed it on
his arm, and walked her rapidly down q
side street toward point where he knew
there was an oyster saloon that kept open
all night.
1t was not exactly q place to take a
lady but it did not occur to Caleb to
take her to Delmonico o's-besides, they
we're past it.
She had said nothing further but Ca
leb noticed that SIZE leaned rather heavily
on his arm and as they passed q street
lamp, and its light shone full in her face,
he observed that she was very pale.
He hurried her along, and presently
tLey arrived at the s,loon and were soon
seated opposite each other in q small pr.
vate room or box, with . table between
them.
Caleb called waiter, apd ordered a
glass Of sherry, and, when that was pro-
vided, gave i. to the girl, who seemed ab.
solutely about to faint, and begged her to
drink it, which she did then he ordered
q substantial supper for her.
The waiter left them, and Caleb had
on opportunity Of looking at his compun
ion.
The wine bad revived her, and little
color tinged her cheeks.
Sho seemed very young. Caleb
thought Of his little sister at the old
homestead in the country, and guessed
this girl must be about the same age
about seventeen
Thinking of his little sister, too, he
could not help thinking how he would
feel if she we're in such a strait 40 this
poor creature and he felt a strange sen
sation under his watch pocket, and did
not care to speak for . moment.
Then he said, kindly and IN low voice
"And now you must tell me how all this
has been brough about, and perhaps I car
help you"
But the girl folded her arms on the to
bic, laid her head on them, and cried
not loudly, but very bitter.
III don't like to see you cry" said Ca
leb--and bis voice was little tremulous
that was . soft point 10 Caleb's character
he never liked to see uybody cry.
The girl raised her head, and threw
the long, soft, curling hair back from her
face, and said; "You are very kind to
me, and-I won't cry )" and she didn't
she stopped instantly which pleased him
in more ways than one.
Caleb wasn't far out about her age
probably his memory OF his little sister
had aided him ,n some occult way. She
was just about seventeen, aud now that
she had gained q little color, what be-
tween the wine and the tears, Was mani
festly pretty, or so, at least, Caleb thought;
but so thin-so thin
She had pretty, soft, brown ourls, aud
brown hair, and tender violet eyes