Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1872-02-23

young lady came i'll view. She was on the
opposite side of the street-a slight, girlish
figure, with q peculiarly of dress that
might have attracted attention in places
less tolerant to varieties of costume than
busy little town. This was a scarlet cloak,
with the hood drawn down over her bon
net, and fitting round her face like frame.
1t gave out warm gleam of color against
the snow, and invested its wearer with
some resemblance to the Red Riding Hood
of the sweet old fairy tale.
Standing there, with his hands resting on
the edge of the wire blind, the merchant
had watched, morning after morning, the
passing Of that picturesque figure, and
noted that the fresh, pure face which had
first attracted him was gradually growing
paler and thinner. This had gone on for
weeks, until it had become Il part of the
days routine to watch for her She was
invested with a strange kind Of interest to
him by a fancied likeness between her and
favorite daughter Of his own, who had
faded in her first bloom.
AS he watched the advancing figure he
murmured, "Every day she grows more
like my little Helen. l could almost fancy
it was herself getting paler and thinner;
poor child !! l wonder if she has any one
to care for her.
At that moment group Of boys rushed
towards the young lady, the foremost of
the noisy crew exclaiming in derisive alIu-
sion to the red cloak, "HallO, Bill 4! let's
put out the fire.
The words were followed by a laugh and
shower Of snow-balIs. In the effort to
avoid the snow-balls the young lady slipped
and fell.
With the fear Of policeman before their
eyes ne boys scampered Oft, leaving the
PROSTATE figure on the ground but aid
was at hand. A youth with pen behind
his ear made a rush from building on the
opposite side of the street, followed almost
Immediately by a white-haired old gentle
man who showed considerable anxiety and
solicitude in asceItaining if the young lady
was hurt.
Not much,'' was the murmurcd reply,
while the sweet voice added some words of
thanks for the assistance which had been
rendered. Her hurt was more serious than
she was aware-she had severely strained
one of her ankles, and the effort to stand
caused ineXpressble pain.
Let us help her into my Office Thomas"
said the old man, " then we will see what
can be done"
A few minutes more and the stranger
found herself seated in an oaSy chair by a
bright fire.
She could not help looking her grateful
surprise at the unexpected kindness of the
old gentleman. She did not guess that her
face htd become to him familiar as some
thing which had entered into his daily life
He saw her glance a. the clock, and noted
the anxious expression of her pale face.
9 Are you far from home ~ he asked.
I es," she faltered :" but | shall not
be going home for hours. L am engaged
every day teaching my pupils will be
waiting now. | must try to walk its get
ting so late.''
g Walk why, you cannot even stand
the thing is impossible" She seemed so
much distressed that he said hastily,
8 Write note, relating what has occurred,
and one of my clerks shall take it,
She thanked him timidly but he saw
that she was unwilling to accept his offer,
and added, eff you would rather 60 your
self will send for cab"
"Thank you sir that will be much bet
ter than writing, and / should like to 90 at
once"
Her manner was full of nervous excite
ment, and he saw her delicate face flushed
as she spoke. He did not know that in the
midst OF her eagerneSs she was anxiously
debating the question of cab fare, aud won
dering how much money it would take to
pay it. If the man of capital could only
have investigated the interior of the poor
little purse lying at the bottom of her satch-
ell, so slenderly furnished, yet, alas repre-
Sentlng nearly all the worldly wealth Of its
possessor, how sadly it would have con-
firmed the misgivingS which had been ex-
cited by glance at the well-worn cloak,
and the shoes obviously unsuited for the
hard service which had been required from
them. Five minutes later cab was rap
idly bearing away the scarlet cloak aud its
wearer, and the benevolent old merchant
W.
the office fire. She was gone, and he gained
no additional knowledge of her except that
she was somebody's daily governess. From
that day he watched in vain for a glimpse
OF the red cloak; he saw it no more, and
concluded that the poor young teacher was
unable to continue her daily journeys. She |
gave him the impression of one who had to
depend upon herself, but the reality might
be still worse; for anything he knew there
might be others, even more helpless, de-
pendent upon her. In spite of his repeated
diSappointments Mr.. Hardman still took his
post at the window, as though the habit
yielded him a certain amount of pleasur-
able excitement which he was unable to re-
linquiSh.
A month had passed; It was an unusu
ally bright day for January, when Mr..
Hardman took his seat in his comfortable
brougham in company with an old medical
friend, who had agreed to go home with
him to dinner on condition that he would
allow him to make one or more professional
calls before the carriage was TUNED in the
direction Of Winchley.
Assent was readily given. Certainly,
doctor, you shall be set down wherever you
wish; l shall not mind waiting in the least,
for we have plenty of time on our hands
before dinner"
his friend, the merchant, portly old gem
tleman, with the kindest smile that could
be imagined, and a benevolent face, that
must have considerably helped the healing
power of his prescriptions.
81 will not detain you long" said the
doctor, as the carriage turned into a side
street.
"This is a new case / was only called
in the other day, but / am getting inter
eSted in my patient-or / should say pa
tients, tor there are two, husband and wife;
my first visit was only to him, poor fel-
low; he is i'll from cold and overexertion in
tramping the streets in search OF a situa-
ton, and the wife met with an accident
about a month ago; she has not been
properly attended TO, an@ is also on my
hands"
'.Have they TO means 2" asked the mer-
chant.
81 fear not. as long as she could the
wife went out as daily goyerness."
.'Ah! what was the nature of the acci-
dent?''
ga severely sprained ankle, caused by a
. fall"
"Bless me! wonder If it is the young
lady [ was telling you about few days
! ago ?"
The doctor looked inquirinsly at his
friend.