Wilmington daily commercial., 1872-02-03

'iNot much" was the murmured reply, while
| the sweet voice added some words of thanks for
the assistance which bad been rendered. Her
hurt was more serious than she was aware-she
had severely sprained one Of her ankles, and the
| effort TO stand caused inexpressible pain
| "Let us help her into my Office, Thomas, "said
tho old man, then we viii see what can be
DONE
A few minutes more and the stranger found
herself seated in an easy chair by bright fire.
She could not help looking her grateful sur
prise at the unexpected kindness Of the cid gem
tlemsn, She did not guess that her face had
become to him familiar as something which bad
| entsfed into bis daily life. He saw fssr glance
at the clock, and noted the anxious expression
OF her pale face.
"Are you far from home p he asked
Yes,p she faltared q but shall not be 60
| ing home for houra. l am engaged every day
| teaching my pupils will be waiting now. must
| try to walk, Il is getting SO iate.f fe
NfWRlkl why, you cannot even stand; the
thing is impossible" She seemed so much dis
tressed that he said hastily, q Write note re-
lAting 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,
"if you would rather go yourself will send for
q cab"
THANK You, sir that will be much better
than writing, and should like to go at once"
Her manner was full Of nervous excitement,
spoke. He did not know that in the midst of
her eagerness, she was Anxiously debating the
question of cab fare, and wondering how much
money II would take to pay it. II the man of
capital could only have investigated the interior
Of the poor little purse laying At the bottom Of
her satehel, go slenderly furnished, yet alas
representing nearly all the worldly wealth Of its
possesser, how sally It would have confirmed the
miagiyings which had been excited by a 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 rapidly bearing away the scarlet cloak and
its wearer, and the benevolent old merchant was
thoughtfully warming his hands before the
office fire. She was gone, and he gained no adj
ditionL knowledge of her, except that she WAS
somebody daily governess. From that day he
watched IN vain for 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 dis
appointments, Mr.. Hartman still took his post
at the window, as though the habit yielded him
certain amount Of pleasurable excitement which
he was unable to relinquish.
v.
A month had passed; it Wtx a unusually
bright day for January, when M hardmAn took
his seat in his comfortable brougham in compa-
ny 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 profess
sional calls before the carriage was turned in the
direction Of Winchley.
Assent was readily given. "Certainly Doctor,
you shall be set down wherever you wish; shall
not mind waiting in the least for we have plenty
OF time on our hands before dinner
The doctor was about the same age as his
friend the merchant, portly old gentleman,
with the kindest smile that could be imagined
and benevolent face that must have considera-
bly, helped the healing power of his prescrp-
tions.
q 1 will not detain you long" said the doctor
as the carriage turned into a side street.
" This is a new case l was only called in tho
other day, but | am getting interested in my pa
tient-or should say patients, for there are
two, husband and wife, my first visit was only
to him, poor fellow lie is i'll from cold and over
exertion in tramping the streets in search OF
situation, and the wife met with an accident
about month ago, she has not been properly
attended to, and is also ON my hands"
. Have they no means z" asked the merchant
" fear not As long as she could, the wife
went out as daily governess."
. All! what was the nature Of the accident2"
A severely sprained ankle, caused by fall"
" Bless me " | wonder il il is the Young lady
was telling you about few days ago?"
The doctor looked inquiringly at his friend
" All l see you don't remember. Do Won
know whether the patient wears a red cloak ~
- So you think she may be your little heroine
OF the red cloak. / ON not aware, for l have
OF ly seen her within doors"
" Of course not, how absurd for me 10 forget
that should like to see these patients Of
you're. Can't you take me with you2 They would
| think me another medical man."
"The doctor smiled, considered a moment.
then said, Yes, think we can manage it,"
As lie spoke, the lr1ugham stopped at the
door Of a large, dingy-lOoking house sublet
from basement to attic. A few minutes more
and the doctor had safely piloted his friend up a
steep, dark tstair-case to the door of a close
back room on the third floor, where scene of
poverty and privation awaited them. Nearly all
the chairs which the room contained had been
put INTO requistion to form a couch, on which
lay young man who was evidently weak and
Ill. Beside him sat pale slight creature busily
engaged stitching at some course needle-work
me me Feeble hcker OF meagre fire cleaned
As the visitors stood at the door they heard A
voice saying fretfully. j" am very cold Grace,
Goals"
Instinctiyely Mr.. Hardman put his hand in his
pocket, feeling thankful that it lay in his power
to relieve the want Of the speaker
Inc next moment they were in the room but
the Old merchant stopped short on the thresh-
hold, gazing in undisguised amazement at the
One glance at the features OF the Young wife
identified the wearer OF the red coak-a discoy-
| cry Tor which he had been half prepared but il
was the face OF the husband that husband that
.
INJURED, that face seems familiar"
AT that moment the young man raised himself
on his elbow, saying excitedly, Mr.. Hardman
The sound Of his own name visibly startled tbe
merchant. He hurried to the side of the i'm
| promptu couch, eXclaiming, at is Philip Holt"
lhe poor fellow seemed much overcome Nv
| this unexpected visit OF his old EMPLOYER who
unfortunately for him. had been absent al tha
| time when Mr. Joyce with whom lie had never
been fayorite, had ordered his dismissal.
lew words put the merchant in possession of tbe
SAD story, which received double interest when
| he learned that the ills of poverty had been
Warded oil by theheroic efforts of Phillips youne
| wlfe, who had gone back to her old work of
teaching ending her weary days by nights of ex
hausting toll at such needlework as she was allie
| to obtain, 49, ''0''
Here was new reading OF his little romance
OF the red cloak and it is certain that il did not
lessen the interest in the wearer but he could
not readily excuse himself from the blame. which
he took to his own account, for allowing hi a
partners summary dismissal of an old clerk to
remain without inquiry. He determined that
the injury to Philip Holt should be atoned for.
and he kept his word. When the Young man re-
covered he was restored to his old place in which
he had ample opportunities for pushing his way
and gaining even the respect and confidence Of
| Mr.. Joyce. -
Like day Of sunshine followed A clouded
morning. prosperity blessed the Young couple.
and the loving, patient wife had her reward,
Philip always traced their good fortune to the
| cloak. which she had vynrp baoa,s, - -