Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1873-08-07

than thriftless, squalid poverty.
Under the lamp on table lay seY-
eral pieces of fiIe needlework. in
confusion that showed how recently
the labor upon them had been inter
rupted. Ostensiblv searching for some
thing in his letter-case, Hal bent over
the delicate cmbroideries with won
dering pity for the patient toll b.
which they were produced. He had
been among poor people before, but
never when his sympathy was SO deep
~ elected as IN this instance. Both
mother and daughter seemed so wholly
untitled FOR this hard life-so helpless
and forsaken
The girl came toward him trying TO
express her gratitude.
Have YOU no relatives or friends 4
he asked her.
She shook her head sadly.
"Your father
ale died two years ago, Just after
we came here to live. We have no
money just now,' she continued. mis-
understanding the motive of his ques-
tions. "but | shall get some as soon "a
this work is finished, and if YOU will
give me your address. | will
Il did not mean that" he interrupt
ed, hastily; but he did not add that he
was really thinking how soon she might
he alone la the world. for her mother
was evidently avictim of quick con-
sumption. II am going to Europe to-
! morrow" he went on, $50 shall not
/ he able TO call again; but | will leave
/ prescription for your mother, which |
( ! trust vii! do her some good"
"llc wrote few lines on scrap Of |
( paper then. availing himself of a mo- /
mcnt when he was unobscrvcd. lie slip |
( ped the money he had with him into |
an envelope and left 1t on the table. |
Fortunately, II was considerable I
amount, although he regretted that it /
WAS not in his power to give something /
beside money, and LEFT. thoughtful Mt .
the contrast between prodigal, careless
pleasure and anxious want which the
last few hours had forced upon him.
Amid the distractions OF foreign
travel, however, the incident was soon
forgotten but before \ year had pass
ed he was reminded Of it by receiving
note dated from large Western
city, and inclosing draft for the
amount he had given away that night
The style of this mssiyc was curt
and buslness-like:
DEAR SIR Though personally I'm
known Ia you, | am under great obliga-
tons for your kindness 20 my sister and
niece NJ time when they were in much /
need Without wcarying you with my
personal affairs, | will merely explain that
the lady whom you attended for hcmorrh- I
age On" night last spring was nv sister. |
She married AGAINST ',v ~-'sh"s - ~
uo-,ss.eti All intercourse between vi haI
sea >.ti and knew neither ~ hcr hl>olhh
death nor the dcsfitnuou which follower,
until the dread Of leaving her daughter
without any protection oYcrcame hrr pIlde
and recruitment, AMI she wrote - me-
reached her only a few hours before her
death. and IL Is only within week that
have learned through my niece that i waS
10 your charity she was indebted Tor her
last earthly comforts y card. which Wa
found upou the door after you len, iurn..hr,
us with your address, and hasten ~ r.
init 20 Won the amount OF the pcculuary ~
debtcdness. as well a 70 express my graf
i;ude tor the service rendered y mem
Der, ~ ny family.
Respectfully yours
JoHN J. RHODES"
"Rathcr romantic ending 70 that
/ little episode" mused Hal. "Well, |
am glad that lovely girl found home
/ and some one 10 care for her after her |
mother died. | wonder If | ever shall !
| see her again. The uncle is evidently |
well off, since he discharges his pc
cuniary Indebtedness, as he calls II,
so promptly. Judging from the note,
it wounded his pride, and | wish had
not been so careless as to drop that
card. What the deuce am l to do with
this money anyway:
lie would not have asked that ques-
ton two hours later, when the news oi
great fire in his native city came
across the cable. and he learned that
the riches which he had enjoyed 50
thoughtlessly had vanished on the swift
wings of flame.
He returned at once, seli-rellant ami
hopeful-the change ia his erctlnl-
stances developing all the latent energy
of his character. The necessity Of
gaining livelihood from the protes-
sion which he had formerly looked up
on As the outlet OF . certain phl!an-
thropic ambition was just the stimulus
he needed, though even Iii his prosper
ity he had never been an idler with no
earnest purpose or endeavor- But
KNOWN. as lie did from experience,
the butterfly life of club and bali
room, he realized that it would be IN
: compatible with the practical work that
, Law before him, and he felt that it would
, be easier To sever the old social ties
at once and to seek his fortune among
. strangers.
He went to a western city but even
, there. to his surprise, he found some
old friends in an agreeable family he
p had met while travelling abroad. They
E were gay people, VINO entertained hand.
someiy, but he persistently declined all
r their invitations, until he was over
persuaded to attend the debut ball OF
one of the younger daughters.
;. He did not repent his concession
!. when he found himself in the midst OF
1 the brilliant scene, but yielded frankly
o to it's exhilaration. The fair de6,ddnte
o showed him much favor, but in the
t midst of her lively chatter his eyes
D wandered to the door through which a
1t tall, graceful girl was entering.
Al She was indeed very lovely: form,
r coloring, movement, were all exquis
T. itely perfect. The shining ripples O
n golden hair, the dewy, violet eyes, the
l. rose leaf complexion, the arch, smll
H. ing mouth. the supple, rounded figure
id rivalIed each other as being the che
of charm of her fair presence.
ed Halls genuine admiration was yer.
is. evident as he asked abruptly;
"Who is that LADY,"
es ..If you were not such a recluse yo