Wilmington daily commercial., 1874-08-08
MISCELLAN EOUS.
A ROMANCE OF THE STREET.

IA, tbair boisterous antics DIR. Henry Cotton,
,,oruo pbysician attached to a hospital in the
na;ohborhood found it almost Impossible to
nnsh his way through the crowd of hoydens
irncouth faces and rough words greeted him, as
with no very gentle hands he made for himself
,aasaqe through their midst. One OF the girls,
i,ller even than her noisy companions, caught
Al bis coat, and pulled him half round. He look
ed at the girl, whose temerity excited his sur
urise. She was about twelve or thirteen years
o5. aud az ragged and as dirty as any of the lot,
VET her beauty shone through her dirt and rags.
Iler checks were round and dimped, her lips
r,ll and red, her eyes aud hair black as mid
night, and her form apparently wonderfully per-
feet DIR. Cotton passed on few steps, but the
GIRLS beauty excited his interest, and he called
Ier. At first she was disposed to run away, but
tinaly she went up to him. taking. care to keep
out Of arms reach
."What is your name, my girl Z" asked the
6liosa Garden" she replied.
"Where do you live ~
.'Wlth NANNY Ginger, down there in the rag
celar--she'A my aunt she il.
tWell. Rosa" said he as he started to go,
..you are too pretty and bright witted to live in
tIis paceand with these hard people. Wouldn't
you like to go TO school, ana be lady when
YOU grow up p
k9saH idea OF the lady was associated with
tue clothes, aud 30 she replied atlirmatiyely,
without the slightest hesitation.
"rhen I'll tell you what to do, Rosa, added
Henry; ''wash your face, comb your hair, and
do YOU know whore the Girls Refuge is ?"
''Yes, guess 3d."
"You 70 up there, ring the bell, and ask for
Mrs. Brown. Tell her that you want to live
there and learn to be a lady !" and he went on
about his business, leaving the girl with her
But Rosa had no relish for romping. What the
Young man had said to her kept running in her
head, and she soon went to her squalid home
thinking it over and over"
Rosa received little but bad usage and short
rations from NANNY Ginger" who only kept
the girl for the work she could squeeze QUO of
her, Her present life was 80 miserable that no
change could wellhav been made for her worse,
and 30 she was inclined to follow the strangers
advice. That night she dreamed of being fine
lady, dressed in silk, and with plenty to eat, and
upon waking in the morning she no longer hesi-
tated.
After exciting "Mammy Gingersn wonder by
washing her face and combing her hair as well
as she could with her fingers, Rosa slipped out
and went to the Girls Refuge, an institution for
the care and education of orphan and pauper
girls Ringing the bell, she inquired for Mrs.
brown, as the stranger told her to do, and at
last reached the presence OF the matron Of the
institution.
"wel little girl" said Mrs. Brown, "what do
you want 7"
II want to learn to be lady ?"
The odd reply, coupled with the girls striking
beauty won the attention of the matron, and
Rosa soon found herself an inmate of the insti-
tuition.
Eight years rolled on, bringing DIR. Henry
Cotton to the age of thirty. Eight eventful years
to him, for they composed the bloody years of
the great war. At the first breaking out of hos
i,n autp ha m a4
geon, and served throughout the entire strug-
gle. At the close, like thousands upon thous-
ands Of others, he found himself completely un.
settled in habits and disposition With few
hundred dollars saved from his pay, he returned
to New York, to find that his friends had been
scattered. Nobody knew him and he had not u
relative III the world.
Blt have profession, he said to himself,
perfected by years of practical army expert
ence; | will establish myself, and prosperity
will bring friends around me again"
Naturally buoyant and hopeful, he prepared
to recommence life, with good spirits and antic-
patons for the future. He hired respectable
but modest office on semi-fashionable up town
street. furnished it plainly, and displayed a sign
denotlng his calling. Days passed, and patron
age. He saw his dollars going out with none
coming III.
a must economize," he concluded ~ will
give up my boarding place to begin with
After this the lounge in his Office was his bed
Stlll these measures only checked the drain up
ON his store. The few professional calls that lie
lad were mainly from those too poor or too dis
honest to pay, and his income did not one-half
meet his closely curtaied expenses He grew
doNn-heated and discouraged. Month after
month passed. and at last his money was all
gone. What should he do ? The idea of giving
up his profession was dstasteful and he clune
30 hope until actual want came in the shape ol
nnappeased hunger. Then one by one he pawn.
hi itatr natatu hut d
small fraction of their real value Articles OF
clothing followed until he found himself utterly
numoWled to meet the cold weather that wat
coming on.
Finally, convinced that he must abandon hif
lfolesslon he studied the ''wnnt" colums of the
newspapers, and spent two entire days in trying
N Yaln to get employment. The last of thesl
two days lie ate nothing, and previous short al
ioNallce had enfeebled him. When night cant
he staggered YEARLY to his office to find that the
landlord had taken possession and locked th,
door.
With his brain whrling and his limbs totter
llls with weakness, DIR. Cotton wandered HI
scarcely knew where. Hunger and Fatgu
were doing their work. He walked severa
blocks when his eyes fell upon carriage stand
.lS at the curb. A coachman in livery sat upoi
Ee box, and the door stood open. just then
ady came out of an adjacent house, and walke
toward the vehicle. The famlslied man saw tina
mat she carried pocket-book in her hand. Th
fastened upon the well filled treasure. He darte
onward 20 quickly as to attract her attention
ana ior an instant she looked fixedly in his face
strange expression passed over her fea
yile5, but 1t seemed scarcely that of fear
ane hesltated Il moment, aud then laid the tip
ol her fingers upon his arm.
nave been waiting for you," she said "gt
''io The carriage, please"
wondering at the meaning OF her words, ant
1,a,eely knowing or caring what he did, DIR
cotton did as he was requested.
Drive home, said the lady to the driver, an
away they were borne up fashionable avenue
she has mistaken me for somebody else,
he Thought and l must undecieve her.
hen he said aloud " You have doubtei
lade some mstake-at least have forgotte
Aou II ever had the honor of an acquaintance
no, slr was the reply, 81 have made Il
nMeiakei but the explanation is too long to
liale mere. Will you not wait till l reach IL
n9ile 2 Dr. Coltou assented, wondering if IL
brain.
lhey arrived, after a short drive, at brow
~ s,ohe mansion of considerable size and beaut
hne carriage stopped, and the lady led the WI
up lhe stairs into the hall. Here the weakent
to ooliSth OF the doctor gave way, and he sank il
'oa char half fainting.
what is the matter?" asked the lady in gre
concern. "Are you ill?n
.t ,ony starving" was the bitter confession
MA laNe eaten nothing for two days"
ne ne lady hastily summoned the servants al
iad him assisted to an easy chair. TemptiI
MahdS and generous wine were placed befo
nih' OF which he partook with good effect fee
meal "