South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1875-11-12
S E Mt By Ex ESS.
OR
WHAT FRANK EVANS KISSED.


She was beautiful. brown haired girl.
with soft, shy eyes OF yiolet-gray, and
rosy lips compressed to q firmness far
beyond her years. For after all she was
scarcely seventeen, and so Deacon Gray
was telling her, rs he sat by the fire
spreading his huge hands over the tardy
blaze, and asked:
"But what are you goin' to do to earn
your bread and butter, chld?"
II don't know, / haven't thought.
Mamma had an uncle in New York
who"
YES, yes-rye heerd tell about him
-he was mad because your mother didn'.
marry just exactly to suit him; wasn't
it?"
Marian was silent. Deacon Gray wait.
ed few minutes, hoping she would ad-
nit him into her secret meditations :;
but she did not. and the Deacon went a.
way home, to tell his wife that that
Harlan gal was the very qGcerest creetur
he had ever come across
Meanwhile Marian was busy packing
her few scanty things into a little car.
pet-hag, by the weird, fiickcring light Of
the dying wood fire. : I'D.
IL will go to New York." said she to
herself, setting her small, pearly teeth
firmly together. My mothers uncle
stM hear my cause pleaded through my
own lips. Oh, wish my heart would
not throb SO wil3iyi j am no longer
meek Minnie Harlan; | AIN an orphan,
all alone il the world, who must fight
life's battle with my own single hands"
| r ~. - 4 ". 80
Lower Broadway, MT seven o'clock in
the evening Whata babel or CRASHING
wheels, hurrying humanity, and conglo-
merate noises it was! Minnie Harlan
sat in the corner OF an express Office,
under the flare of gas-light, surrounded
by boxes, and wondered whether people
ever went crazed in this perpetual din
and tumuit. Her dress was very plain
gray poplin-wfth II shabby, old.fash-
Toned little straw bonnet, tied with black
ribbons, and blue vail, while her ONLY
article of baggage, the carpet.bag, lay in
her lap She had sat there two hour s.
and was very. very tired.
Poor little thing :" thought the dark
haired young clerk nearest her, wto in.
habited = sort of wire cage, under cir
Gle Of gas-ligl!s. And then lie took up
his pen and plunged into perfect At.
lantic ocean of accounts.
Mr.. Eyans?"
"Sir."
The dark-haired clerk emerged from
his cage, with his pen behind his ear. in
obedience to the reckoning finger Of his
superior.
Il have noticed that young woman
sitting here for some time-how came
she hccc?"
"Expresse1 on, sir, from Millington,
lowG-arrivcd this afternoon"
As though poor Minnie Harlan were
box or parcel.
Nv no for?" inquired the superior.
Consigned to Walter Harrington Es1."
and hasn't she been called for?"
Il sent up to Mr.. lIarrington's al.
dress, to notify him. some time ago |
expect an answer every moment"
Very odd" said the gray-haired gen
teman, taking up his newspaper.
Yes, sir rather
Some three-quarters of an hour after
ward. Frank Evans came TO the pale
girls side with indoscribable pity i'm his
hazel eyes.
Miss Harlan, we have sent to Mr.
llarrington's resdcnce-"
Minnie looked up with fcversh red
upon her cheek. and her hands clasped
tightly on the handle Of tho faded car
pct-bag.
And we regret TO inform YOU that he
sailed for Europe al ~ O'Clock this day."
n sudden blur came over Minnie
cycs-sle trembled like n leaf. In all
her calculations she had made no allow
ancc for oil eNigency like this.
Can we do anything further for you?"
questioned the young clerk, politely
Nothing 10 one can DO anythir,
now :"
Frank Evanswas about turning away.
when something in the piteous tones Of
her voice appealed 10 every manly i'm.
stinct within him. And lac said. "Shall
! send 90 any other Of your fricnds:"
u have no friends =" replied she.
Perhaps ! can lave your things. sent
90 some quiet, family hotcl?''
Minnie opcnelli her little leather purse
anl showed him two teu.rcnt pieces.
with smile tLat was almost q tear. say.
ins, This is MI the money | have in
the world sir"
SO young. SO beautiful. and 50 desc.
late Prank Evans had been in Nov
York all lis life, but ne had never met
with on exactly parallel case 20 this one.
lie biz the end OF lis pen in dire per.
pIexity.
What are Won going 70 do?"
Il don't know. sir: Isn't there n work.
house. or some such place could go to.
until ! could end something TO do?"
"i!ardly.' hc answered. vainly trying
to reprcs5 n smile at poof Nlinne's sim.
pliciiy.
They arc putting ont the lights. and
preparing 90 close the Office" said Min.
mic, starting ncrvouslv % her feet. II
must somewhere t'
/ Miss Harlan" snid Frank. quietly.
my home is n worry poor ono-I am on
lY five huu3rcd-joiiar clcrl-but am
sure my mother will receive yog under