The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1876-01-20

was so disappointed about her dress.
John, ring the bell for Jane to take il
up to her. I must go back to the parlor
now."
She was sweeping out again, her satin
robes rustling after; but Louise sprang
up, with piteous cry.
and must have his mediciue; please let
me have the money /"
81 can t to-night-I'm entirely out of
change. You can call the day after to-
morrow"
But Louise was not to be repulsed.
She caught the lady's hand in both of
her little, frozen palms. One of the
rings that adorned Mrs. Rawdon's soft
fingers would have procured all the
comforts her mother and little Willie SO
sorely needed. Some such thought
flashed through the child's mind as she
made the appeal.
"Oh, madam |" she said, her blue eyes
full of imploring treaty, "you are rich
and happy, and have all you want ; but
my poor mother has nothing, and my
little brother will die without medicine !
Do let me have the money!"
Mrs. Rawdon shook her head impa-
tiently.
I tell you I've no change. You must
call again. John, show her to the doorl"
The footman obeyed, and Louise soon
found herself upon the marble steps,
while the lofty door closed in her very
face with heartless slam.
The wind howled more dismally than
ever, and the keen, stinging sleet fell
like a shower of shot. Louise descended
the steps and crossed over to the op-
posite pavement with dull, aching pain
at her heart, that almost took away her
breath. How could she go back to her
desolate home and tell her poor mother
that she had failed to collect her hard
earned wages; tell her that they were
not able to buy even SO much as a soli-
tary loaf2
Just then something beneath her foot,
soft and slippery. almost threw her to
the pavement. Looking down, she saw
pocketbook. She caught it up with a
suppressed cry, and, thrusting it into
her bosom, darted off at the speed of an
antelope. At last, out of breath and
half beside herself with excitement, she
paused beneath lamppost, and after
glancing stealthily around her, drew the
treasure from her bosom. It was large,
thick and heavy. Her fingers trembled
as she unclasped it; and when she
caught sight of the bank-notes it con-
tanned, she uttered wild cry of delight,
and darted off again like something in
sane. Mother and Willie should have
all they needed now!
Just beyond the bakers shop, to-
wards which she bent her steps, a SOL
dier met her.
Little GIRL" he said, arresting her
flying steps, "did you find a pocket
book as you came along 2"
Louise paused single instant, her
heart futtering like frightened bird;
then, as a thought of her mother and
swered: "No, SIR"
"Well, it is gone, l suppose" and
the soldier passed on, while Louise hur-
ried away in the opposite direction.
By the time she reached the bakers
she was in tremor from head to foot,
and her cheeks seemed on fire; but she
drew the pocketbook from its hiding
place, and standing outside the door un-
clasped it and took out q note. The
shop was crowded with customers, and
she had to wait for her turn before she
could obtain what she wanted. Her eyes
wistfulIy round the tempting
shelves. She would buy ever so many
loaves, and even that frosted cake.
They would have Goals and meat, too.
Why not? The pocketbook was hers;
she had found it. Still her hands trem-
oled, and her cheeks burned.
She glanced down at the note she
leld, and saw, with start or horror,
that it was for fifty dollars. What had
she done2 Robbed that man of his
money, and he a soldier. Her father
lad been a soldier With a sharp cry,
the pocketbook in one hand
and the bill in the other, she darted
rom the shop and down the snowy
street.
Just a square or two beyond the gilt
.ering mansion of Mrs. Rawdon she
overlook the soldier. He was walking
slowly, glancing from one side of the
cy pavement to the other with an anx
GUS, despairing look on his face.
Louise was at his side in an instant.
ooh, sir !" painting for breath, her
hood thrown back, her blue eyes wild
md startled, and her bright hair blown
Ill about her flushed face, "I did find~
your pocketbook-here it is. I took
his note out, but l couldn't spend it
almost starved, and little Will
will die without his medicine; but
amt steal-I can't TAX, it back"
The soldier took the money from the
lalf-frozen little hands that held it up
% him; then lifting the child in his
rms, he smoothed back her tangled
ocks, and looked down into her pale,
little face with eager, star
led eyes. His swarthy cheek grew
pale and his bearded lips began to
remble.
"Louise, Louise !" he said, his voice
ull of thrilling tenderness; "poor lit
lie darling, don't you know me 2"
The child looked up, and then her
,ry of wild delight rang out clear and
oyous.
"Oh, papa, papa we thought you
we're dead! but you've come back to us
lgain."
Yes, darling! !" his broad chest
leaving with suppressed eagerness.
g Where's your mother2 Take me to
Ter 4"
Louise sprang from his arms, and
Ihot off like an arrow down the brilliant
street, through the squalid alleys, and
narrow by-lanes; and the soldier fol,
owed her.
Mrs. Halpine sat in her comfortless
Ittic hushing her sick child upon her
ap.
Mamma, mamma ! am SO hungry;
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