The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1876-12-15
should not display the more real char

snould not display the more real char
ity."
az accept the wager, Annie" rejoined
Carrie; mot out of any particular dis
like to Mr. Cheever, nor from any espe-
cial regard for Mr.. BentIy, but simply
with view to test the young gentle
men and to satisfy ourselves. But how
shall the trial be made ?"
81 will tell you," said Annie, who
forthwith entered into full description
of her little plot. "Ned," she added, in
and we can put him to the test at once"
$50 we can, my dear"
! The scene changes.
Just about dusk of the same day on
which Annie and Carrie held the above
mentioned conversation, two fine look
/ ing, handsomely attired young men ac-
cidentally met together on the corner
of cross streets, few squares from the
residence of the first mentioned young
lady. They were Edward Cheever and
Thomas Bentley. They stopped, shook
hands, and passed the usual stereotyped
compliments.
81 suppose you are going to Miss
! Dale's, Cheever ?" said Bently.
81 am, Tom," was the quiet reply.
"pm IN bound there, too, my fine fellow!
I dropped in to see Miss Hunt awhile
/ ago. and was told that l should find her
at Miss Dale's, whittier I was vending
my way when we chanced to meet.
Fine girls, both. Don't you think so,
| Cheever ?''
al do, Tom"
"Excuse me, Ned; but, now, don't
you really think Miss Dale seems lit
tie Old-fashiOned-a trifie too prim ?"
"Not to my eyes, Tom, though she
may to some Others"
"Well, suppose We don't all of us
see alike"
mo, that's true" responded Cheever,
with an almost imperceptible smile.
At that moment two poorly, ill-clad
! females, with their faces closely muffled
up in old, ragged hoods, came around
the corner and halted in close proxim-
ity TO the young men. One walked
with cane and leaned upon the arm of
the other, and both looked poverty
stricken enough in all conscience.
"Charity, gentlemenr' exclaimed the
one who was supporting the other, and
who appeared to be the younger of the
two.
The tones of her voice were sad and
husky, aud the young men stopped.
! Cheever halted first, however, and Bent
ly following his example, as if he could
not help it,
! Tom paid little or no attention to the
women, but Ned regarded them earnest
ly and attentively.
"Did l understand you to solicit char
ity ?' said the latter, kindly addressing
the mendicants. "Are you really in
want?'
painfully so, SIR" was thesmothered
reply. "My mother is very old and
feeble, as you may see, and my own
days are swiftly passing away. We
have no friends at all to keep US, and
nothing to depend on but the cold char
ity of the world. | worked as long as |
was able, but this winter l could not
find great deal of employment, and
what little did was too much for me.
We live in garret, sir, and never pass
a day that We do not experience the di-
rest want. All, mew sighed the woman
in conclusion.
"The old story, Cheever," abruptly
cried Bently. you'll meet a dozen
such in every square of the city, and
/ they'll all tell you the same whining,
! pitiful tale. Don't give 'em a cent! l
won't! If they were as bad off as they
say they are, let them go to the poor
house-thats the place for all such va
grants"
"You and l, Tom, have different no.
tions on good many Subjects" respond
ed Cheever; land, contrary to your ad-
vice, l shall aid these poor creatures to
the best of my ability. If they deceive
me, the punishment will be theirs-not
mine.N Turning to the woman, and, at
the same time taking some notes from
his pocket-boOk, he added: "Here are
a couple of dollars for your present
needsi and if you will call at my place
OF business, No. -, - street, and in
guire for Edward Cheever, l will see if
something cannot be done to aid yOu.n
"God bless your kind heart ~ stimuli
taneOusly responded the women, in
deep, earnest tones.
! won't you give them trifle, Tom ?''
added Ned, turning to Bently.
mot farthing, Ned! l can lay my
money out to better account than that,
[ can tell you"
"Well, if you won't, you won't, I sup
! pose" rejOined Cheever, "but in such a
case, l think the money is we'll in
vested"
"And I don't, my boy; so there's Just
the difference between u.s." said Bently,
turning upon his heel and moving off.
After again requesting the mendi-
cants to call upon him, Cheever followed
his selfish, heartless companion. With
very little conversation, and that nearly
all on the part of Bently, the young
men reached Miss Dale's residence, and
} were shown into the parlor, with the as
surance that the ladies would make
their appearance in a few minutes.
Immediately after parting with the
young men, the beggar- women turned
down the cross street, out of sight, and
it was strange to see what a great and
, sudden change came over them. The
decrepit old woman Strengthened her
} self up, and both appeared to forget
their feebleness and regain new life.
With rapid steps they FASTENED through
J small back street, to the rear of Miss
Dale's home, which they entered
through the backyard.
| Need l tell the reader that the beggar-
women were personated by Miss Dale
and Miss Hunt; or that the former had
made good her word in regard to Ed
, ward Cheever and Thomas Bently?
think not.
= Upon reaching Annie's apartment
the young girls hastily threw off theil
disguise, and prepared to go down into
the parlor.
, "Well, Carrie, are you convinced ?'
demanded Annie, meantime.
: ENTIRELY So" was the emphatic re.
sponse; "and if ever anyone says in my
presence that Ned Cheever is stingy,
shall fatty contradict them. As fol