The Osceola times., 1876-11-18


still now; walks, walks incessant about
the place, with her eyes set an the skin
clingin' 10 her bones. | couldn't a
borne it. ashuah you, but for the sake
Of fndin' Marcia"
Two months passed, in which he
haunted the house. But Marcia did not
come. She had begun to frequent news-
paper offices, and occasionally was given
a trihing bit of work by the managers OF
the reporting corps-a description OF the
dresses at a mannerchor ball to write, or
a puff of some coming play, etc. She
came at last to tell me of what she had
done.
alt Is miserable work. | would
rather sew the heels of stockings but
the stocking looms have stopped, and |
must live a little longer, at any rate. ]
think have something to say, if the peo-
pie only would hear it,"
| told her of Biron and his chase for
her.
al saw him outside the window the
last time was here. That was the rea-
| went out by the side street. ! knew he
was looking for me-" You will not tell
him have been here p
"But, Marcia, the man seems honest
and kindly
"If he found me-" in the same quiet
tone, he would marry me and take me
back to the plantation" .,
"And you are not ready to give up "
"No, | will not give up. shall get
into the right groove at last" with the
infectious little laugh which nobody
could resist.
The waterproof cloak was worn down
quite into the cotton by this time, and
the straw hat had been darned around
the ragged edge, But there was a cheap
red rose in It. Her cheek bones showed
high, and her eyes shone out of black hol-
lows.
"No, have no cough, aud | don't
need medicine she said irritably, when
questioned. 9" have had plenty of Of
fers of help. But I'd rather steal than
take aims" She rose hastily and but
toned her cloak.
"This man Bron waits only word
to come to you. He is faithful as a
dog"
She nodded carelessly. Biron, or a
return to her old home, held no part in
her world, it was plain TO see.
was out of the city for several
months. A few weeks after my return
saw in the evening paper one day, in
the usual list of crimes and casualties an
item headed "Pitiable Casa young
woman named Burr was arrested on
charge of theft, and taken to the Central
station A bout eleven o clock the other wo-
men in the cell where she was confined per
ceiving that she lay on bench breath
ing in stertorous manner, Summoned
Lieutenant pardy, who found life to be
almost extinct. A physician was called
who discovered that the woman had
swallowed some poisonous drug. With
her first breath of returning conscious
ness she protested her innocence of the
charge. She appears to have been i'll IN
extreme state of want. But little hope
is entertained of her recovery. Miss
Burr is tavorably known, we believe, as
writer of some ability fol the daily
press"
In spite of the difference of name, il
must be Marcia.
When we reached the Central station
we were told that her discharge was al
ready procured. She had friends who
knew what wires to work. In the outer
room were half dozen young men, re-
porters, foreman of a printing-room
and one or two women, dramatic or mu
steal critics There is AS eager an cyJ-i
dp corps among that class of journalists
as among actors. They were all talking
loudly, and zealously indetense of little
Marty" as they called her, whom they
declared TO be Ounce so far as head
went, but pure and guieless as child. >
al knew she was dcvilshly hard up,
said one, "but never suspected she was
starving. She would not borrow dol
lar, she had that pride in her.
Marcia was still in the cell, lying on
an iron stretcher. The Mississippian
Biron, was with her, kneeling on the
hand. He had taken off his coat to wral
about her.
"rve a good Quaker nurse and room
ready for her at the Continental the
minute she can be moved, " he whispered
Look a-here" turning down the poor
bit of lace and red ribbon at her throat
his big hairy hand shaking, "Then
bones is Almost through the skin
The doctor says it's hunger--hun
ger! And | was eatin' three solid meal'
q day-lke beast %
Hunger had almost done its work
There was but a feeble flicker of life il
the emacated little body; not enough
to know or speak to us when at last sh,
opened her dull eyes
None o. them folks need consarr
themselves any furder about her" sale
Biron, savagely. "She'll come home to
her own now, thank God, and be done
with rubbishy book-makers. Mrs. Biror
will live like a LADY,
Two or three weeks later, the most
splendid of hired phaetons stopped al
my door, and Mr.. and Mrs Biron sent
up their cards, Mr.. Biron was glowing
with happiness. 1t asserted itself off n
sively somehow in the very jingling o
his watch chain and tie of his cravat.
We return Immediately to the plan
tation," he said, graudiloquently. 81
reckon largely on the effect of her native
air in restorin' Mrs. Biron to health
Marcia was magnificent in silk and
plumos, the costliest that her owner.
money could buy. Her little face wa,
pale, however, and she looked nobody in
the eve,
1--WE leave for the south tomorrow,
she said, calmly, "and shall not return
To Philadelphia. have no wish to re
turn"
shall send you books or papers,