The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1877-02-08
OUT OF THE STORM.

OUT OF THE STORM. |
1t was cold, dreary night without.
though it reigned king. Men hurried
ON, with heads bowed and thrust for
ward to cut their way through the
storm; little children skunk under the
protecting shadows of doorways, and
such rude shelter as could be found
while poor, wretched women braved
the horror of that terrible night from
dire necessity. One among them-a
pale-faced creature, with look of NOR
tai terror on her countenance, and who
seemed to have known more CHEEKY
times-lifted her head from time to
time, scanning the faces she met in an
anxious, questioning way that seemed
to meet with no response from the
passers-by.
At last, as though she felt it useless
to hope longer, she turned aside to
wait under the princely caves of large
when the flush of youthful expectancy
has passed out of our lives. "He will
not come; perhaps the weather is too
severe, yet it could not keep me within
DOORS" she murmured, desolation and
WEAKNESS creeping over her face; ''and
then there remains but one thing to do,
and the sooner that is done the better
it will be for me; but oh, it is so hard
to begi Only twenty five, alone, with
out friends, and, what is far more nee
essary, money!
She started forward to meet the
glance of a man with a kind, pleasant
face, gentle almost as a woman's. She
noted it even then; she remembered it
through all the years that came. " Sir,
am starving. For the love of heaven,
give me enough to buy single loaf of
bread!"
He was generous man-as men 60
who gave largely to charitable insti-
tutions-and his name stood among the
first on the church list; but he was a
man who knew nothing of real poverty,
and withal he did know how many of
the refuse of society obtained iveli-
hood by begging. So he passed by, as
others had done. Suddenly out of his
memory crept these words, "Inasmuch
as ye have done it unto one of these We
have done it unto me-"
Back through the rain and slush he
made his way to find something buried
under heap of clothes. He touched
it, but there was no movement; ne
spoke and tried to push bank note in.
to the open hand, but the woman lay
where she had fallen apparently dead
"What a brute / have been! How
could l have forgotten so soon?" he
spoke aloud, and the only answer he
had was from the wind and rain. A
policeman passing on his round was
hailed, carriage called, and he lifted
the inanimate form in his arms, saying
to the driver, "No. 105 Arlington
Place. Drive fast, and l double YOU
fare"
"I wonder if she will die; if she doe
it will be just retribution for tina
other" Then tear came into thu
eyes and fell on the fair face of the girl
She was still unconscious, but momen
after and his home was reached.
"Helen, I've done an odd thing to
night-pickedu up woman on the stree
and brought her home with me; tn
why and wherefore have not attempt
ed to analyse. Get he
10 D6U, Sonu FRANK LOT Dr. Gray
and then let US have dinner, for l an
hungry as wolf, and after a fashio
unnerved. How long is it since-sinc
that time, Helen?"
Mrs. Arnold was not a young woman
but there was look in her sweet, beau
tiful face that age alone had neve
brought-a look that told of some grie
that had been wrought by her ow
handsome act which was now IRE
trievable, but which she sought now t
atone for in every thought and wor
and deed. She was a proud woman
but now her pride was all forgotten
and her voice trembled and her lip
quivered as she answered, s'It will b
ten years the sixteenth of this month
Harvey, DEAR" then hesitatingly, "wh
have you broken the silence tonight?
81 hardly know, but if he were nc
dead, / should believe that in some wa
news was coming to US of our lost ones
yes, both, Helen-after all these years
An hour later q servant entered til
room and announced "Dr. Gray" MI
Arnold arose to meet him, while hi
wife extended her hand, with "wel
Doctor, zoe are not in need of your SCI
vices, but Harvey has concluded to opel
hospital for the poor, aged and ii
firm, and has desired to obtain you
assistance as head physician-with q
opening case I'D stairS''