The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1878-04-08
The Unexpected Return

opposite fruit stand. Inc low, plalnuVe,
yet earnest manner in which they were
uttered, attracted my attention. stopped,
and looking round saw the little girl, who
stood looking wistfully at the fruit. Her
face was thin and pale, and had q look of
so much care and sorrow as to blot out all
the sunshine which ought always to illa-
mine the face of childhood.
"And if you had two cents, what would
you do with them, my little girl9" In
quired.
II would buy one of those large, red ap-
pies for my sister," she replied.
"And wouldn't you like one for yourself.
too ?" asked.
-"Oh, yes, indeed !" and the bare thought
Of such luxury for herself, thus brought
home to her imagination, frightened with
transient beam of gladness her large,
mournful-looking eyes. "But then" she
added, annie is sick, and has been wish
ing for an apple so muchl I can do with
out"
Selecting six of the largest and fairest of
the apples, and several heavy bunches OF
grapes, which looked the more delicious from
having been so carefully handled that their
azure bloom had remained undisturbed, I
paid the price demanded. I shall never
forget her look Of joyful surprise, when
telling her to hold her apron as receptacle
almost too scsnty for the required pur-
pose-I placed in the fruit.
''Am to have all these ?" she said.
eyes, ALL"
'Thank you"
There was little in these two common
place words Of courtesy, but In her manner
of speaking them there was more than
would be easy to tell. There was deep-felt
gratitude, knew. I knew, also, that chords
of feeling had been touched by this simple
act of kindness, which, for single instant,
thrilled to notes of glad music, only to min
gle and lose themselves in the secret and
wailing cry of the heart caused by some
present sorrow She turned to go.
"Wil you not tell me your name ?''
said l..
"Catharine Williams"
Williams being my own name, though it
is very common one, for certain reasons
coincidence Interested me.
"Well, Catharine," said I, ''now that you
have told me your name, if you will tell me
where you live, should like to call and see
you tomorrow"
She told me the name of the street she
lived in, and, as the first part of the way
was in the direction of my own home, I
continued to walk by her side.
i my sister," said she, after minutes
silence, doesn't live at the same place
/ do" She seemed to understand the
look of inquiry which this information
elected Mrs. Bray" she resumed, ''that
Annie is with, is poor woman, and can't
afford to keep only one of us with her.
Annie is older than am, and when she is
we'll earns her own living by helping Mrs
Bray sew"
Haven't you mother?"
'No; she died long time ago-almos
as long as I can remember"
"And your father2"
} ''He was lost at sea more than yea;
ago. Annie gave such cry, and turned 81
white, when she read the news of the ship
wreck! And then, when night came
; we couldn't go to sleep, We felt so badl..
| when we thought we should never see hin
t again"
"You and your sister lived together a
! the time your father went to sea3"
:. eyes; he left money with Mrs. Bray
n who was to take care of us till he returned
e Oh, if he had only come back-he loved u
e so much! Now, nobody loves u.s."
y AS she said this could see that her lip
" quivered, and that her eyes were full O
l. tears. We walked on in silence.
IS "Annie lives in this street." said she
II stopping at the corner of one which kneN
n contained many old and decaying buildings
n inhabited by the poor. II will go ther
~ first, and carry the grapes and apples"
s "And will go with you" said I. ="
g may as well call and see your sister to-day
u as to wait till to morrow"
o "Annie will love to see you, but it is
y poor-looking place for a lady to go to,
e said she, looking at my dress, which
y though plain, was of rich material.
$ As she raised her eyes to my bonnet
y a part of the dress, as I have noticed, whic
is more particularly attractive to children
v her eyes met mine more fully than they ha
t done before. She started o little, while loo
of mingled joy and surprise crossed he
r countenance. But it at once gave pilce /
one full of sorrewful emotion, While de
batting in my mind whether to question he
; on the subject, or not, she placed her foe
: on the doorstep of one of the better lool
) ing of the old and dlapidated buildings
/ saying as she did SO:
$ "This is where Annie lives"
Ascending fight of stairs, she ushere
N,