Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-02-10
At the Gate.


with clear skies and keen breeze rust.
ling the few many colored leaves cling
ing to the trees along the streets, Of the
fine old country town. A very quiet,
genteel looking street, lined with hand
some residences, it was; and from the
handsomest Of them all, a lady came
forth with slow step, as if her only OBJ
ject was tc enjoy as much as possible
of the bright sunshine and the clear
healthy air. She was young and quiet
pretty, with attractive, resolute features,
and blue eyes dazzling beautiful. Her
fair complexion was in perfect harr' ony
with rosette OF blue velvet on the front
of her round hat; and her walking dress
of gray silk was neatly fitting and stylish.
The lady was Agnes Carroll, the neice and
heiress OF the wealthy solicitor, Mr.. John
Carroll, who lived in the stately mansion
she had just quilted.
She came down the long garden walk
slowly and thoughtfully, and paused at
the gate, leaning over it with an excla-
nation Of surprise. On the foot path a
man was lying; his face was turned away,
and he was 80 motionless that Agnes
fancied he was dead; and, hurriedly I'M
closing the gate, she fastened to him.
Evidently he had fallen headlong, for
his clothes were in great disorder, and
his hat crushed under the side Of his
head, which lay against the garden-fe fence
His face was pale and thin; his hair and
long unkempt beard were bright brown !;
and his garments, though much the worse
for wear and very i'll fitting. had once
been of the finest material His shoes
were old and much worn, and Agnes
could see that he had no socks. AS she
gazed at the wretched outcast, a tear
trembled in her eye upon the haggard
face over which she was bending; and
then Agnes walked back to the house
and sent some Of the servants out to
bring him under shelter.
The stable boy said he was drunk, but
Agnes felt quite sure he was mistaken;
the stranger could not be inebriated, she
said, and ordered them to carry him in
and give him comfortable bed.
When the doctor tor whom she had
sent had arrived he said Miss Carroll was
right. The man was not drunk, but in
the last stages Of starvation, and had fall
en- in the road out of pure inability to take
another step. When DR.. Carroll came,
Agnes told him of the occurrence, and
made him promise that the poor man need
not leave the house until fully recovered |;
and that, if he could, he would assist
him to some better way Of life than
that which had brought him to their
door.
Having gained her uncle's promise,
which she knew would be kept. Agnes
again dressed and set out for her long
delayed walk. Before she had gone far,
she was met by young gentleman, who
stopped when he saw her and remarked,
was on my way to call on you, Miss
Carroll" walking along by her side.
elbow is your mother to-day, Mr.
Bell2' asked Agnes as they walked
along.
s'Quite we'll, thank you. We are ex-
pecting my sister home from school, and
she is ali excitement"
sFanny will be quite an addition to
our circle this winter"
eyes. By the way, Miss Carroll, will
you lend your assistance in getting up
those tableaux for our fancy fair?"
81 am sorry, Mr.. Bell; but my time is
sofully occupied there, I cannot undertake
to be anything more than spectator"
Mr.. Bell was disappointed evidently, and
left Agnes at the gate with a parting re-
quest that she would call when she hearc
of Fanny Bells arrival.
Agnes when she entered the house, in
quired after the strange man. He wa
still in stupor, she was told, and the,
were afraid that he would die. Agnes
stole up to the room where he lay, abov,
the servents hall; and her heart gave grea
throb of pain and pity as she gazed OF
the white face and shrunken fingers O
the poor fellow. His old garments hat
been replaced by clean and comfortabl,
dressing gown, and the room was warn
and sunshiny; but it mattered little to tn
unconscious waif over whom she bent
Agnes had not always been the rich an(
petted heiress; time was when she, too
had known want, and care, and toll, ant
had been friendless and forsaken of al
but God. This was all ended years ago
but the sight Of the stranger carried he
back to her girl-hood, and the friends O
whom she had lost sight when her uncle
found her and bore her away to his state
home.
There was one she remembered most OIL
oil, pun SI1u9S 1dW-Stuutut, HILL
starved, and half-clothed, who supported
an invalid mother from the miserable
pittance earned as copyist; but not al
the perjury and want which was his dali,
portion could disguise the fact that III
was true and honorable man, and tia
he had talent and would rise in tn,
world if the laborious life be was leading
did not kill him; and in Agnes CARROLL
eyes he was hero to be worshipped at
distance. They had been friends moth
ing more. The blue eyes and premature
ly-old face Of the young girl had foun
no entrance to the frozen heart of Harl
Morton. He was kind, as he was to al
created beings, nothing more. From tn
misery of hopeless poverty and hopeless
love combined, he, at least, was spared
And Agnes Carroll went away to he
good fortune with good wishes and
warm pressure of the students hand
that was all; she, and all women but b
mother, were mere shadows on the wal
She went away and forgot him, for ST
was young and life afforded her many d