The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1878-07-26
Out Of the Storm.

|
though it reign king. Men hurried on,
with heads bowed and thrust forward to
cut their way through the storm; little
children skunk under the protecting shad-
ows of doorways and such rude shelters as
could be found, while poor, wretched wo-
men braved the horror of that terrible
night from dire necessity. One among
them-a pale-faced cl feature, with look of
mortal terror in her countenance, and who
seemed to have known more CHEEKY times
lifted her head from time to time, Scan
ming the faces that 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 church. To
wait! as we all come to do 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 with
in DOORS" she murmured, desolation and
weariness creeping over her face. "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 beg! Only
twenty-five, alone, without friends, and,
what is far more necessary-money !"
She started forward to meet the glance
of man with a kind, pleasant face, gentle
almost as a WON ms. She noted it even
then; she remembered it through all the
Years that came after.
''Sir, l am starving. For the love of
Heaven, give me enough to buy a single
loaf of bread !"
He was generous man, as men go-one
who gave largely to charitable institutions
and his name stood among the first on
the church-list; but he was man who
knew nothing of real poverty, and withal
he knew how many of the refuse of So
cietJ obtained livelihood by begging. So
he passed by-as others had done. Sud
denly out of his memory crept the words,
"Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of
these, ye have done it unto me-"
Back through the rain and slush he made
his way, to find something buried under a
heap OF clothes. He touched it, but there
was no movement; he spoke and tried to
push bank-note into the open hand, but
the woman lay where she had fallen, ap-
parently dead.
"What brute I have beenl How could
] have forgotten so soon?"
He spoke these words aloud, but the only
answer he had was from the wind aud rain.
A policeman passing on his round was
hailed a carriage called, and he lifted the
inanimate form in his arms, saying to the
driver:-
mo, 105 Arlington Place. Drive fast,
and | double your fare"
II wonder if she will die," he thought.
eff she does it will seem like a just retri-
! button for that other" Then tears came
into his eyes and fell on the fair face of the
girl. She was still unconscious, but a mo-
ment after and his home was reached.
"Helen, I've done an odd thing tonight;
picked up o woman on the street aud
| brought her home with me; the why and
and wherefore I have not attempted to
analyze. Get her to bed; send Frank for
, Dr. Grey, and let us have dinner, for l am
hungry as wolf, and after fashion un-
nerved. How long is it since-since that
time, Helen ?"
Mrs. Arnold was not a young woman,
but there was look in her sweet, beauti-
! full face that age alone had never brought
a look that told of some grief that had been
. wrought by her own handsome act that
! was now irretrievable, but which she
: sought to atone for in every thought and
!. word and deed. She was proud woman,
s but now her pride was all forgotten, and
/ her voice trembled and her lips quivered
as she answered: -
: SIT will be ten years the sixteenth of the
y month, Harvey dear" Then hesltatlngly
' why have you broken the silence to-
: night?"
81 hardly know; but if he were not dead
q should believe in some way news wa
d coming to us of our lost ones. Yes; both
, Helen-after all these long years"
: An hour later a servant entered the room
i and announced DR.. Grey. Mr.. Arnold ros
5 to meet him, while hI wife extended he
d hand With
; ; "Well, doctor, ws are not in need o
t YOUR services, but Harvey has concluded t
g open hospital for the poor, aged and In
firm and has desired to obtain your assist
Q ance as head physician-with an openin
e case upstairs"
!. !. "Mrs. Arnold, wait your pleasure, RI
e fusing for the present all the hospltallt
e YOU offer here below"
Speaking in the pleasant, gracious mar
n uer that people use when performing an