South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1879-08-15
A True Heroine.


told. This land, the land of plenty. has
under the very shadow of its Capitol
people dying from lack OF food.
L had a case the other day, remarked
gentleman, in the Washington Capital
that gave me higher respect for female
human nature than / had before. My
attention was called to a family, where
the mother OF three children.a widow, as
dying OF a lingering disease. They were
of the best stock in the country, with
their name Unidentified with the historic
past. but financial misfortune on the
part Of the father had reduced them TO
want on his death. After a deal OF la
Dor ] secured the oldest daughter. q
charming girl, place in the Printing
and Engraving Bureau, where she, by
hard work could make about forty dol
lars q month.
was away from Washington. you
know. all Summer, and much Of the An.
tumn, and so lost sight of the poor,
family. The other tday l haf a note
from my little day laborer. wishing me
TO come and see them. | did so; found
them in little house, handsomely, nay
georgeously. furnished. and my little
friend, pale and slender, evidently the
worse of wear, was very glad 10 see me.
Her mother, | learned, was ye' alive,
and thcslster and brothers were WE'LL
While we were talking. the bell rang.
and coarse looking, fashily dressed
man of forty-6ve or fifty came in. |
saw in an instant that my presence was
embarrassing. | vas introduced and we
a -, II. L.. q,
way, for the weather evidently had less
interest than usual TO that small party.
10 relieve the embarrassment | picked
up photograph album but happening
TO cast my eye into the large snowy mir
ror between the windows, | saw the two
give each other significant chances, and
the ring, chain and bejeweled individual
deposit something hurriedly behind n
pictur on the mantel- piece. After this
he took his leave, and | noticed he was
dismissed at the parlor door, so that
was not left alone. thought had Ia
ken in the whole situation, and with
the brutal frankness for which am no.
ted. told my little friend that was
extremely sorry TO see what was taking
place.
What DO you mcan?' she demanded
angrily.
i mean, | said, my poor child, that
you have sold yourself for bread. God
knows | have no heart to blame YOU.
but IL is q terrible thing TO contcm.
plate.
MI. Jones. she cried. pale as it was
possible for her TO be. we are under
deep obligations to you. God knows
what would have become OF us but for
your aid. But great as the obligation
is, you hsve no right to insult me, as
you are doing
This was true enough, and began
| apologizing, when she cut me short with
demand on me to say upon what
had based such an opinion, and has
tened TO say that n house could not be
furnished on forty dollars a month as
that house was furnished. That our
/ fiashY friend was not OF the sort she
would acknowledge as visitor in her
better days, and that his conduct indi-
Gated something other than mere &C
quaintanee.
She listened TO me. and for q moment
after ! ceased speaking, remained silent
as IL not knowing what to say. Then
sue cried:
You arc crael, cruel man. You
/ treat NE as IL | we're an animal. You
would not dare TO address an equal in
this wav. But you have the right
! Now listen TO me. ! furnished this
J house by renting two rooms to q gentle.
man, WHO brought woman lie called
his wife. lra paid the rent Of our house
for six months an furnished the rooms
, himself. This furniture IS his-or bis
heirs. il he have any, for he died, aD,
/ told, ~ Florida, where he went, with his
/ 5O-cailcd wife. for his health. II was
I imprudent to admit him TO the house
under the circumstances. and il was my
+ duty probably, 20 order them out when
/ | discovered their relation. But with q
! dying mother in one room and hungry
children in the other. could not do it,.
/ 10 Tor me, DO you suppose | would wear
shoes such as thcse?' and she put out
I her pretty little foot with the worst case
OF shoes / ever saw.
cannot show you my under-clothes,
/ but you would be shocked to see them
f Would ] 60 this way would tramp %
I that prison every morning. shiyering 10
the bone, without a wrap OF any sort
. during this terrible weather, that my
poor mother may have wine and med
lcine? / am dying by inches. Mr.. Jones
have The great privilege Of being weigh
cd at tue bureau lose flesh steadily.
and ] baYo n cough and n pain that in
dicates that am TO follow my mother.
shall follow her TO heaven, rest assured
And then she punctuatcd her remarks
a. all women do, with burst Of tears
What superb actresses women are when
they act without reconciliation. The
defence was touching TO the last extent
But, remembering the haslIy visitor.
felt my little friend was treating me "a
o scene. / said
Don't cry child it's all right and
any way 10 is none Of my business.
You do not believe = she exclaimed
angrlly, you won't believe p
Il Il