, 1879-05-15
Saved from Starving.

dress, and | saw a lovely set IN Regent
street.
And the young girl blushcd little as
she thought, with a thrill Of JOY, how
her beauty, enhanced by the lustrous
pearls, would be praised by Gilbert
Lawrence, her promised husband.
at is so pleasant to be admired by
the one we love-" she thought; and the
pearls grew in value in her eyes, rs she
fancied her lovers commentators.
So she wrapped herself up in her velvet
and furs, for it was cold day in Decem-
ber, and started of on her pleasant
GRAND of purchasing them. She had
almost reached the shop, when she saw a
crowd of people, and as she approached
them she found the object Of their atten-
tion was a young girl lying apparently
lifeless upon the pavement.
To Cora Lester, carefully reared by her
father, like some rare exotic, scenes OF
suffering were new phase Of life, and
she stopped, excited and interested.
though her sensitive ears were shocked
more than once by the coarse express
sions and remarks Of the bystanders.
"Been drinking" said one, big, burly
fellow, with a red face.
"She's shamming," exclaimed another.
s'I have seen 'em do it lots O times
gives 'em such chance to steal"
''Send her to the station-house,"
shouted third.
''Stop" said clear ringing voice, and
a gentleman made his way through the
crowd. He bent down critically over
the girls white face. "She is ILL.," he
said, raising his head. ''Who will help
me to carry her to a chsmist'sl"
His words touched chord in the heart
of that careless crowd, and more than
/. one rushed forward to do his bidding;
and the girl was carried almost rever-
emily into the shop, which was fortu-
nately not far distant How beautiful
she was as she lay there with her eyes
closed, and the long black lashes touch
ing her white cheeks A foreigner, you
could see at glance-probably, from
her beauty, an italian.
The crowd dispersed, and Cora and
DIR. Rivers-such was the name of the
young physician whose coming had been
SO opportune-alone remained. At last
their united efforts were rewarded, and
the young girl opened her eyes, and after
some stimnlant had been judiciously
given her, she was able to tell them her
story. She was an Italian, as they had
supposed. Her father was an artist, and
she was studying to become one.
"But we are very poor" she said; $50
poor that for days we have been without
food and fire."
Cora's eyes were full Of tears.
II did not know the world contained
suffering" she said. And, hastily taking
the money from her purse, she thrust it
into the astonished girls hand, and then,
not waiting for the blessings that
trembled on her lips, Cora turned and
left the shop
"Where are your pearls, dearest7" in
.quired Gilbert Lawrence, looking almost
,disapprovingly .on his fair bethrothed.
@'Did not hear you speak Of set you
thought perfectly beautiful9"
eyes," replied Cora; shut ! did not
buy them"
And then, in her unaffected way, she
told him about the italian girl.
GA ud1a M Io,,hk casI Gslhor%
almost coarsely. "You had better have
bought your pearls, instead Of throwing
away your money on an imposter."
"Oh Gilbert" exclaimed Cora, 81 am
ure she was not that. Besides she has
proved she was not ungrateful, for she
came herself to the door this morning,
and left a package for me containg two
pictures, beautifully painted, one por-
trait of herself, the other of me. How
she managed to make my likeness so ac-
curate l am at a loss to guess, and also
how she found out my name and resi-
dence."
"My darling" said the young man, as
suming once mole his fascinating man
ner, "There are few, wbo having seen
the beautiful Miss Lester once, would
not remember her."
And the conversation turned upon
other themes, and Cora forgot the un-
pleasant impression his words regarding
the italian girl had made upon her
Ten years passed away--ten years
fraught with shame, suffering and want
80 the once wealthy Cora Lester She
married Gilbert Lawrence early in the
year that followed her meeting with the
Italian girl, and they soon took up their
residence on the continent, where, after
few short months of happiness, Cora