The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1879-11-13
LITTLE MISS TURPIN'S FATE.


morning, on the top floor of a dingy
old lodging-house in the metropolis,
that led to strange results. 1t was in
the front room, but made its way very
readily through the chinks and cram
MES in the mortar to the neighboring
apartment, where little Miss Turpin
was preparing her frugal breakfast.
The toasting-fork nearly fell from her
hand, and her dimity apron narrowly
escaped being seduced by the sumptuous
flame from the grate,S swhen the harsh,
gruff voice Of her landlord fell upon her
ear. ~
81 want my money! said Mr.. Shad-
rach. 1
so do T." replied the young doc
tor, "and more. He that wants
money, means and content, is without
three good friends la
"Can have my money tonight"
81 think not"
Tomorrow
"It is extremely doubtful ~
"Then you must get out of here. l
want my ROOM szas.~
Whensdo you want it?'
Gas soon as possible
"Will tomorrow do?''
"Yes.t' S.
"Then leave me, friend; the room
shall be yours tomorrow morning."
The young medical student was man
of spirit, and would have vacated these
not very aiiuring premises at once, and
there seemed a vital necessity just then
for some such proceeding on his part.
He had discovered two days before that
the faltering and shabby source of his
pecuniary supplies had utterly fail ed,
and the knowledge thatshe was without
money or friends in a--strange city to-
gether with an inability 10 beg, borrow
or steal, had robbed him of sleep. The
loss of this necessary resi- to a tired brain
and WORKOUT body, rendered him the
prey of many different sensations dur
ing Mr.. Shadrach's visit. An iron band
seemed to compass hisforehead, his eye
balls burned, his hands shook, his knees
seemed at times about to collapse be-
meath him as he walked to and fro the
length Of the dreary department, for
lack of more nournishing food chewing
the cud Of many a bitter fancy. He asked
himself over and over again if this was
why he had been such d fool as to fancy
he could pursue the study of medicine
with the Wretched capital of worn out
body, q distracted mind and barely
money enough to keeps flesh upon his
bones. That an indomitable spirit had
promptedshim to go on, hoping for a
little desultory practice by the way;
that the rose-color withwhich youth and
inexperience are apt to tint those falla-
cious dreams had been too vivid in his
case-that these and many other excuses
could be made for his folly availed little
just now A systematic course of semi
starvatieHsa and overwork had broken his
indomitable spirit, and turned the rose
colored dreams to an exceedingly green
ish-hued nightmare. ii
The only patient he had during his
nine months stay with Mr.. Shadrach
was poor little workwoman in neigh
boring room, washed-out, timid,
wretched little creature, with scarcely
enough stamina about her to rally after
slight atthck of pneumonia. Her little
fee had been ready for him after every
visit-in fact, obtrusively ready, for it
was out OF the question, of course, to take
money!
cit wasmerely aneighborly service"
he said, when, upon his fifth visit, he
found her up and at work again. and on
his departure she had stammered out
something about his bill. 81 am only
too glad, Miss-NIiss-'' =.
"Tnrpin," she whispered. Il
''To be of service to you, and beg
you will call me in whenever my pres
ence is desirable
Miss Turpin faltered out her thanks.
A burning flush chased the pallor out of
her face, as he warmly pressed her
trembling hand in his and babe her
goodbye. ~
"Poor little devilin he said, as he
strobe away to the lecture room. "It's
bad enough for great strong OK like
myself to face and battle with this grim
old grindstone of a world. but for a mis-