Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-12-11
Little Miss Turpin's Fate.

A little conversation took place one
morning, on the top floor of dingy old
lodging house in the metropolis, that led
10 strange results. 1t was in the front
room, but made its way very readily
through the chinks and crannics 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 crate,
when the harsh, gruff voice of her land
lord fell upon her ear.
:" want my money said Mr.. Shad-
rach.
so do IT, replied the young doctor.
and more. He that wants money.
means and content, is without three good
friends"
Can l have my money tonight"
think not.
Tomorrow
1t is extremely doubtful"
Then you mu7t get out of here. |
want my room.
when do you want it?"
As soon rs possible
Will tomorrow do2"
"Ycs."
Then leave me, friend; the room
shall be yours tomorrow morning"
The young medical student was n man
OF spirit, and would have vacated these
not very alluring premises mt once, but
he had not where TO lay his head, and
there seemed n vital necessity Just then
for some such proceeding on his part
He had discovered two days before that
the ialtering and shabby source of his
pcCuniary supplies had utterly failed.
and the know edge that he was without
money or friends in a strange city to-
gcthcr with an inability to beg. borrow
or steal, had robbed him of sleep.
The only patient he had during his
nine months stay with MIR. Shadrach
was n poor little ,workwoman in the
neigh boring room, washed out, timid q.
wretched little creature. with scarcely
enough stamina about her To rally after
n slight attack 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.
1T was merely a neighborly service, -
he said. when upon his fifth visit, he
found her up and at work again. and on
his departure she had stammered out
aomething about his bill. Il am only
too glad, Miss-Miss.
'.Turpin," she whispered
ITO be Of service to you. and beg you
will call me in whenever my presence /,
desirable
Miss Turpin faltered out her thanks.
A burning flush chased the pallor out oi
her face, rs he warmly pressed her
Trembling hand in his and bade her
sOod-bye.
Poor little girlr' he said, as he strodC
away to the lecture room. Its bad
enough for great strong OK like myself
To face and battle with this grim old
grindstone of n world. but for n miser.
able little waif like that-phew, it,
mOnstrous."
He thought of her pityingly till he
crossed the threshold Of the college, then
gave himselfup to the subject in hand,
which so engrossed his mind that he
forthwith forgot the existence Of little
Miss Turpin. But she, upon her part,
repeated over and over the words oi
youug DIR. Blake, blushing again when
she became conscious of the fact that
s'1c really had the temerity to dwell upon
i,is genial but commonplace courtesy
Miss Turpin's work was delicate and
artistic. but not oul-absorbing. like the
doctors. She could tint her photo
graphs all the better for this little cpl
Sode in her life. The vines and tendrils
took tender shapes under her def little
UnetHsf hbls sNtPt HltAnfiOiF ilfIpt0
to make the shadows ut least more and
moro perfect; under the rosebuds grew
ths thorns; but there seemed to lurk
evea in their cruelty subtle, mysteri-
oas charm. II was enough for Miss
Turpin 10 dream.
Bat more and more imposing, grandsr
~ad gTander grew this one figure of her
ts<aoJ around which revolved the satel-
Eaes Of health and wealth. popularity
Mnd fame-aIl that could render life
sweet and desirable.
Perhaps IL Is detrimental TO my heroine
In cay that she would have been quite
Ssutent to have lived upon the fruits OF
lssy own fancy for the remainder of her
nzturai life. Had circumstances COM
pssled her TO change her abode. and had
ssse thus lost sight of DIR. Blake, the
a~eams would have gone along just the
aazne, the fact Of his dying In n neigh
ksxing hospital OF weakness and want.
I'D Iise qnrnching Of all her material | y
azaapers grave not interfering in the
Aexst with Miss Turpin's airy fabric. IL
wOsld have been impossible to convince
AsD Turpin that he could reach so dire
~ extremity. had not the knowledge
tren forced in upon her In way thst
- sDBid not refuse
she absolutely heard the u uff voice of
fag SlssdTach upon the morningin ques-
as1s. ard the low, musical. but bitterly
szsskipg words Of the doctor In reply.