The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1879-11-28
Select Story.
LITTLE MISS TURPlN'S FATE.

A little convers alton took place ,one morn
ing, on the top floor of 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 chnks and
crannies in the mortar to the neighboring
apartment, where little Miss Turpn was pre-
pairing her frugal breakfast. The toasting
fork nearly fell from her hand, and her dim
ity apron narrowly escaped being seduced
by the sumptuous flame from the CRATE, when
the harsh, gruff voice of her landlord fell
upon her ear.
4 want my money, said Mr.. Shadrack.
so do l., replied the young doctor, and
more. He that wants money, means and
content, is without three good friends
Can I have my money to.night?'
Il think not
Tomorrow :?
1T is extremely doubtful
Then you must get out of here. want
my room.
When do you want it
AS soon as possible
will tomorrow do ??
yes
Then leave me, friend the room shall be
yours on tomorrow morning.
The young medical student was man of
spirit, and would have vacated these not
very alnring premises at once, but he had
n ot ubara m Low hi. haod ond thora saan, ad
a vital necessity just then for some such pro.
| ceeding on his part He had discovered two
| days before that the faterug and shabby
source of his pecuniary supplies had utterly
failed, and the knowledge that he was with
out money or friends in strange city to-
gether with an inability to heg, borrow or
STEAL had robbed him of sleep. The loss of
this necessary rest TO tired brain and worn
out body, rendered him the prey of many
different sensations during Mr.. Shadrach's s
visit An iron band seemed to compass his
forehead, his eye balls burned, his hands
shook, his knees seemed at times about to
collapse beneath him, as he walked to and
fro the length of the dreary apartment, fol
lack of more nourishing food chewing the
cud of many bitter fancy. He asked him.
self over and over again il this was to be the
end of it all, and why he had been such 8
fool as to fancy he could pursue the study o
medicine with the wretched capital of worn
out body, a distracted mind and barely mon
ey enough to keep flesh upon his bones Tha
an indomitable spirit had promoted him tC
go on, hoping fora little desultory practic,
by the way ; that the rose-color with which
youth and insxperience are apt to tint thos'
case, tina these and many other excuses
could be made for his folly availed little jus
now. A systematic course of semi-starva
ton and overwork had broken his indomita
bic spirit, and turned the rose colored dream
to an exceedingly greenished-h night
mare.
The only patient he had during his min
months stay with Mrs. Shadrach, was
poor little workwomau in the neighborn
room, a 'washed-out, timid, wretched littl
creature, with scarcely enough stamina abou
her to rally after slight attack OF pneumonis
. Her little fee had been ready for him afte
. every visit-in fact, obtrusively ready, fC
? it was out of the question, of course, to tax
: money 1T was merely neighborly sci
, vice, he had said, when, upon his fifth vis
he found her up aud at work again. and W
: pom his departure she had stammered OF
!; something about his bill, Il am only too gla
| Miss-Miss'-
'Turpin,' she whispered.
TO be Of service to you, and beg you wi
call me in whenever my presence is desir
= ble.'
Miss Turpin faltered out her thanks.
burning flush chased the pallor out of h
face, as warmly he pressed her trembliI
hand in his and bsde her goodbye.
= Poor little devil ? he said, as he stro
away to the lecture room. IT'S bad enou,
I'd for great strong OK like myself to face al
battle with this grim old grindstone of
miserable waif like that-phew, it's mo
strous'
= He thought other pity ingly till he cross
D. the threshold of the college, then ga
himself up to the subject in hand, which
= engrossed his mind, that he forthwith forI
I" the existence of little Miss Turpiu. ]
she, upon her part, repeated over a
nt over the words of young DR.. Blake, blu
a ing again when she bee, me conscious of
fact that she really had the temerity to dv
upon this genial but commonplace 90
Icl tesy.