Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1880-03-19
Lillian.
II'dGeriey.

Lillian.
1t was the Fourth of July. and hot,
sultry day. The temperature was such
that no one ventured ont in the hot sun
who was not actually obliged to, and
those in the cities, Of course, were le-
gion. .t
Among the number in the city OF
N was Miss Lillian Matthews, who,
in order to finish her preparations for
her summer jaunt to the country, on
which she was to start the following
week, reluctantly ordered her fathers
Coacbman to take her on shopping ex-
petition. Driving at once to the largest
dry goods house in the city, she alighted,
and was soon so deep in the mysteries
of laces, silks, satins, etc, that she paid
little heed to the discomfort she was
suffering from the heat. After COM
pleting her purchases at the counters
on the main floor, she was shown down
short fight, of stairs in the basement,
where there was great display OF
croekery, glass ware, perfumeries, etc.
Here, though it was really no warmer
than elsewhere, the air seemed sitting
and intoleraHe. The room was lighted
by gas, but one was glad to escape from
\ the sickly glare in few moments.
She made few purchases, at one of the
4 counters, OF. young girl, who, though
not decidedly pretty, was, at least, in
teresting. She looked very pale and
weary. and as Miss Matthews stood
viewing her passiorately, she saw
tear drop from her cheek upon the
bundle she was tying up. She then
said to her r.
g Is it not very tiresome to stand be-
hind the counter all day long in this
CHASTITY gaslight, where you cannot get
q breath Of fresh air 2"
ooh, yes!" the girl replied. "But
that would be nothing were it not for
the anxiety I constantly feel for my
poor, sick mother, who has no one but
me to care for or help her, and l can
be with her only nights and Sundays.
! then do all 1 can for her indeed,
many nights sleep scarcely an hour
from watching and trying to make her
comfortable.
"You are not allowed to sit down to
rest. suppose, when you are here?"
No we have a very unfeeling floor
walker, who, If he were to see one of us
sitting, would at once report at head
quarters, and we would be quickly dis
charged"
"Do you have far to walk to your
homer"
"About half a mile"
" Well, give me your mothers name
and address, and l will call to see her
this very day, and perhaps l can assist
her in some way"
"Oh, my dear lady, you are so kind!
But really do not believe you would
be seen going to such miserable place.
Still, all who live in the old tenement
are respectable, even if they are poor.
Here is the address: Mrs. Mary Han
son, 40 Walker street."
Taking the scrap of paper, and
thanking the girl, Miss Matthews said
" / will go there directly l leave this
place."
Ella Hanson looked through her tears
at the stylish. looking young lady. and
sobbed aloud. It had been so long
since any one had appeared to take any
interest in either her or her mother that
this manifestation of kindness from the
beautiful stranger completely overcame
her. But she had no time to spend in
tears, for new customers were standing
At the counter to be waited upon so,
taking the extended hand OF Miss
Matthews, she bade her good-by, wished
her all the good fortune the world
could afford her, and turned her atten-
ton to another lady customer.
Lillian then ordered her purchases,
which consisted of few parcels, to be
sent at once to Elm Place, her home,
and she was driven to Walker street.
where she found Mrs. Hanson in a
worse condition than she had antici.
pated. The building in which she
lived was indeed rickety, desolate
concern, and the sick woman apparently
on the verge of the grave. It was a
curious sight to see this high-bred,
richly dressed, beautiful young lady
climbing the tottering old stairs that
led to the sick woman's room and a
dozen little urchins, and one or two
shrewish-looking women who nearly
olocked up the doorway, made room
ior her to pass, cycling both her and
the grand carriage in which she came
II way that told they had never seen
sueh a turnout and SO fine a young
lady before.
As she reached the door TO which she
vas directed she could but pause a
moment to listen TO the feeble voice OF
Tue Invalid, who was Offering mp an
earnest PRAYER TO God 20 watch over
and protect her dear child whom she
must so shortly leave. Not lisp was
onereu IN her own behalf but for the
enid she loved better than her own life
Ale IN plored blessing.
IlAn resolved then and there thai
% would be al instrument in God,