Louisiana capitolian., 1880-08-21
MATCHES.


wonll have been pretty if she had not
beea 50 poor. If she had been better
fed, she would have had rosy cheek:
if she bad had freedom and less labor
she would have had dimpless; if she had
worn dress of violet silk, instead of the
faded calico, it would have brought ont
the fairness of her skin and the golden
hue OF her hair. As it was, Alice Morne
was pale and pinched, and sad, with the
sewing girrs stoop of shoulders, and the
sewing girls heavy heart.
She rose suddenly and folded up her
work-a childs garment, Of fine camhric,
trimmed with dainty lace. She made
package Of it, donned her bonnet and
shawl, and went outofhe lodging.house.
She threaded the commercial streets
raDidlN and soon emerged upon the ave-
nues of wealthy private residences.
Here it was quieter. The dusk was
gathering. Now and then carriage
rolled by. One or two stately houses
were lighted for receptions. Many more
We're s"lnberly closed. Alice went on
with her quiet, rapid step.
She stopped at last before house in
blaze of light. Costly lace curtains con
cealed the lnxnrions rooms within: the
soft notes of piano came softly npon
the girls ear.
''rhe Tracys give another party to-
night" said Alice.
She Wen, into the area and rang the
bell. A servant admitted her. She went
in with her bundle.
She came ont with light step. The
work bad been approved, and she Lai!
been paid. \ little dazzled with the
scene she had just emerged from. she
paused upon the pavement 10 count her
money.
Give NE cent" said little beSyay-
boy starting somewhere out of the silent
shadows.
What do you want it for?' asked
Alice.
''I'm hnnsry,' answered ,ne child. Nt
WAS pale and plnched
"Here'Sa dime: would give you nor.
if conil,' she said
The child took i eagerly. She passeI
ol', with less than - TO buy supper au'
pay n week. rent.
She had more work. When il Va
finished she came the same way a.ai,
in the dusk. As she passed over th
sidewalk = tajNt .n" nt white attracted
her it.ro',n..
The" Vas " knob Of glass, general,
called Il bulls eye in the pavement
1t is usually inserted over coal vault
and is removed to admit the Goals Thi
one had not been adjusted with exact
tnde, ana at the crevice appeared a lin
Of white. Alice stopped down and ex;
mined it. II was the edge Of a folAe
paper.
She drew it ont with Il wild thoncl
that it might be some valuable cnecl
or draft, but it contained only fe
words written in pencil:
81 have watched for you constan.I
for IL week. ii you woald sa,
my life come back here, and all nigl
long place matches where y0u foun
this parer. You shall be rewarded vi,
all you can ask. y PRISONER.
Alice closed The paper in her har
and looked around bewiIGeyed. No OF
WAS 20 he seel!. She looked down al u
'ump Of dull glass, but it was entire
Opaque. The bulls eye was not $
quite evenly in It's place. She touch'
it with hrr loot, nut could not move
After waiting a moment, confused aI
in donbt, she passed on, recolleCting h
errand.
The area door admitted her. 7
servant had child in her arm, :
dainty little thing for whom Alice ma
garments.
Mrs Tracy said you was to come
to her chamber,' said she. "Iou knt
the way"
The lady whom she met vas not loN
~: she was swallow and dark: We
Notwithstanding her cashme
gown AT the breast, and turning imI
tienly toward her little sewing girl
"Why did you not come here before
she asked in hoarse voice. with
slight French accent. THE child shot
At last, -<u' 1uuta' '-sva.s~ss.t, @''a'
.,.aaand .ara%d Hannibal Hanllln. HOil. DIstu-