The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1880-12-18

no one to counsel or object, she obeyed it.
She went to the store aud spent one
dollar Of her precious money for matches.
She received large package, containing
thousands Of the little lucilers.
The city clocks were striking nine as
she reached the bulls eye.
The street was silent, the pavement de.
serted. As she bent down, some one tap.
ped on the bulls eye. She slipped a sheet
Of matches into the crevice. 1t disappear.
ed. She waited few momeuts; the hand
tapped for more; she supplied them.
As she waited again pedestrian ap-
preached. She rose, and stepped back in
to the shadows until he had passed; other
wise, she did not fear. The street was
quiet, aud she could not see the stars
twinkling in the clear sky.
Hour after hour she supplied matches,
at intervals of quarter hours. Occasion.
ally the rap came for an earlier demand
But she could not see the hand. She only
imagined it to be a mans.
1t was long past midnight, The city
clocks we're nearly striking two when her
matches became exhausted. She had not
been sufficiently supplied, she thought.
Quite at loss what she ought to do,
she rose from her cramped position, stand
ing 10 doubt, when a voice said:
"Come with me r.
She started 10 terror, for man stood
beside her; but the next words rcassurcd
her.
at is | whom you gave the matches to,
do not be afraid, hut take my arm, aud
walk fast, am not safe here
Alice could see only tall form, and a
pale face, the features of which she could
not distinguish; but the voice, though
hurried, was gently modulated, aud the
stranger took her hand with a grasp that
was not unpleasant.
"You must be tired; but this has been
good nights work for you, little girl, {"
he said.
"What did you want the matches for2"
asked Alice, trembling.
He had drawn her hand within his own,
and she was walking rapidly beside him.
1T was the only way in which could
get fire" he answered "The heat melted
the cement which enclosed bulls eye in
the wall Of my prison, aud | escaped
through the cavity. II was larger than
the one in the pavement. have been
prisoner in my own house for three years. ="
As they left the vicinity of the Tracy
dwelling he walked slower.
81 was quite helpless he adled-"I
knew Of no one to appeal to whom | could
trust. But listening and waiting, as a man
only listens and waits for freedom, l grew
familiar with your step as it passed so
often over the bulls eye and up the steps,
and week ago, when | heard your voice
to that beggar boy, resolved to trust you.
knew your tread the instant it touched
the curb-stOne, and | slipped the paper up
the creyice. You saw IL Immediately.
The hours till you came passed heavily;
you were my only hope. You are a brave,
good child. Now, where is your home
Can go there for little rest before day.
light p
at is poor place" said Alice, "but
you are welcome"
Daylight was dawning when she reveal.
ed her poverty stricken little room to him
He flung himselfinto chair aud dropped
his face upon the folded arms on the table.
Alice fancied that he was praying, and
moved about noiselessly, preparing a little
breakfast. She did not realize that this
man was young and handsome, aud il was
not, perhaps, propriety to have him there.
She was only jealous, 10 her pity, to serve
him, seeing, by daylight, how III he looked,
But by noon there were strange doiugs
In the little sewing girls room. She had
been seut for lawyer, the most removed
and popular one in the city, and he came
with two other gentlemen, so grand that
little Alice was quite awe-stricken. Final.
ly, Mr.. Lionel Tracy-that was the name
OF the hero--went away with them, and
she was left alone with her poverty and
wonder. Only she was not quite so help.
less and distressed us she had been, for
one Of the strange gentleman had smiled
upon her, and left few pieces Of gold on
her table. .$
But the marvel was all over with her,
and the gold was spent, and poverty and
care came back when, one day, there was
knock ut the door, and the landladys
little girl said that a carriage was standing
for her, and man in waiting said that
she had been sent for. io S8)
What could she do but obey the sum
monsf wondering what fairy il was-that
luxurious ride-until she began to see
through il, for the carriage stopped at the
Tracy mansion.
There had been great public excitement
the papers had been charged with the
development Of the infamous plot in high
life, whereby the true heir of great for
tune had been drugged, while i'll, and con.
cealcd, and story trumped up of his mys.
terious disappearance, but Alice, 10 her
solitude, had known nothing about il. Her
pennies went for bread instead OF news.
But when she stepped upon the threshold,
Lionel Tracy, the restored master, met
her with a tender courtesy that took away
all her fear, and made her feel like little
queen IN the midst of her splendor.
"Have the rest all gone away ?" she
asked, seeing 20 one but new servants and
q pleasant woman, who was the house.
keeper.
"fes, am quite alone, and shall be
unless you will come and live with me, I"
said Mr.. Lionel Tracy
"Do you want sewing girl p asked
Alice, iunocently.
mo- want wife," be answered.
Zone whom eau love with all my heart,
as do you, Alice. Win you come pp
Did sheS Well, yes. And the public
had another little episode to excite them
--,he famous Lionel Traey's marriage.
Alice grew charming with happiness, and
she was ehronicled beauty when she be.
came his bride She laughs, and says she
bought happiness with matches.
iIc had been sitting still so Ioog that
tho mother expected to Rnd him asleep
when she looked around and asked -
'"Well, Harry, what are you thinking of"
u l.. 0s