The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1880-06-02

A43GA4 SASSA
waiter to put her out. This frightened
her and she stood still.
Over by Il window, in 2 lonely corner
of the great room, a young man was
sitting, apart from the others. Mary
Elizabeth had seen that young man
when she first came in, but he had not
seen her. He had not seen anything nor
anybody. He sat with his elbows on
the table and his face buried in his
arms. He was q well.dre5sed young
man, with brown, curling hair. Mary
Elizabeth wondered WHY he looked SO
miserable, and why he sat alone. She
thought, perhaps, if he weren'ts so happy
as the other gentlemen he would be
more sorry for cold and hungry girls.
She hcsitated, and then Topped along
and directly up to him.
One OF two gentlemen laid down their
papers and watched this: they smiled
and nodded to each other. The child
did not see them to wonder why. She
went up and put her hand on the young
mans arm. ,
He started. The brown, curly head
lifted itself from the shelter of his arms;
o young face looked sharply at the beg
gar girl-a beautiful young face itmlglt
have been. 1t was haggard now. and
dreadful to look at-b!oated and badly
marked with the unmistakable marks
ola wicked weeks debauch. He roughly
said:
"What do you want?"
"I'm hungry" said Mary Elizabeth.
Il can't help that. Go away"
81 haven't had anything to eat tor a
whole day-a whole long day." re-
peated the child.
Her lips quivercd, but she spoke dis
tinctly. Her voice sounded through
the room. One gentleman after another
had laid down his paper or his pipe.
Several were watching this little
scene.
"Go away!" repeated the young man,
irritably. Don't bother me. l
haven't had anything to eat for three
daysm
His face went down into his arms
again. Mary Elizabeth stood staring
at the brown curling hair. She stood
perfectly still for some moments. She
evidently was greatly puzzled. She
walked away a little distance, then
stopped and thought it over.
And now, paper after paper, pipe after
cigar went down. Every gentleman in
the room began to look on. The young
a with The beautiful brown curls,
and dissipated, disgraced and hidden
face was not stiller than the rest. The
little figure in the pink calico, and the
red shawl. and big rubbers stood for q
moment silent among them all. The
waiter came to take her out, but the
gentlemen motioned him away.
Mary Elizabeth turned her fve-ccnt
piece over and over slowly in her purple
hand. Her hand shook. The tears
came. The smell of the dining-room
grew savory and strong. The child put
the piece of money to her lips as if she
could have eaten it, then turned, ana,
without further hesitation, went back.
She touched the young man-cn tile
bright curls this time-with her trem-
bling little hand.
The room was 50 stillnow, that what
she said rang out TO the corridor, where
the walters stood with the clerk behind
looking over the desk to see.
I'm sorry you are so hungry. If
YOU haven't had anything for three
days, you must be hungrier than me.
I've got five cents. A gentleman gave
it to NE. / wish you would take il.
I've only gone one day. You a get
some supper with it, and-maybe-1-
can getsome, somewheres! [ wish you'd
please take it"
Mary Elizabeth stood quite still, hold
ing out her fve-cent piece. She did not
understand the sound nor the stir that
went all over the bright room. She did
not see that some of the gentlemen
coughed and wiped their spectacles
She did not know why the brown cur,
before her came up with such q start
nor why the young mans wasted face
flushed red and hot with noble shame.
She did not in the least understand
why he flung the five-cent piece IN the
table, and snatching her in his arms
held her fast, and hid his face in her
plaid shawl and sobbed. Nor did she
know what could he the reason that
nobody seemed amused to see this gen.
tleman cry, but that the gentleman who
had given her the money came up, and
some more came up, and they gathered
round, and she in the midst of them, and
they all spoke kindly, and the young
mar with the bad face, that might have
been SO beautiful. stood up, still cling
ing to her. and said aloud:
"She's shamed me before you all, and
she's shamed me to myself! I'll learn
a lesson from this beggar, SO help me
God"
So then he took the child upon his
knee, and the gentlemen came up to
listen, and the young man asked what
was her name.
"Mary Elizabeth, sir"
"Names used to mean things-in the
Bible-when I was as little as you. I
read the Bible then. Does Mary Eliza
beth mean Angel o: Rebuke"
"Sir"
"Where do you live, Mary Eliza
bethe"
"Nowhere, sir"
"Where dc YOU Sleep"
"In Mrs. O'Flynn's shed, sir. It's
too cold for the cow. She's so kind she
lets us stay"
"Whom do you stay with"
Nobody, only Jo."
"Is 10 your brother?"
ono, sir. Joe is a girl. I haven't
got only 10"
What does 10 do for living?"
"She-gets it. sir"
land what do you do?"
~ beg: It's better than to-set it,
sir. I think"
Where's your mother?"
"Dead."
"What did she die off"
"Drink. sir" said Mary Elizabeth,
in her distinct and gentle tone.
"Ah-well. And YOUR father?"
"He is dead. He died in prison."
"Wnat sent him to PRISON."
"Drink, sir"
"Oh!"
81 had a brother once" continued
Mary Elizabeth. who grew quite elo-
quent with so large al audience, "but
be died, too.
"What did he die OFF"
"Drink. sir" said the child, cheer
81 do want my SUPPER" she
after a pause, speaking in a whis-
per. rs if to 10 or to herself, land Joll
he wondering for me-"
"Wait. them" said the young man;
''Ill see if I can't beg you enough to
get you your supper"