The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1880-08-17
SAVED BY MATCHES.

freedom aiu IT'S tdp". S'@
have had dimples il she had worn Il
dress Of violet silk, instead of the
faded cxlico, it would have brought
on, the fairness of her skin and the
golden hue Of her hair. As IT WAS
Alice Morne Was pale. and punched,
and sad, with the sewing girls sioop
of shoulders and the sewing girls
heavy heart.
She rose suddenly and folded np /
her work-a child's garment, OF hire
trimmed with dainty lace
She made a package of it. d'nned her
bonnet and shawl, ana went out OF her
lodging house.
he dreaded the commercial streets
rapidly, and soon emerged upon the
avenues of wealthy private residences
Here it was qnieter. The dusk was
gathering. Now and then carriage
rolled by. One or tao stately houses
were lighted for receptions. Many
more were somberly closed. Alice
went on. with her quiet, rapid step.
She stopped at last before ho''-e
i'm a blaze Of light. Costly lace cur
tains concealed the luxurious rooms
within the soft notes OF piano
came softly upon the girls ears.
The Trac,s give another party to-
night" said Alice.
She went into the area and rang
the bell. A servant admitted her.
She went in with her bundle.
She came out with light step.
The work had been approved. and she
had been paid. A little dazzled with
the scene she had just emerged from,
she paused upon the pavement I"
count her money.
| Give me a cent, said little
beggar-bov starting somewhere ont
Of the silent shadows.
"Wbat do YOU want it for" asked
Alice.
I'm hungry answered the child.
H. was pale and punched.
Here's dime; would give you
more if coul,r," she said.
The child took it eagerly. Sine
passed or, with less than 50 to buy
supper and pay a weeks rent.
She had more work. When il Wa:
finished she came the same way again
in the dusk. As she passed over the
sidewalk faint line of white attract
Ell her attention.
There was a knob of glass. gener
ally called "buIl's-eye," in tint
pavement. 1t is usually inserted
over a coal vault. and is removed IL
admit the Goals. This one had moi
been adjusted with exactitude, and a
: the crevice appeared line of white
, Alice stopped down and examined ii
1t was the edge ola folded paper.
She drew it out with wild thought
that it might be SOME valuable ch-cl
or draft. But il contained only few
words written in pencil:
Il have watched for you constant,
! for a week. Ii yon would save iii,
. life come back here. and all nigh
long plsce matches where you foun'
this pa,-r. You shall be- rewariet
with ali YOU can ask. A PRISONER
AIica closed the paper in her ham
l and lnrk Il bewiIdered. No one WI
e 10 b. seen. She looked down at :h
, lump of dull glass, but it was entire
~ OPAQUE. The buli's eve was not 80
quite evenly IN its place. She touche
il with her foot. but could not NOV
it. After waiting y momsnt. CO.
fused and in doubt, she passed on
, recollectIng her errand.
f The area door admitted her. Tn
servant had child on her arm, tn
' dainty little thing for whom A!ic
made garments.
Mrs. Tracy said YOU was to com
up to her chamber" said she: '.yo
know the way
e The lady whom she met was nc
q lovely; she was .ailow and dark
very disagreeable looking-clutchin
. her cashmere gown at the breast
and turning impatientIy toward he
p little sewing-girI.
t why did you not come before
q she asked. in hoarse voice. with
slight French accent. The chill
l. should have had that dress to driy
in to-day"
e Il was sick yesterday; I could n,
e finish it" answered Alice, tremulou
e ly.
n Madame sna:chcd the package
tearing it open and letting the lit!
. embroidered robe fall on the bed.
;. "Well. here is your money" sal
}. she, opening velvet purse. ''NeS
p time 1 will employ some one who vi
do as they promise"
Alice turned away with a burst
ing heart-for the woinan's Wore
meant starvation to her. She dare
n not raise her voice in reply; sh
q OWNED truly that the heart unde
I that rich robe was one of stone.
As she passed down stairs. sh
heard a low voice. 1t proceede
, from one of the rooms about her.
I "And he is twenty-one to day.,
s said.
p "Yes; it is three years since h
mysterious disappearance, with
sneerine laugh.
The voices We're stealthy. 4 doc
J closed and shut them in.
Q Alice passed down into the street
4 She walked fast, treading unthins
y inglv upon the hu'rs eye. and wen
home. When she flung herself dow
to weep. she suddenly felt tn
5 crumpled paper in her hand.
8 What should she do? She Ia
s thinking long time. She consider
d ed the strangeness of the request, th
possibility that it was not meant fu
her. the idea that it was hoax, O
: written by some madman-for it Wa
s a mans handwriting.
!, But the girls heart was warm an