The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1880-07-24
Iva kind OF desperation had taken

seemed to her she was so hungry
that il she could not get u supper she
should jump up and run. and rush
about. and snatch something. and
steal like 10. She held out her hand,
but only said:
I'm hungry!"
A gentleman called her. He WAS
the gentleman who had asked,
"What's the matter. here ?" he
called her IN behind his New York
Times, which was big enough to hide
three like Mary Elizabeth. and when
he saw that nobody was looking he
gave her u five.ccnt piece in a hurry,
as II he had done sin, and quickly
said:
"There, there, child! 90, now. got"
Then he began to read the Times
quite hard and fast, and to look Sc
we're as one does who never gives
anything to beggars. as a matter OF
principle.
But nobody gave anything else to
Mary Elizabeth. She shuftied from
one to another hopelessly. Every
gentleman shook his head. One call
ed for u waiter to put her out. This
frightened her and she stood still.
Over by a window. In 4 lonely
corner Of the great room, u young
man was sitting apart from the 9TH
ers. 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 eat
with his elbows on the table, and his
face buried in his arms. He was u
we'll dressed young man. with brown,
curling hair. Mary Elizabeth wonder
ed why he looked 50 miserable and
why he sat alone. She thought. per-
haps, il he weren't 50 happy as the
other gentlemen no would be more
sorry for cold and hungry girls. She
hesitated. and then Topped along
and directly up to him.
One or two gentlemen laid down
their papers and watched this; they
smiled and nodded at each other.
Tho 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 a young face looked sharply
at tho beggar girl--a beautiful young
face it might have been. 1t was
haggard now, and dreadful to look at
-bioated and badly marked with the
uumistakable marks Of a wicked
weeks idebauch. He roughly said
"What do you want 2"
I'm hungry" said Mary Elizabeth.
II can't hello that. 60 away"
Il havn't had anything to eat for
whole day-R whole long day." re-
peated the child.
Her lips Quivered, but she spoke
distinctly. Her voice sounded
through the room. Ono gentleman
after another had laid down hia pa
per or his pipe. Several were watch
Ing this little scene.
"Go away!" repeated the young
man. irritaOly. Don't bother me
I haven't had anything to eat fol
three days!"
His faco went down into his arms
again. Mary Elizabeth stood star
ing at the brown, curling hair. Sh'
stood perfectly still for some mo
ments. She evidently was great!
puzzled. She walked away a llttl
distance. then stopped and though
it over.
And now paper after paper. pip
, after cigar went down. Every gen
tleman in the room began to look on
The young man, with the beautifu
brown curle and disBiDated, disgrace|
and hidden face, WAS not stiller thal
: tho rest. The little figure In tn
> pink calico, and the red shawl an
big rubbers, stood for q moment O.
! lent among them all. The waite
!, came to take her out. but tho gentle
', men motioned him away.
Mary Elizabeth turned her scent
. piece over and over slowly In he
y. y purple hand. Her hand shook. III
! tears came. The smell Of the dtnlne
= room grew savOry and strong. Th
child put the piece Of money to be
= lips az II she could have eaten l
!" then turned, and, without furthe
. hesitation, went back. She touche
a the young man--0n tho bright cur!
4 this time-with hcr trembling IL
y tie hand. .
\ The room was 80 still now, tn,
i what she said rang out on the co
q ridor. where the waiter stood Wit
>. the clerk behind looking over Il
: desk to see.
y I'm sorry you are so hungry.
~ YOU haven't had anything for thr'
, DAYS YOU must be hungricr than N
"a I've got 5 cents. A gentleman go,
" It to me. I wish you would take
q, \, I've only gone one day. You ca
a get some supper over 1t, and may
/: lean get some, s0meWheres!
:. wish you'd please take it!'
"a Mary Elizabeth stood quite stt
n holding out her scent piece. 81
e did not understand the sound n
~ stir that went all over the brig
~ room. She did not zee that some
~ :. the gentlemen coughed and wip'
!, their spectacles. She did not kn(
n. why the brown curls before her cal
q ND with such q start. nor Why {
- Young mans wasted face flushed
n. and hot with noble shame.
~ She did not in the least understa
- whv he flung the Scent piece on t
-, table, and snatching her ~ his arr
70. held her fast, and hid his face IN
~. plaid shawl and sobbed: Nor 9
81 she know what could be the reas
f" that nobody seemed amused to .
\. this gentleman cry, but that
NJ gentleman who had given her
h. money came up, and some M
~ came up. and they gathered roul
az and che In the midst OF them, q
*, ~ thew all spoke kindly. and the you
'~a man With the bad face, that NIL
III have been 80 beautiful. stood
IN; still clinging to her. and said slo
~, ,iS "She shamed me before you
w. ~ and she's shamed me to myself.
, Sn learn a lesson from this beggar
nd help me God" ,
ma ma So then he took the child upon
WV knee. and the gentlemen calae up
ia. listen. and the young man as
. an, what was her name.
s% "Mary Elizabeth, sir."
h -