The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1881-10-14
ONCE MORE WE MEET.

ONUE MUkE VII MILL.
A young girl is walking rapidly
through dimly-lighted cross-street in
Il large city. The midnight hour has
just rung out from bell in distant
steeple, and an oppressive silence
reigns in the deserted street, broken
now only by the hurrying steps Of the
belated girl.
AS she moves quickly on she casts
| about her nervous, frightened glances.
from which it is evident that her posi-
ton is one to which she is unused. and
which gives her much alarm.
All up and down the street there is
no moving object except herself, but
she starts with fear now and then as
the pickering gaslight from an Occa-
sional lamp-post throws grotesque
shadow in her way. and. gathering her
shawl more closely about her, she quick
ems her steps and hurries on.
Only one block more and her own
door will shut out the night and its ter
rors, but even as her courage rose with
the thought, she reached the corner Of
an intersecting street. and two men,
with liquor, stood suddenly before her.
Paralyzed with fear, the girl could
not move step. Her heart seemed
to beat no more, and her tongue was
powerless.
The men placed themselves directly
in her path.
(Which way, my little beauty?" said
one of them. "What are you i'm such
-hic-hurry about?" and he caught
the terrified girl roughly by the arm.
Aroused to action by the rude touch,
she struggled with all her strength to
free her arm from his grasp, but find
ing it impossible, she uttered wild, con-
vulsive call for help. and before the
echoes of her voice were borne away 4
firm, quick step sounded on the side
walk. a strong arm flashed like battle
axe through the half-lightcd air, AMI
the two ruilians were laid sprawling in
the street.
With an hysterical cry Of surprise
and joy. the girl turned to her deliver
err and thanked him us well rs her agf-
tation would permit. Her voice was
low and musical. and there was in it
the unmstakablc evidence of culture
and gentle breeding. Her manner, too.
was charming. and the gentleman who
had served her felt instinctivcly that
she was Il lady. But why was she
alone in the street at this hour? Per-
haps she will explain that.
'.HOwever," thought he, sit is none
of my business"
And assuring her that he had done
the most natural thing in the world, and
deserved no thanks for it, he asked if
she would not permit him to conduct
her TO her home.
"a lady is never safe in the streets ut
night, and should be i'll satisfied with
myself if | allowed you to incur further
danger. My name is Darcy-Regin-
aid Darcy, of No. - Delancey-terrace.
and am entirely at your service"
The loyal gentleman spoke in every
word, and she accepted his offer with
out hesitation, repeating her thanks for
his timely service.
"One moment, please" said MIR. OAR
cy; IL see IN officer approaching. at
tracted doubtless by your cry for help.
! will explain matters to him. with your
permission. and leave these ruilians to
his tender mercics. see they are try
ing to regain their feet"
After few words to the officer, OAR
cy gave his arm TO the young lady. and
they walked away in the direction Of
her home.
81 can never sufficiently thank YOU.
sir. for the service you have just ren-
dered me. 1t is the first time | was
ever in the street alone at night. and l
cannot tell you how frightened l was.
My mother was in need of some medi-
cine, and, us we live entirely alone, l
had to overcome my fear and 90 10
the druggists for it. But this is where
we live"
And she stopped in front of dark
building which Darcy knew, from its
appearance, to be one of those tene-
ment-hOuses where human beings are
hivcd together like bees.
The open door showed long narrow
hall, whose bare floor looked cherries
and uninviting in the dim light of u
small jet Of gas which burned within.
1t furnished light enough for Darcy
to see now, for the first time. the sin
gular beauty of the young girl as she
stood before him at the door.
Her features were delicate, even clas-
sic in their outlines, and, despite GER
| tain marks of care and suffering,
showed her age to be about seventeen
years.
Under plain but neat and becoming
hat, her neat nut-brOwn hair was taste
fully arranged, with here and there a
little curl straying out of bounds to kiss
her pretty cheek.
Her eyes were large and dark, and
as they looked up into his face there
| seemed to be mirrored in them the
modcsty and innocence of pure young
heart.
Her dress was of cheap material. but
it fitted her graceful figure so perfectly
that the texture would have passed UNI
noticed.
She was evidently poor, very poor,
| but there was an air Of refinement
about her which poverty could not con-
ceal.
All this Darcy took in at a glance, as
he stood, hat In hand, bidding her
goodnight, and as she entered the hall
and he turned away. he felt like one
from whom great light has been
suddenly taken, with only darkness
left.
Darcy was young, wealthy. cultivat-
ed, and handsome. and belonged to a
..set'' every member of which would
have turned up her aristocratic nose ut
his new acquaintance; but there was
no one in that silk-attired circle who
had made so deep and tender an inn
preston on him as the fair young girl
who wore cotton robe and lived in q
tenement-hOuse.
As he walked home o bewildering
sense of new and beautiful life
thrilled his heart, and the soft light OF
her beaming eyes fingered fondly with
him.
Suddenly he remembered that he had
not learned her hame-but he would
sec her again, and sOOn-sO it did not
matter much He little thought what
strange results would follow even so
slight thing rs that.
Darcy was one Of . business firm
| which had important connections in