The Sentinel. [volume] (Trenton, N.J.) 1880-1882, 1882-05-27

DecH KNOWN 70 go 10 steep on these
night watches, to let her in. Now he
seemed to be sunk in the deepest obi
WON. But then, if Orlando slept,
some one else had generally walked,
and either reused him, or let her in,
individually. Mrs. Davenport shud-
dered. A night on her own front
steps! eo
She kept on ringing desperately.
Presently q policeman came along,
and to him she appealed.
"Oh, got key ?" said he. Let
me help unlock the door"
"But I have not got key" said
the miserable woman.
'..Bad, bad" said the officer. "I
never knew them to wake up. How
ever, will rap for you"
So he pounded the blinds with his
club and made a terrible noise. Two
or, three heads looked out of the oppo-
site windows. One invalid raised a
window and begged that her rest
might not be ruined.
Lady locked OUT" sang the police
man.
/" Well, is that any reason why you
should try to wake the dead?" asked
the irate clergyman opposite.
The policeman walked on, leaving
Mrs. Davenport in despair.
Haven't you any trends in this
neighborhood ?" he asked.
ST should think not" said she fee
bly,.
She drew her fur cloak about her
and sat down on the door mat. She
had not regarded that useful article in
the light of a divan before; now she
was glad of even that medium between
herself and the cold doorstep. To
weep would not mend the matter; to
ring and POUND, and rattle the blinds
was useless. Everybody was asleep.
She had been forgotten. She, the core
! of the whole thing, the handspring of
| that establishment. Her husband and
children and her servants had, each
trusting to somebody else, gone to bed
and forgotten her.
She looked up at the moon and
stars, at Jupiter and ut several other
| ilIustroius denizens of the sky, and
found them cold and unsympathetic.
She began to think of her sins, and
feared that she had not been suffi-
GENTLY kind to homeless outcasts.
Even the cats, who were the only peo-
pie abroad in her quiet street, came in
for her sympathy.
"They have a hard time, poor
things,' said she, always locked
out"
1t was cat, however, who gave her
an idea. Evidently predatory Arab
of cat who thought he owned her
front steps, for after stealthily creep
ing up and finding her in posse sion,
he leaped on to a ghboring bal
cony. She looked after him.
"Dr. Montgomery's-and speak
ing tube !" said she. "Why did L not
remember that before"
Mrs. Davenport drew up her long
yellow satin train, laid her fan and
handkerchief on the doorstep, and as
fast as high heels and satin slippers
would allow, went down her own steps
and up those of her neighbor who
lived at thirty-seven. &
He is a doctor accustomed to be
awakened at all hours" said she.
She rang and heard sleepy voice
come down.
what do you want ?"
"Help! help!" said she.
!" What help? Who? What num-
Der ?" asked the doctor.
Thirty-nine; great trouble! I'm
| mediate ~ said Mrs. Dave nport.
The doctor seemed to be hours in
coming down. She was nearly in
despair again, but at length he opened
the door in his heavy overcoat and
hat.
"Oh, doctorl doctor let me in I"
said the lady, now quite historical.
"Your house is warm, do let me in"
| The doctor was, ofAcourse, aston
ished to see his fashionable neighbor,
but hospitable and helpful.
"Will you go up and knock at the
partition wall in your front room, doc,
tor, and try to wake Mr.. Davenport 2"
said Mrs. Davenport, now in teaIs.
Yes, madam, if you say SO. But
had you not better spend the night
here?" t
What, next door to thirty-nine |
oh. no! / could not, must go home.
Please, doctor, If it will not disturb
Mrs. Montgomery, do go up and make
a dreadful noise at the head of Mr..
Davenport's bed i; it leans up against
your parlor, for he always hears your
1 piano."