Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1882-07-04
The Wolf at the Door.

1t was lonesome, dreary old house,
for all there were so many persons in it.
It had never seemed so dreary to Rhoda
before, as it did this afternoon, when
she climbed the rickety old stairs, and
heard the Flaherty children whooping
like so many Camanches in the hall
above, while the O'Leary girls were
singing doleful ditty in the next room,
in the shrillest of shrill voices.
Dear me-" sighed Rhoda, as she
stopped on the landing, "I'm just tired
cut and Discouraged and then then she
broke down and cried all to herself.
And she had good reason to be dis
couraged. She had tramped all over
town, it seemed to her, in search OF
work and found none. dozens of wo.
men out of work." they told her every
where; mot half enough to do to meet
the wants of half the applicants"
What was she to do? That question
frightened her, because she could not
answer it. 1t has frightened many
is one of the always recurring problems
She heard Lucy coming to the door,
and dried her eyes hastily.
"Oh, Rhoda !" cried Lucy, opening
the door and discovering her "I'm so
glad you've come; Mr.. Brownlow's
been here.
Rhoda's heart gave great jump, and
then seemed to stand still. Mr.. Brown
low owned the old tenement house, and
the rent was due.
"What did he he want ?" asked Rhoda
in a frightened tone. If 1t was rent he
was after, where was it coming from
She had come near forgetting that, in
trying to solve the perplexing problem
of where bread was to come from.
HE didn't say" answered Lucy.
"He said he wanted to see you"
"And he said he'd come again this
evening"" called out little Bob, who
could hear the conversation at the door.
"And he asked me how I'd like to have
a nice house to live in, and have my
foot made well, so I could walk like
other boys, and go to school,"
Rhoda sighed to think of these things,
Everything seemed far off in these days,
some way.
II can't imagine what Mr.. Brownlow
is coming for" she repeated dozen
times before he came.
II don't like him one bit," protested
Lucy decidedly; II hate him."
"You shouldn't hate anybody"
chided Rhoda, just as knock came
at the door; and, trembling all over
with dread she knew not what, she
went and let Mr.. Brownlow in. He was
a great, COARSE looking man, but there
was sort of rough kindness in his face
after all. He meant well, but that didn't
hinder his having kind of repulsive-
ness for RhOda.
She gave him the best chair, and he
sat down. She wondered if he would
ever do his errand and 60 away? He
sat down as if he had come to stay for
long time.
He talked with crippled Bob for an
hour before he got round to business.
But Rhoda, though she didn't look at
him once. knew that he was watching
her all the time.
When he had mustered up sufficient
courage to do his errand, he did it very
suddenly, if not automatically.
"I'm q single man, Miss Alstye," said
he. fidgeting with his hat, as if that
helped him about saying what he had
to. 1--WE seen good deal of you, off
an on, an I've concluded you'd make
me good wife. I'll take care of these
children, an give 'em good bringin'-
up, an give you a good home, If you
say so.
Rhoda was never so frightened in her
life.
She couldn't speak for minute. He
seemed to think her speechless because
of the magnitude and magnificence oil
the offer.
sits sudden, of course" he contin-
ued ''but there amt no sense in beatin'
round the bush. 1 don't want none o.
them fine, flashy girls that can't work
an help take care o. things. I know
you can, an you're smart an respecta-
BILE, an I'll do jest as l said, if you'll
marry me. Most girls in your circum-
stances would jump at the chance.
You're sensible, take 1t, an when
you've thought 1t over you'll see 'twon't
do to let such a chance slip. I don't
want you to give me an answer now.
I'll wait week for you to think about
1t.
Then he went away, leaving poor
Rhoda so bewildered that she hardly
knew if she knew anything. Marry
him! She couldn't think of it! And
vet she couldn't help thinking of it. If
,he consented, she and the children
would have a home. They would have
plenty to eat and wear. Robbie could,
ike enough, be cured of his deformity,
md obtain an education. If they lived
N in the present way, there was pros