The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1882-11-05
PlFF, ESQ.

PlFF, ESQ.
N GARTAN uost.
Piff is a bachelor. Not very old, il is
true thirty than forty, and thinks himself
| quite young yet. Not what ono would call q hand
| some man. hut fairly good looking with an honest
glance in his sharp gray eyes, that prepossesses
Immediately. lonely fellow, too, without known
relative In the world, filling winter and summer y
wcarying Cerkehip that was gradually wearing all
vitality out OF him, lie had always worked hard had
known poor food, and wrotChcd clothing, and the
marks ui his days of want stil showed themselves In
the winked brow and utterly faded gait and dtoop
| Ing form.
| Pin occupies large, roar room, fitted with water,
In quiet street. little way out OF town lie cooks
his own breakfast and supper and takes his dinners
| at dining room p" down town. lie has n unique
horror of boarding houses, and since his aHecionate
mother died-whOm he declares 'dd cook him such
Jolly meal, you bet ''he has SCofncd tho nlnlstra
lions of woman. kind, and prepares savory morning
and evening meal for himself that would 10 credit to
a French cook.
II Is glorious sight to see this worthy gentleman
on, say calm, Saturday evening, with both windows
wide oen transferring juicy steak from the broiler
to his plate, which Is ankod by couple OF slices of
nicely Drowned toast loury potato couple OF hot
rolls the steamng teapot on the table centrea tempt
Ing pie In the dstancc-and lastly acouplc bottles OF
beer for an appetizer, And doesn't he enjoy It ?
rosy cheek lie shows when, after discussing one OF
these evening feasts he salics forth-almost young
| again. lie thinks with something Of sigh--to tho
theatre the small social club to which he belongs. He
| is happy-no but himself to look after--selnsh
| somewhat, we suppose, but scarcely more so than
others who were born more fortunate.
| PIT usually patroniscs tho nrst-clnss variety
theatre; his white vest, massive gold chain. and
| hoarsc, chuchling laugh are well known to the
| hd5ttHcS OF the front rows The performers know
| him. too but he proves thoroughly exasperatlng
connndium to Them FOR he appauds with equal cclat
the bald Jokes of the negro sketch artist, and the
finest vocal efforts of tho blonde and buslng sero-
| comic debutante.
one cool start Saturday night in the early summer
lie saunteIlng down the street that led TO the
on which he lodged, making the pavement ring with
the strokes of his cane aud humning snatch of the
Every latest, " when he suddenly caught tho sound
| of what seemed like sob. Tie stopped short
| listened-it was certainly repeated and came from a
| small passage between two brick houses.
| "llumph, he muttored, and advanced cautiously.
Peerng about, he discovered what looked like small
girl, seated on the ground and sobbng violently with
her head enveoped In a shawl. Pif tipped her with
| his stick.
| ''Well, little one, what is the matter ~
The shawl was thrown back hastily, and she started
to her feet, adjusting her hat and passing her hand
| over her eyes lie then that she older than
he first supposed. She answered his question trem-
| ulousy:
"oh sir! nothing Is the matter-I-I'm going
away at once.'' And she moved as II TO pass him.
He looked 1t her thoughtfully, aud allowed her To
move few yards OF.
''stay, The cried; 'there Is something wrong,
Come under this lamp, and look mo In my eyes,
child I'm an old fellow and gentleman, [ hope,
anu honest, DplleNc. Arc you lUSt, or Wnat E''
She glanced irrcsolutey up and down tho street,
and then came as he bid Under the Hight of III,
| lamp lie saw that she was dark haired, black-eycd
gr OF apparently sixteen, dressed neatly In coun-
| tryfed dress and hat, and "a shawl that seemed to
him rather heavy for the season.
| "You sec what am PIT said, when she had
given him one glance over; 'my name Is John
George PHI, hard working clerk, with no evil de-
signs any alive. Tell me your trouble and II
| l can help you WILL ~
Betwixt sobs and catching for breath she told he,
little tale. Coming down from back-woods farm,
nIn t..s hnr Forth u,t,t 81 O.,
the great city, with small purse of money! she met
with not uncommon adventure, viz: her pocket was
noise of the hard streets she found herself penniless.
| rimd and retiring, her mind filled with variety o
warnings of the dangers and temptations around her,
she wandered amlessly on, resting here and Their,
where opportunity offered TIL at length nigh
coming on, footsore and weary, she wandered Int
the place where PHI discovered her.
When he had hear her story, he p0ndered deeply.
and then burst out
That's nothing Miss don't worry for to- night
III get you food and lodging, and Tomorrow wei
see what can DO done. Come along with me; live q
few doors down. Don't be afraid, child, l wouldn'
harm you for the world My landlady Will look afte
you-a very nice lady-and-and, at all events '-fo
he saw she was hesltatingllb he better than beinl
on the street all night for like as not the police vii
mud you out and lock yon mp. ANA trust me, heyi
not believe your story. There!''
with this the gallant PHI dew a long breath and
paused. She glanced shyly al him. and locked an,
intelocked or fingers, rs Is the fashion of shy youn;
females.
81 viii trust you, Sir ~ she whispered brokenIy
"Bu oh - with burst of tears, ''for the sake o
= poor old mother down in my home, don't lead M
to any HARM ~
Something clicked In rlG's throat, and looking up
she saw his eyes were full of tears. :" lie must hav
a mother too, she said to herself, and, withOu
another word, moved down the street with him.
| Miss PIN was PiT'S landady. Miss PIN
lady OF uncertain age. Miss PIN was always suspecte,
OF ha'ihg designs hlauimohlal on Johh deofg
PIN. Also did she have u horror of shy dropping
young females
TIA called her - very nice lady, ~ but when III
opened the front door that night with his latch key
and introduced his young protege Within the sacrc'
limits of tho PIN mansion nervous trem0r an,
chm went down his spinal cord that made him wls
all distressed ladies', for the moment In the bottom .
the sea.
Hut he was In for II now, and bidding the youn,
girl remain In the back ground he stepped up To th
door Of Miss pms private sitting room, In which III
saw there was a light, aud tapped Lightly. Miss Pin
suddenly opened the door, in manner which betraye'
AT once that she had been listening at tile keybOle
"My dear Miss Pim,' began Pin In his oies
manner, 'excuse me for disturbing you ut this lat
hour but knowing your genial and charitable nature
I yenture1 10 reckon on your assistance. l found
young girl homeless aud destitute"
A." a young gir3'' interJected Miss PIN. pursin
- child Of fifteen or so-homeless and destitute
aud, knowing that you had that little side vacant
risked bringing hor here
- lem !" cougled Miss PIN.
" My dear madam" exposuated Pin, - tn
child is an utter stranger TO me; but If you
date her, and hunt up little supper for her, wi
not only pay you Handsomely, but win be eternal
subtle battery, - for knew you would do anything
for me. shall leave her with your
Miss PIN relaxed In rigidity, smile began to plal
around the corners OF her mouth and she nodded as
sent. Handing the girl to her care and In
formed her he would SEQ her In the morning, he re
tired To rest, his mind much relieved. | have Jus
told two hbs fof, although he retired he lid not rest
and II his mind was relieved of ono burden half
dozen come 10 keep his brain active. II seemed Il
him that the face he had seen that night under tn
gas-lamp filled every nook and corner OF his hear
and soul aud mind lilo speculated on this and h
specialized on that; he wished this, that, aud tn
other, but at the end Of each and all he found him
sell bringing IN the black eyed lass as part aud par
eel OF them. strange llghtness seemed within hi
heart, though bright and sparkling Eprinl
had Joined with Its waters tho dun and sluggish
stream Of his life.
When he awoke the next morning he was decidedly
sore. II was quite late, aud, looking ruefuy at III,
somewhat dlsOrdered room, no thought he would
overlook his rules for that morning, and take hi
breakfast down stairs In the common dining room.
lie made his toilet with extraordinary care aud ther
walked malestcaliy down stairs. Near the dining
room door he mot Miss rim, to whom ho announce
Ills Intention OF breakGastlng, Then he inquired
after the girl
"why, SHE Is in the dlulug-room, beginning
breakfast, aud You can see for yourself You ear
have breakfast together. -
lie nodded aoquescenCe, while she hustled down :,
the kitchen, and he went into the room. The cir
looked up hastily, blushod and then 10 her feet
her hands trembling. Pin took lOtn hands In his
and then he went Into tremor.
ION, sir ~ 6he began, chow CALI
" Don't mention ito broke In PII, "not
word, now but attend TO your breakfast. am go
Ing 20 take mine. Don't be nervous, my dear -
lie dropped into seat with his heart thumpini
against his side curlousy. lie looked at her at
tenllyely aud saw that In the simple morning
wrapper she was prettler than ho had Thought lie
hair was done mp neatly, and the black eyes wer
brighter. lie sat and pondered, looking at hol
anon, tn the landlady had brought him his breakfast
and thoy were alone again.
: "By-the-way - he suddenly remarked pushlnl
away his cup, " what Is your naneY'
''susan Campbell, sir. -
" Aid how-ah feally-the fact IL, | don't Xix
70 ask the questlons but must you know, how'll
fact, what age are your
| - sixteen, Fir.