The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1882-12-23

lines. Hereyes, that were large and darE
looked steadily up into my own with
sort Of defiant expression thatsmade m
feel she was daring me to upbraid her 70
the hindranee she had occasisned Ant
there were shadows in them that wert
not born of the Pickering Iamp-Iight
Her mouth, though firmly set was sucI
as betokens impulse and warmth. But
the weary attitude told that motive was
dead and ardor extinct They had been
lost in the experience that made her q
wanderer that Christmas morning.
She was patient under this scrutiny.
She seemed to feel that she had been
presumptuous, and expected it as the
penalty And heT manner, that mutely
expressed this feeling, was more pitiable
that the strained lines of the face or the
daring look in her eyes.
well p' calculated, and drew back a
step.
"Well!' she returned, in voice tinged
with the defiance her eyes had bespoken,
'have you made up your mind as to what
kind Of a creature ann"
"And suppose haye?"
'.Then you need not fear to speak it /;
people have told me before" And there
was an echo of refinement in her voice,
though its tone was Indifferent
ut is needless to express mere opinion
as to what you must know best OF all
But why did you stop me?" asked,
"0nly TO speak TO some one, that's all
I wanted to hear nay own voice once more.
You can't understand what mean, can
your Well, no matter. Go now, if you
likew
Then she lifted the hands that had
been clasped behind her, and they We're
bare. noted that she wore no wraps.
though upon one arm she carried what l
have heard termed by ladies a CLOUD
light scarf for wrapping about thc heed
and neck.
"Why don't you put that about you? ."
l exclaimed, coming TO realize the wO-
mans meagre attire in the bitter cold.
"1a, that That was all l saved from
the wreck, and she lifted the wrap in q
thoughtful manner, accompanied by
low, uneasy laugh. Moving then to the
iron railing in the shadow Of the house, !
she grasped if with 10th naked hands /
and, leaning back at arms length, gazed .
up at the dark fronts OF the buildings. .
She seemed to be musing.
q wonder if any Of thOse people asleep .
in there would come out and give me Z /
place TO lie down, il they knew I was out
here al9ne?"
But why are yOn not al home-haYc
you none o. l asked, at the same time
moving to her side 70 get better view
Of her face, which she kept aYerted from
the gas light. Again she laughed in that
low, helpless tone, and muttered as
though to herself, ''Its late, isn't it? But
have no house TO go to; what matters
lifetime? Nota person in this place cares
where | am tonight. But | think I'll
find q place to rest, by-and-by"
Where were you going when you
stopped here?"
perhaps should have gone down to
the park there" and she nodded toward
where the yellow gas-light filtered thr0'
the bare branches of the trees.
Are you accustomed to s.eeping in
the park 7"
Il have had to do it, but don't think
| will do it much longer. The policemen
nudge me with their clubs when ! am
getting asleep, and have to stay awake
or move on. Move on, girl, move on
that's what they say"
But the station-house-haye you tried
thatP"
She shiyered as though in dread, and
wrapping the scarf about her neck, she
again looked up to the dark facade in an
absent manner. Then, starting suddenly:
"Oh you said something-yes the sta
tion-house;S' and then she added: ~ never
hade been TO the station-house yet; and I
never will. / dread the yermin that must
hethere-ugh" And she shiyered again.
Before ] go to such a place l viii go