Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1882-07-06

-0rdce .. Wetts.
THE WOLF AT THE DOOR,
It 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
che climbed the rickety old stairs, and
heard the Flaherty children whooping
like so many Comanches in the hall
abeTe, while the O'Leary girls we're
singing doleful ditty in the next
room, in the shrillest Of shrill voices.
"Dear me.n sighed Rhoda, Al she
stopped on the landing, I'm just tired
out and discouraged" and 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 sDozens Of
women out of work." they. told her
everywhere; snot half enough to do to
meet the wants of half the applicants. I"
What was she to do? That question
frightened her, because she could not
answer it. It has frightened many
older, stouter hearts than Rhoda's. 1t
is one Of the always-recurring problems
that some one is always trying to solve
She heard Lucy coming to the door,
and dried her eyes hastily.
"Oh, RhodaI" cried Lucy, opening
the door and discovering her; "I'm SO
glad you've come Mr.. BrownIow's been
here.n
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 want 2" asked Rhoda
in frightened tone. If it 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
nice house to live in, and have my foot
made well, SO could walk like other
boys, and go to school"
Rhoda sighed to think Of these things,
which were so far out of her reach.
Everything seemed far off in these days,
some way.
can't imagine what Mr.. Brownlow
is coming for" she repeated dozen
times before he came.
{ I don't like him one bit, protested
Lucy decidedly; " I hate him."
You shouldn't kate anybody"
chided Rhoda. Just as a knock came at
the door; and, trembling all over with q
dread Of she knew not what, she went
and let Mr.. Brownlow in. He was
great, coarse looking man, but there
was sort of rough kindness in his face
after all. He ment we'll, 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 go away? He
sat down as if he had come, to stay for a
ODg time.
He talked with crippled Rob 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 diplomaticalIy.
I'm single man, Miss Alstye,D said
he, fdgeting with his hat, as if that
helped him about saying what he had to.
I've seen good deal Of you, off anon,
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 q good home, il you say so.
Rhoda was never so frightened in her
life.
She couldn't speak for minute. He
naan,ad tn think hnr ar,oaob1osa ho,or,ux