Frostburg mining journal., 1883-12-22

grand lady in your time, dare say-ha ha !
grand lady !" and those who had not yet been
waited on joined in the sneering laugh The
woman's thin fingers closed over the little pic
ture and her fuIrowed cheeks were moistened
with bitter memories, though the tear faucets
were almost dry.
Out of the door still crealling, through the
crowded streets to the spot where we first saw
her, went the unfortunate, wrapping her scanty
drapery more closely about her and shiyering
with the cold
''concert gardenW y
Very little concert" great deal of light
and noise and strong drink. Jaunty little
clerks, with tight trousers and pointed shoes,
smoking cigarettes, drinking beer and leering
at a lot of women who sat around. Tobacco
smoke everywhere, and the sound of the "con-
cert" almost unheeded amid the clink Of glasses
and the echo of ribald laughter. Surely a
pleasant place for young men to spend the
evening beforegoing home to their mothers and
sisters.
At a table sat young woman evidently not
altogether of the same class as her neighbors.
She wore warm and rich clothing, and in her
ears sparled the price of beauty. For she
was beautiful in form and face. notwthstand-
ing the teltale lines on her forehead and the
heavy sensual contour of her mouth. The
happiness of all Others seemed to be with her
too, for she laughed and talked gayly with her
companions.
"Nine o'clock, let us 60, said the man with
yawn. 81 do not like it, anyhow; it is too
noisy" Slowly the girl drew on her gloves and
wrapped herself about with her furs. Slowly
they approached the entrance. The doors
opened, and with flood of light and warmth
accompanying them they passed into the street.
The shop girls hurrying home looked at the
silks and jewels and sighed, the policeman
looked and shrugged his great shoulders. A
brave sight was this handsome, gallant pair.
rba tba ni,,io l,nl
and scanned the girls face, as she had done to
hundreds for hours. Her knees bent under
her. her eyes stared and her hand went out to
clutch the heavy cloak. The girl shrank back
with apprehension, and her escort tossed q ten
cent piece toward the woman. 1t rolled into
the gutter unheeded
''Julie Julie at last have found you -
said the weak voice; sat last at last!" but the
couple moved on. The woman pursued, and
this time succeeded in catching the cloak. The
girl gave little scream and the man turned
tiercely. what more do you want, woman
l have already given you money"
"What do L want? Merciful God can my
child stand by and hear that question: Oh,
Julie Julie it is so long since | have seen
you; but am happy now, my darling, am
not cold now."
SIS the woman a crank ?" asked the man,
turning to his companion. But the girl said
nothing. Her eyes were half closed, her hands
clinched, her face pale. Impatiently the man
stood looking from one to the other. Suddenly
the girl leans over and fercely Whispers.
''Mother, was told you were dead. You
will ruin me If you persist now. Meet me here
tomorrow night, at nine o'clock, and 1 will
make everything straight" Then, turning to
her companion-"She seems harmless old
thing. Let us CO." The two passed on.
Crouching on the sidewalk the woman remained.
A policeman saw her. "Come, old woman" he
ortao tfoa NJ of biet bu hall 81 Il
dropped your money Come, get along, or
will have to run you in, and L don't want to go
to court tomorrow morning with anybody" +"
The woman rose and tottered feeby away
A garnet in Minetta lane
No fire, no stove to make it in, and nothing
to burn if there was lodging house of the
cheap Furnished room" sort, with very
small very fussy and very shrewd mistress, to
whom every woman who paid her board was a
'lady" and every one who did not was
! ''hussy." Want of the most pinching charac-
ter was everywhere discernible-the very walls
had an odor of poverty. YEARLY the woman
with the miniature dragged herself up the
stairs to the room that had been hers. The
door was locked. The landlady stood in the
hall.
"Well, have you your rent"
"Alas No; but will have plenty tomorrow
night"
Tomorrow night you will have plenty, will
you? You dirty hussy, do you suppose / keep
this house for fun? Get out, and don't show
up here again."
There was no use of demonstrating. There
was nothing in the room of hers; everything
had been pawned. YEARLY she went out the
way she had come-out into the cold and dark
ness. And as she walked she smiled, for was it
not q gladstone Christmastide to her? Had
she not seen and spoken to her child? The
electric lights flickered as brightly on the great
avon nG haH HNFltfla yl,o ;t,,1 Al
crowds jostled and pushed here and there.
though thousands had gone home. Away from
these sights down the side streets the poor soul
wandered. Her steps were more and more I'M
steady as she progressed. From time to time
she would look at the picture and smile, for she
thought her darlings were with her 1t is true
one was dead and the other had turned from
her, but she would see them soon she thought.
Away down the silent streets toward tile North
River she went, growing weaker as she walked
The light Of pleasant homes beamed on her,
and she saw through the uncurtained windows
the figures of men and women and children
clad in warm apparel and not hungry. On the
great docks there was nothing to stop her adj
vance, but policeman saw her and followed
Away to the end she went, where the dark
waters of the river gurGled against the bulk
heads. There she sat down and, being over
weary and weak, fell into the water. There
was loud hallooing and the rush of men with
lights followed for a ship was hard by and the
men were celebrating the Christmas season in
their own way.
''This is terrible night, woman, to take a
man into the water" said the policeman as, all
dripping, he laid his senseless burden on the
boards.
ward in the hospital
great room, with scores of beds; plain,
white walls, with now and again Scripture
text on them. Patients coughing and patients
moaning with pain. On one cot was the woman
with the portrait. Her eyes were half open
and she breathed but family; but she was con-
scious. Then she reused little and talked
and the sweetness of her voice, though but
feeble, attracted the attention of the orderlies
and they listened. Presently the doctor came
and stood by the bedside and looked 5 at at her iS
derly. ''she will die of shock and starvation" !"