The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1883-07-07


was attained.
She occupied firelcss bedroom in
shabby little lodging-bouse. -patronised
mostly by the guild of working people,
whose only Recommendation was its
scrupulous neatness.
| She wore cotton gloves, turned dresses
Of stout material, and the plainest OF
plain. bonpets, and through it all she
respected herself
Stay, though, we have not told 1t all!
There was, one extravaganza in which
Priscilla Glenn occasionally INDUCED
herself-that Of charity. She had q
class of innocent-faced children of an
evening, and she was a diligent worker
in the ranks of a quiet benevolent So
ciety. which wrought great deal of
good without any blowing of trumpets
And one day. when the feeble old
porter at the warehouse fell i'll, and his
place was vacant, Priscilla Glenn con-
stituted herself a committee Of one to
inquire into the matter
"Of course you can do as you like,
Miss Glenn" said Mr.. Idem, her en-
ployer. "But Ferrigdn lives in most
dismal neighborhood, and I'm not sure
that 1t Is altogether safe for you to ven
ture there after dark"
"After dark is all the time have"
said Priscilla, brusquely. "And it must
be a great deal worse to live there than
to 20 once in awhile. think I'll risk
it,"
So she started off that evening with a
little basketcontaining some jelly, few
Strawberries, and small slice of sponge
cake, and set forth to visit old Ferrigan,
the porter
1t was dismal neighborhood, indeed,
where the poor old man lived--a neigh
borhood where piles of ashes in the mar
row street made sort of model of the
Alps, on small scale, and layers of
cabbage-leaves and damaged lettuce
festered in the gutter; where rivulets of
soapsuds trickled across the pavement;
and there appeared to be more feeble
groceries than there were people. The
very gaslight sulked behind their cloudy
lanterns, and the occasional passers
prowled by like homeless cats.
Number ninety-nine, said Priscilla,
briskly walking into thread -and-needle
shop, where an old woman sat, fast
asleep, behind the counter. 'Does Mr..
Ferrigan lodge hereP'
The old woman reused herself and
looked about,
"Second floor back said she, and
instantly fell asleep again.
81 can find my way myself, ! don't
doubt, she thought.
And she did.
The whole house seemed to be damp.
Blotches of blue mould had broken out
here and there on the ceiling, the walls
felt damp and clammy to the touch as
If Priscilla had put her hand by mis-
take, on snail; vegetable scented
whiffs came up now and then from the
cellar, and the room in which old Fer
rigan lay, gasping with rheumatic pains,
felt more like dungeon than anything |
else.
Priscillas soul recoiled from this i'm
personation Of hopeless poverty.
Can ! do anything for you. Mr.. Fer
rigan3" she asked, after she had tender
ly administered the Jelly, the fruit and
sponge-cake, Strengthened up the bed
clothes and trimmed the lamp afresh.
''lts very good of you, am sure,
said the old man, with the plaintive
courtesy Of his nation. "And I'll not
deny it was word OF comfort and kind
ness that was wearying for, But it
won't be needful long, I'm hoping. I've
sent word to my son-he's a bookbinder !
miss, and doing well at his trade, but it
is natural-like, don't you see' as he |
wouldn't like to be dragged down by |
such useless old clog as me-"
but be is your son, isn't he?" cried !
Priscilla, land you're his father?"
Faith, and that's true, miss, dear"
said old Ferrigan, with sigh. But
he's fine, ambitious young mana
rale gentleman to look at, and of Sun
day you couldn't tell him from the gen
try themselves. An he may marry
grand lady yet, who knowsP-an' he
wouldn't like me TO be spoilin' his
chances So just keep dark, Nj
Glenn; an sometimes l think--Lord
forgive me!--that I'd be better dead an
out Of the way. But sent word to him,
day before yesterday. An he, he'll
come-I think he II comet the old man
added, with acarcely audible sigh.
At that moment careless step came
up the stairs, the door was pushed open,
and a tall figure strobe in.
Sick again" asked a petulant tone.
ut appears to me, old gentleman, that
it's your chief mission in life to make
trouble for other people, Well, what is
1t nowP II it'smoney you want, you may
as we'll understand, first as last that /,
cant let you have any. You'll have to
swallow that absurd prejudice Of yours
against the rkhouse, Or"
He stopped short, impelled by the
hurried gesture of the old mans hand.
Somebody's hereP" said he, peering
through the semi-darkness. well, why
couldn't you say SOP Who is it' The
old bag downstairs, Or"
1T is |, Mr. de Tracy" said Priscilla,
quietly advancing -"PriscillalGlenn.
"oh, l beg thousand pardons," said
Mr.. Ferrigan de Tracy, hurriedly as
Stunning his company" manners. III
! could have imagined that such an
honor as this was in store for me-"
81 don't know what you mean by such
honors, said Priscilla, bluntly. III am
working girl; you are a bookbinder.
We have neither of us any reason TO be
| ashamed NJ o,ir calling. vat 7 qaa M