Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1884-07-25
The House And Its Owner
BY MILE MONTROSE

As the hospital gates changed behind
him, Archie Forests heart gave a
great bound to find himself once more
in the midst of the tOiling million,
ready to take his place again in the bat
tie Of life.
Not that he was ungrateful for the
care that had been bestowed upon him
under that root where so many home
less and friendless like himself we're
nursed back TO life and strength but
Archie was ambitious, and his ener
getic spirit had chafed sorely at the en-.
forced idleness of the last two months
two months which he could i'll afford
to lose, for the goal which he had set
himself to win was very far off yet from
the poor orphan boy, withouta any capt.
tai but his industry, integrity, and in
telligence.
But these three rs are not bad aids to
8Ght fortune with, and a brave spirit
was Archie 81 had almost said rare
one, but, thank God, there is no lack Of
such among us.
He walked slowly, for he was still
lame and weaker than he had thought
himself to be, and soon it became evil
dent that he would have to take a car
| in order to reach the place of business
where he had been employ I'D at theft
of his accident before the hour of clos
ing.
The car which he boarded was almost
crowded, the majority of its occupants
being young schoolgirls who kept up
an incessant chatter mostly on the SUBJ
ject of their lessons and subjects con-
nected with their school-life. They
sea rcely noticed the pale, weary boy,
whose shabby clothes betokened his
condition in life.
Archie sighed disappointedlv ms he
realized the bopelessness of getting a
seat, and clinging TO strap, for he was
too weak to keep his footing without its
aid he ;ell to wondering what he should
lido in case the situation he held before
his accident WAS permanently filled, az
he feared 1t might he.
i He was aroused from his abstraction
Iby a soft tap on the shoulder, aud turn
ling. met the gaze of pair of dark-browu
Ieyss regarding him with soft, plying
al spoke to you, but you did not heal
me-" said their owner, bright faced
school. girl of about twelve years OF age
l"Here 10 a seat don't you want to si
= down? You look tired"
"But you," he said it is you
seat"
"Oh, never mind" said she. 81 cal
stand just as WE'LL"
: 1t would have been churlish to refus
what was 30 sweetly proffered bn
Archie could hardly refrain from smil
ing, ~ ,,r.,.v mas. that onluck,
accident has brought me to- b
Thought. "The very girls can see Ia
Itoo weak to stand. / am afraid MI
boyd won't want to take me back.
"What IL queer girl Helen is" sal.
one of the schoolgirls to another. Al
WAYS doing something no one else woul
ever think of. Fancy her getting up t
give that street boy seat.
The words we're horribly distinct
land by her flashing eyes and crimso
' lcheeks, he saw that his little frien
had heard them, too.
just then the speaker. with severa
Iof her companions, left the car, an
! the girl spoken of as Helen too
. another seat not far from Archie.
. az hope your kindness to me hs
n mot caused you any annoyance !?
q Archie felt impelled to say.
n "Oh, don't mind them," she sait
Il tossing her head in true school. gi
fashion. Hateful things The
keen their seats even when old poop
have to stand, or perhaps poor tire
woman with u baby In her arms.
10 am ashamed OF them. Have you bet
= I'm ?" she added, with a compassiona
glance at his pale face.
or have Just left st. IS hosI
tai, where have been for the last nil
weeks" answered Archie, and thu
u they chatted in quite friendly fas
lion for few moments, in the course
which he managed to tell her the pa
lticulars of his accident, and the fea
which now beset him lest he shou
= have lost his place through 1t.
ty "Oh, l hope not" she said, rising
the car came to stop, and giving nj
her hand. 81 get out here; good-by
hope YOU will have all the succe
tic you wish for" and she was gone.
1t was but little incident, but SON
how Archie felt cheered and strepg
ened by it for we are so constitute
that even in our most despondt
moods a little courte y and few kind
nts words has power to dispel the gloo
Something on the ground where
rs, had stood caught his eye, and pick
Ex IL up he discovered it to be Sun
ORR hook. inscribed on the first page vi
the name of Helen Adair.
?. II contained memoranda Of her st'
lies. the course of which, marked do
for each day, showed that the you
ger oirl was far more advanced than
AT generally the case at her age
a AZ There was no address, and he put
in in lin his pocket thinking that he would
or turn it to her should he ever chance
ma meet her again.
Of By this time he had arrived at
rvS ides'ination, and had the good fort,
the The to find the principal of the estaoli
rent ment at leisure, aud we'll pleased to
Ely, him restored TO health.
Ut About your old place, eh 2
.IMr. BOYD, when Archie broached
RI subject. !" well, you are hardly str
lsH enough for such work just now, thi
ann IA, besides have some one who su
your our me- very well,"-Poor Arehie,s ~ ?,
hing sank -" but there vsyanoy VI
toe I think you will fill creditably, and
1. IL a nrnmntion YOU are not likely