The Arkansaw traveler., 1884-04-26

oown the cellar steps. Sanding in the dark at the bottom, she knocked, and was summoned to enter. At first i, was impossible to see anything except large
 fire in the grate the cellar was full of steam. This came from a Qran,i,y os freshly washed clothes, which hung on lines from wall to wall drying.
 But Phpbe knew the room. There was bed at one siGe, and few ether articles of furniture necessary for use in the daytime also a mangle. Here lived Mrs. Simpson and her youngest girl Lofty had shared their accom- modations before she went to service.
 Who's that?" cried the woman's shrill voice. 'Oh, it's you, is i,, Phnbe: $ u, the door quick: ihe other lodgers doesn, like the steam to get up stairs
 "How's Lofty, Mrs. Simpson," Fhrbe asked, as she bobbed under the we, clothes.
 She'll never have no more the matte, with her. my ehild,' was the reply, in 4 voice which was sad, but yet confirmed n resignation.
 Phpbe stood locking at Ter as if she did nor understand.
 She come 'ome on Tuesday. rigt, dawn bad the mlssis said II was no use keepIn' of her as she couldn't co kei work. get her some stuff from the dis. pensary. bur Ii didn't do her no good Night before las; sfle all al wunst begun eoughin' and before could even ger ,o her, she was gone. An it's best |, should be so. She sad she'd like to see yeu. Pa be, and was a-goin' to send for you as II was yesterday; but 1t was too late you see. There she lies ' said the woman pointing 10 the bed. Will you look a, her."
 No, oh, no, can't. Mrs. Simpson :" Phroe exclaimed. shrinking back m dread. Then she began ,o cry, and sob bed out her sorrow. Mrs Simpson had not much to say who shall blame her If she regarded death rather as deliverer tn an the destroyer: In any case she had her days work 10 attend to. and 10 time could be los, in vain mourning. Phabe only stayed few minutes. The presence of dead body awed her, and, when she left the cellar. II was with eyes nervogsly aver'ed from the direction of the bed.
 She sadly took her way home again. The shock had impressed her gravely, and she had no, the heart to go a, once sn her shopping: that could wait till after lea. Phoebe fel,. too, tha, she could no longer enjoy the feast of sweet things which she had promised herself: il seemed improper 10 make merry lust after coming away from the room where her friend lay dead. So she bought \ ie~ simple things some bread. and but ter. and .ca--and tauS them LID 10 her garset. Then she x.sied Ms Babbs in the loser part [. ,tfe house. for the dou- oie pnrpesc et 9ayH 7 Ter rent and boi- rowing some fuel uatil she could supply herself. Ph,cbe experienced noi a little neryaus i.ess b.z oGh the lan4lAdy's look ai sutprIze ana azl sity; she explained that she had miie.. ed 10 ge; d i,,le 10 <, en and then she was s4HG [" eseape %i s l bucke; containing Mrs. Dabbs .oan of wood and coals. She made ilte, and. as soon as possible. some tea. By that time she was almost herself again, as she grew comfortable, with a cnp of warn. sweet tea on her lap, her feet supported by the fender. she reflected how nice i, would be 10 have ust one or two mirce- pies And she ,ould get them m minute. But Pho be resisted the temptation, and conscien-
 
 CT, thus paying her tribute 10 poor Lot ys memory. It is true the butter was spread just little more thickly than inder ordinary circumstances. but we must not demand too much of human nature.
 Tea over, she carefully locked her ioor. and brouga; cut the money from he box. She spread il on the table and played with 1t much as 2 child plays with IS bricks making heaps and squares md circles: moreover. she counted il ,saln. 10 make sure tha, no ono had inter- cred with il in her absence Cheerful less was returning. and thoughts of the hinss she would buy. As if tc heip her n her equaniuiiy, lively s;reet-oFgan Il! at once struck up somewhere near by, lrd she heard the scamper of children 'ut of the court 10 have dance on the 'avement. IL was already past nigh,fall, nd the thought of the cleaning shops 'eoame irresistible. Again she wen. orth. and this tune s,rayed no further han Hoxton street. There was plenty # choice so many delightful shops, and uch variety or goods and prices. that he wandered from window 10 window nd seemed as far from decision as ever.
  Now she would all but determine upon his or that article. but. when on the 'oint of entering the shop, 1t seemed bet CT 'e have Just ore more good look a, us; one other ~udow. and make sure hat she would no; have ,o repen: her hoice.
 She came 10 the doors of the Britannia 'heatre. They had that moment opened, nd great crowd of people was sway ng, crushing. struggling in the eN-:,c- aent of entering phnhe had never in Ter life seen paniomir-: she was car led away by the spectacle of the crowd, nd made up her mind to go in. bu; she 'd no, know how much she would have Q pay Looking round to md some isely person of whom 10 inquire, she saw girl of abou. her own age standing on he edge oi the pavement. her hands n he Pocke,s of very shabby ulster. her yes casting envious glances at ,he crowd 'nGche approached her. and. with some