Daily Republican., 1884-04-02
PAssIH0 THsOU0a,HIRE.
BY GERALDINE FLEMING.

by GERALDINE FILMING.
dare say you have oil met him
and perhaps some Of you may hsv'
reason TO know him very well indeed
He IL not 10 very young, nor 70 psrticu
larly handsome, but be hes mesmerie
eyes, . thrilling voice, and most fasci
mating manner, AMI every tone and
glance always seem TO mean o tender
Partially for each separate person
whom he addresses and politely sup
pressed indifference or disdain for every
other.
Such was Clarence Lsnsy and each
girl and woman In the long, big. busy
work. room hsd occasionally marveled
tho least bit II she might not be regard
cd with sentiment more Significant
than kindly consideration by Their
agreeable son. who superin.
Tended that department.
He has asked me TO 20 with him t.
,es the Asian Wonders tonight"
Vida Clyde said to the matronly fore
woman, who was the cOnfdante Of
,very girl In the establishment "An nd
think shall 60, too," she added brisk
y, and a. II defiant Of any adverse Oh
,ervation.
al should not 20 II were you
Mrs. Karling said quite gravely. He
pliers you Q rather doUbtful compli-
ment. I do not at all approve the fiat
sering and familiar bearing he assn mes
coward his fathers work.w0men.'
d" He does not care for the Others,
though" Vida said with conscious
blush and little pout. Heis only
ami used by the silly airs they affect to
attract him he scarcely notices them al
all but of course he IL obliged 10 talk
TO them sometimes about their work. "
"He ia a double-tongued fatterer,
my DEAR" Mrs. KarliDg persisted ear.
nestly. " In his cunning, hOneyed
way be gives each one reason to im.
agine herself the object Of his special
interest, and to believe that he quite
ignores the others. have been here
= good many years, Vida, and l know
that Clarence Lensy has made many
young heart ache In this rOom.'
But, Mrs. Karling, l feel sure he
.eally cares for me becauss-because
-" Vida stammered, confused by
ler inability to clearly define her rea-
IOns.
81 understand" Mrs. Karling re.
urned soberly. "His eyes, his voice,
IFS actions, perhaps, all seem to speak
owe to each foolish girl, but the word
tself he never Intends to be spoken. Do
lot let your heart be misled by his
alse tokens, child you would only
,ring humiliation upon yourself and
,ain 10 a wOrthier man. No one will
'ver love ysu as Lucius Hermon does,
Vida"
Lucius Is only common working
nan he always looks coarse and
,rimy, and he can never afford TO take
ne 70 theatres and the like" Vida said
With sudden scorn. 81 ought to do
,etter than that-Mr. Lensy says 80 !"
And just then Mr.. Lensy himself, on
lis tour Of surveillance, appeared at the
ar end of the big room where the set
ing sun shone blood.red against the
all windows.
He glanced in a rapid, practical way
bout him, and then advanced to table
where sal graceful, large eyed girl,
busy with the final trimmings Of mag
Efficient mantle. -,
I" You seem too tired to finish this,
10 remarked in his low, altogether too
Expressive voice, as he bent over her
or an instant and it must be sent
ZONE tonight. Handsome thing, is it
Tot ? but no handsomer than what you
Yourself may wear one of these days,
ny little Mignonne," he continued
With such insiduOus meaning that the
iris pale cheeks Redeemed and the
arge eyes sparkled beneath her droop-
ng lashes.
IL cannot permit you to tire your
elf" he pursued, land l dare say
Hrs. Karllng will allow that robust
Miss Clyde to complete the mantle !;
hose coarse, ruddy girls, are never
conscious Of fatigue, ! fancy" be con-
luded, implying only consummate
for poor Vida.
Az no sauntered away there was a
udden lull in the rush and roar of the
treat building. The working hours
we're over, and PRESENTLY the big room
vas nearly deserted.
But Mr.. Lensy still fingered, pleased
o watch Vida az her def needle flash
d through the dainty silken fringes of
he mantle-the bit ofwork that, AZ she
veil understood, was but a pretext to
etain him there.
But directly q shrill shout rang
through the building, succeeded by an
wfnl discordapce Of noises-cries of
the tranpling of hurried feet,
he nnlistakabe kissing aud below
ny Of flames.
The little sweeper in distant corner
f the room dropped her broom and
usheo to the door, opened it, and
hen fled back wild with fright.
A volume of smoke rolled through
hat opened door; the stairs beyond
;ere blazing and already impossible;
nd all below was one surging sea OF
re.
Vida sprang to her feet and stretched
or hands in piteous alarm toward Clar-
nee Lensy-this man of whose love
he had felt 30 sure, tnls man WHO Hau
aught her to half despise humber
over.
But he needed her not at all With
n impatient ejaculation he roughly
,uehed aside the little sweeper who
lad clasped his knees in agony of ter
or az the flames ragged toward them,
irving them to the high windows that
we're already cracking in the heat.
As Vida, gasping and: tottering
eaned against one of the windows, and
,azed despairingly into the depth be-
ow, a ladder was hoisted up the lofty
vail, and she beheld a man ascending.
He looked coarse and grimy in his
working habiIiments, but the counte'
rance she discerned through the blind
ne smoke was that which heroes wear
that of Lucius Hermon.
"The child first" Vida murmured,
IS she drew the sweeper into view.
But before the child could have been
owered into the arms uplifted below,
Clarence Lensy iuterposed. With alb.
unit violence he thrust the two aside,
md clambered nimby down from the
window ledge and SO gained the ladder.
"Shame! shame - was the cry that
- g . L,,lra1 thrnofa an ha