The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1884-09-27

alizing that he was for the time completely
forgotten, with a compassionate smile for the
freaks of San Francisco women, he continued
his progress down town.
The little land and sea-loc6ed port of San
Pedro is oddly situated. v here the water
has in past ages followed crescent from the
cliffs and then receded, years ago . little vii
lageawas founded. Two mi. S north, on the
crest of the cliffs, the last ba tie between the
Mexicans and United Stales soldiers took
place, and in ghoulish graveyard, far from
any habitation, repose the bones of the slain
OF one army, while out in the bay, on a rocky
eminence called Dead Mans island, the dead
of the defeated warriors found their sepul-
chre. One by one these graves have been
rified of their contents by the encroachment
of the resistless waves, until only couple
now remain, with snowy cross above to
mark their burial place. Half mile to the
south is another long, low stretch Of land,
with shores of elittering whil s,nd, studded
with curious pebbles and strewn with shells,
to which little steamer daily plies, as well
as to the distant mountainous islands, rising
like pale blue clouds far out upon the ocean,
where earth and sky appear to meet.
The little modern town of San Pedro nestles
in the crescent nt-shaped hollow facing the sea,
with precipitous cliffs rising like steep walls
in its rear, and embracing it north and south
almost to the waters edge. The entire vii
lage lies so low that tidal-wave of modest
dimensions could with one mighty surge OBJ
hterate it from the face of the earth But its
quiet inhabitants dwell ON in peaceful secur-
ity, and many restless city people find in the
quaint spot, so shut off from the everyday
world, the repose and isolation which they
annually seek as salvation from the wear and
tear of petty cares. And so it has come to
pass that every summer finds the homely lit
tie cottages overfiowing with city guests, and
the low ground at the north angle of the cres-
cent and fronting the sea is dotted with gay
tents all the season.
Here it chanced that one day in August,
when the waves were tapping the shore with
a sleepy surge, Stella Langdon and David
Woodbury. encountered each other She was
summing herself on the sand, while her little
sister built mimic fortress by her side A
book lay untouched in the girls lap, for the
book of nature spread out before her was in
fnitely more enchanting.
He reverted at once to the occasion when
last they met, for, struggling against the
growing admiration he felt for this girl, with
all the perversity of an obstinate man he had
converted even that incident into an argu-
ment against her.
Miss Langdon, pray enlighten me- Of
what l'hilanthropic society are you di-
rector"
''Of none, sr.n There was unmistakable
surprise and inquiry in her voice. But he
went on in quizzical way:
''Then you are one of the harl-wor1king
members who do not accept offices,
but preside over committees, and in
augurate fairs and carnivals-all for
the purpose of enticing from the
pockets of all unwilling public money fer the
support OF establishments which are mere hot
beds for criminals and paupers"
81 do not understand you, sir" Her lips
tightened and her eyes sparkled with a dan
gerous light.
"Be honest. In the interest of what re-
fornlatory institution did you pursue that
wretched little beggar we encountered on
Pacific street month or two ago?'
Mr.. Woodbury., did you notice the condi-
tion of that child! When l took hold of her
enaciated arm it seemed as if it would melt
away in my grasp. Did you see the cruel
blows the older child was raining upon herr
And do you think a woman could pass by such
a sight! | wish you had seen that home as
did. Two miserable rooms for father and
mother and seven children. The woman was
at the wash tub and when | told her why l
had picked up the little mite, she burst out
crying, telling her troubles in such q dis
eouraged way that it made one's heart ache.
The Oldest boy and girl were at school, and
there are five little ones-the youngest all in
FAINT at the breast, the next that sickly baby,
and the oldest the 7-year-old boy in whose
care she had placed it that morning.
"Where was the father.'
He is only poor laborer-sober and
hard working, she assured ME: but his work
is not steady, and his small wages are in
sufficient for their support. So the poor
little things had to be neglected and sent out
on the street to get the sunshine, while the
mother toiled away at home, or sometimes
went out with her baby to do a days cleaning.
The tiny girl we saw had been suffering
with severe cough for six months, and they
could do nothing for her but watch her fade
away before their eyes"
What did you adviser
Il persuaded them to take the little one to
the Children's hospital, where have friend
and noble, good woman she is-who is a
director. There the little thing was put
straight to bed, as she need to be, and nu1sed
day and night, as she could never have been
at home.
with what resultr
81 have letter to-day from the matron.
who tells me my patient has grown plump as
partridge, and will be discharged in three
weeks more, completely cured The father
has procured steady work in the country, and
takes his family there this week Let us
change the subject. Do you go in bathingp
"No; am afraid'-
"Of stingareesln She laughed merrily, and
before he could finish his explanation some-
body had come up and swept her off on a
search for sea ferns, whose delicate fronds
were borne in by the tide.
He stood for an instant, irresolute. Two
crushing revelations dawned upon him in
that moment. He had learned to appreciate
at last this noble, sympathetic woman; and
he knew, by swift unerring intuition, that
she despised him. He asked himself what
else he could have expected. A man irreyer-
ent OF age, Indifferent to the sufferings of
childhood, and, above all, coward! He
summed up his credentials with bitter
laugh, as he flung himself down on the beach,
N After this passage-at-aIms they mutually
avoided each other. Save when they met
face to face, they never exchanged glance
of recognition. Yet both were resolved to
conclude the season at San Pedro One day
Miss Langdon rode down to Wilmington to
take the train for Los Angeles She left her
little sister in the care of friends at the beach.
with many charges and cautions, which the
child ico1t tf1b