The Wilmingtonian., 1885-07-25

til the car again stopped, this time letting in
pale faced gir! OF about eleven and a sick
boy OF four.
These children were shabbily dressed, and
upon their faces there were looks of distress
mingled with some expectancy, Were they
too, or their way to the Park? The gentle
man thought SO; so did the group of girls,
for he heard one of them say, with look of
disdain:
II suppose those ragmuffins are on an ex-
cursion, too?"
II shouldn't want to leave my door if /
had to look like that. Would yol.?"
This from another girl.
''No, indeed! But there is no accounting
for tastes, think there ought to be
special line of cars Cor the lower classes to
travel on"
All this conversation went on in u low
tone, but the gentleman heard it. Had the
child tooP
He glanced at the pale face and saw tears
glistenng in the eyes. Then he looked at
the group of finely dressed girls, who had
moved as far from the plebeians as the limits
of the car would allow.
He was angry. He longed to tell them
they were vain and heartless, as Chcy drew
their costly wrappiugs closer about them, as
if fearful Of contact with the poor poverty
stricken children.
Just then an eXclamation-"Why, there
is Nettie! Wonder where she is gong?"
caused him to look out upon the corner
where sweet faced young girl stood beck.
oniDg to the car driver.
When she entered the car size was warmly
greeted by the five, and they made room
for her beside them They were profuse in
their EXPLANATIONS and questions.
"Where are you going7" asked one.
"Oh, what lovely flowers! Who are they
for?" questioned another.
"1'm on my way to Belle Clarke's. She
is sick, you know, and the flowers are for
her."
She answered both questions at once, and
then glancing toward the door of the car,
she saw the pale girl looking wistfuIIy at
her.
She smiled at the child, tender look
beaming from her beautiful eyes, and then,
forgetting that she, too, wore handsome
velvet skirt aud costly jacket, and that her
shapely hands were covered with we'll fitting
gloves, she left her seat and crossed over to
tho little ones.
''The little boy is Sick is he notP And
he is your brother, I'm sure; he clings SO to
you"
1t seemed hard for the gill to answer but
finally she said:
''Yes, miss; he is sick Freddy never has
been well. Yes, miss; he is my brother
We're going to the Park to see if it won't
make Freddy better"
81 am glad you are going" the young
girl replied in low voice, meant for no
ones ears except those of the child, ad-
dressed.
81 feel sure it will do him good; it is
lovely there, with the spring flowers all in
bloom. But where is your lunch? You
ought to have lunch after such very long
drive"
Over the little girls face came very deep
flush.
eyes, miss, mebbe we ought to, for Fred
dy's sake; but, you see, we didn't have any
lunch to bring. Tim-he's our brother-he
saved these pennies purpose so as Freddy
could ride to the Park and back. guess
mebbe Freddy will forget about being hun
CRY when he gets to the beautiful
Park"
Were there tears in the lovely girls eyes?
Yes, there certainly were; and very soon
she asked the girl where they lived, and
wrote the address down III a tablet, which
she took from a beaded big upon her
arm.
After riding few blocks the pretty girl
had left the car, but she had not left the
little ones c1mfortlcss.
Half the boquet Of violets and hyacinths
was clasped in the sisters hand, while the
sick boy with radiant face, held in his hand
precious package, from which he helped
himself now and then, saying to his sister in
jublant Whisper
''She said we could eat 'em all-every one
when we got to the Park. What made
her so sweet and good to us? She didn't
call us ragmuflins, and wasn't 'fraid to have
her dress touch ours, and she called me a
dear, she did What made her?"
And Sue whispered back:
81 guess it's cause she's beautiful as hei
clothes-beautifu inside, you know"
The gentleman's ears served him we'll
He heard the conversation and Sues ans
wer, and thought:
"Yes, the child is right; the lovely girl il
beautiful inside-beautilu in spirit She i!
one of the Lords own, developing in Chris
tian growth. Bless her."
When the Park was reached, the five girl
hurried out with laughter and merry talk
Then the gentleman lifted the little boy il
his arms and carried him out of the car
across the road and into the green, sweet
smelling Park, the sister with heart full o
gratitude following.
1t was lie who paid for nice ride fo
them in the goat carriage; he also whr
treated them to oyster soup at the Park res
taurant.
At 2 O'Clock sharp the next day the twt
gentlemen, as agreed, met again.
''This is my wife, the host said, proud!
introducing a comely lady, 'and this" as
young girl of fifteen entered the parlor, 81