The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-03-07
A TOUCHING INCIDENT.
A Little Girl Reseues Her Father from the
Control of a Destroying Mania


Control of a Destroying Mania.
New York sun.
A pathetic scene occurred a few nights ago at
a notorious uptown resort. 1t was q little girl
pleading with her father.
Wont you come home now, father, please2'
she said. Her voice was low and childish, and
the sweet upturned face was pale and quivering
with scme hardly suppressed emotiou-but the
man toward whom the appeal and agony were
directed took little notice of either.
why do you bother meg he said, inpatient
ly. $50 home. I'll come when I'm ready" and
regaining with an effort his uncertain balance,
he left her.
The girl looked after him wistfully, then, as
his form was lost to her view in the crowded
room, with a. deep, despairing sigh she turned
and left the place. Outside the electric lights
streamed full upon her slender figure as she
hesitated a moment before descending the step.
One or two policemen lettering near eyed her
curiousiy, and some men h%urrying in gave her a
quick, questioning glance, but no one moleSted
or spoke to her, and slowly she went out from
the glare and dazzle into the darker street be-
yond.
The night was cold and stormy. An icy sleet
was falling, driven in every direction by the ca
PRECIOUS and fitful wind gusts, and the few Pc
destrians who were abroad hurried on their way,
anxious. to gain shelter. The girl alone ap-
peared unconscious of the discomforts of the
weather. The rain beat upon her, the fierce
wind met her with a force against which she
staggered, but she did not heed them. With
doubtful purpose she walked slowly on, turning
back once or twice to look again at the place
whence she had just como, until as the clock
from a peighhoring tower indicated to her how
la.e the hour was she stopped altogether.
$50 late, she ION! L cannot go
home without him. and now she turned swiftly
AMI retraced he steps. She paused not aIno-
ment on the threshold; evidently she feared her
own resolution. The doors yielded instantly to
her touch, and once more she looked over the
scan whose lipht and warmth. and OmfOrt
were as little to her as the rain and wind
outside. Her searching glance soon found out
her father; for the moment he was standing
alone. and his daughter felt that she had one
more chance. Rapidly she gained his side.
Father, dear father, she began, speaking low
but passiOdately. Il cannot leave you here. |
cannot face, mamma without you; she, has
waited so many nights for your homecoming.
and the hours are so dreary without you Oh!
father!" the child went on, gathering up ali her
energies, as she saw that her listener was half
needing her words, break away from this
wretched place, come. back to your home and
mamma and me; We love you so dearly we can
not live without you. and oh. it is all so different
now from what it used to be-" The childish
voice was breaking. "Such a little time ago we
wore all so happy" Here a sob almost choked
her. She slipped her clinging fingers. into the
unresisting hand of the man who staggered at
her side. Come back to us, father; come home
with me now and the tears, no longer within
her power to restrain. coursed down her pale
cheeks as she lifted her face to him, holding his
gaze with her wistful, pleading eyes.
The mans features worked convulsively; he
looked about him once half desperately; then
some better. feeling swept over him, and,
Strengthening himself up, he said brokenly, Il
hand of his little daughter, as if that frail guide
were his chief support. the two together went
out from the light. and glare, and dazzle of the
roller-skating rink forever.