The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1885-01-03
A "concert garden |"

.Jaunty little clerks, with tight trousers
and pointed shoes, smoking cigarettes,
drinking beer and leering at lot Of
women who sat around. Tobacco
smoke everywhere, and the sound of
the 'concert" almost unheeded amid
the clink of glasses and the echo of
ribald laughter. Surely a pleasant
place for young men to spend the
evening before going home to their
mothers and sisters.
At table sat young woman, evil
IDENTITY not altogether of the same class
as her neighbors. She wore warm and
rich clothing, and in her ears sparkled
the price of beauty. For she was
beautiful IT form and face, notwith-
standing the telltale lines on her fore
head and the heavy sensual contour of
her mouth. The happiness of all
others seemed to be with her too, for
she laughed and talked gayly with her
companions.
''Nine o'clock, let us co." said the
man with yawn. II do not like it,
anyhow it is too noisy" Slowly the
girl drew on her gloves and wrapped
herself about with her furs. Slowly
they approached the entrance. The
doors opened, and with flood of light
and warmth accompanying them they
passed into the street. The shop girls
hurrying home looked at the silks and
jewels and sighed, the policeman looked
and shrugged his great shoulders. A
brave sight was this handsome, gallant
pair.
The woman with the miniature ap-
preached and scanned the girls face,
as she had done to hundreds for hours.
Her knees bent under her, her eyes
stared and her hand went out to clutch
the heavy cloak. The girl shrank back
with apprehension, and her escort
tossed a ten-cent piece toward the
woman. 1t rolled into the gutter, un-
needed.
Guile Julie at last l have found
you .'' said the weak voice; "at last
at last ~ but the couple moved on.
The woman pursued, and this time
succeeded in catching the cloak. The
girl gave little scream and the man
turned fercely: ''What more do you
want, woman? l have already given
you money
"What do l want? Merciful God
can my child stand by and hear that
question? Oh, Julie Julie it is so
long since l have seen you; but l am
happy now, my darling, l am not cold
now"
rs the woman a crank - asked the
man, turning to his companion. But
the girl said nothing. Her eyes were
half closed, her hands clinched, her
face pale Impatiently the man stood
looking from one to the other. Sud-
denly the girl leans over and fercely
whispers.
Mother, was told you were dead.
You will ruin me if you persist now.
Meet me here tomorrow night, at nine
O'Clock, and | will make everything
straight" Then, turning to her COM
panion-"She seems a harmless old
thing. Let us CO." The two passed
on. Crouching on the sidewalk the
woman remained. A policeman saw
her. Come, old woman" he cries,
''get out of this Why, halo you
have dropped your money! Come, get
along, or will have to run you in, and
| don't want to 60 to court tomorrow
morning with anybody The woman
rose and tottered feebly away.
A garnet in Minetta lane
No fire, no stove to make it i'll, and
nothing to burn if there was. A lodg-
ing house of the cheap Furnished
room" sort, with a very small, very
fussy and very shrewd mistress, to
whom every woman who paid her
board was "lady" and every one who
did not was "hussy.', Want of the
most pinching character was every
where discernible-the very walls had
an odor of poverty. YEARLY the wo-
man with the miniature dragged her
self up the stairs to the room that had
been hers. The door was locked. The
landlady stood in the hall.
"Well, have you your rent n'
"Alas No; but will have plenty
tomorrow night.
Tomorrow night you will have
plenty, will you? You dirty hussy, do
you suppose keep this house for fun2
Get out, and don't show up here
again."
There was no use Of demonstrating.
There was nothing in the room of
hers; everything had been pawned.
YEARLY she went out the way she had
come-out into the cold and darkness.
And as she walked she smiled, for was
1t not a gladstone Christmastide to
her? Had she not seen and spoken
to her child? The electric lights flick
cred as brightly on the great avenues
as they had while she waited, the
crowds jostled and pushed here and
there, though thousands had gone
home. Away from these sights down
the side streets the poor soul wandered.
Her steps were more and more I'M
steady as she progressed. From time
to time she would look at the picture
and smile, for she thought her darlings
were with her, 1t is true one was