The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1885-03-21

"HA"h e'III uOlllS llllS uIGdIIul IIlUS
on purpose.
She made her way 10 the exit.
The street was full of people, of
cabs, coaches, wagons, cars.
"Have carriage, Miss >" howled
crowd of drivers gathering about
her. "Have cab? Coupe, Miss.
She seized the most gOod-natured of
these drivers by the sleeve.
"PIl go with you" she said.
Smiling triumphantly upon his
rivals, he led her towards his yehi-
Gle.
IL want to sreak to you," she said.
II want to tell you"
She was covered with confusion,
and her face grew red as she spoke.
81 have lost my shoes in the Sleep
ing car. / put them on the window
sill and they fell out"
The driver shook his head sympa-
thetically.
"And | want you to drive me to
the hotel where my father is putting
up. | cannot this minute remember;
but drive out of this crowd where it
is quieter, and I'll recall the name.'
Yes, Miss" he said, and mounted
his box and drove into Madison Av-
enue. There he descended and stood
once more at the door.
"Tell me the name ofsome hotels.n
she said.
He mentioned four or five. She
was sure the last was the right name
and said so.
ASK for Mr.. Brandon" she said
and away they drove again but she
had made a mistake. Mr.. Brandon
was not at the hotel.
"Well, where now, Miss 2" asked
the driver, again at the door; but
Belle was helpless. The tears were
streaming down her cheeks.
II can't remember" she said. 81
can't remember. What shall | do {?
My shoes are gone my trunk checks
are gone; my money is gone, and l
can't find my father"
One item of this horrible recapitu-
lation alone struck the driver.
"Ha'n't you got no money ?" he
inquired.
Not cent" sobbed Belle.
"Did you keep your money in
your shoes ?" satirically asked the
driver.
NO." sobbed Belle; "the bag
went too"
"Then Pm beat out Of my fare "
said the driver. '.Step out, if you
please. If you wasn't n female I'd
give you in charge Of an officer; for |
believe you are lying. Get out,
Belle obeyed; she hurried across the
sidewalk and stood in the friendly
shadow of a high porch, sick with
terror. The shades of evening were
descendi ng; people gazed at her curl
Ously. Never in all her life, did
Belle forget the modification of that
hour. Yes, whole long hour poor
Belle stood in that corner, on those
little red stocking feet, trying to cry
and praying inwardIy for help.
"No shoes on no shoes on no
shoes on! J" people whispered. or
seemed to whisper, as they passed.
They looked at her suspiciously.
At last, from the door in the big
house against the wall of which she
stood. emerged man. who not ouly
looked as the rest had done, but who
advanced and spoke.
MADAM" he said, in gentlemanly
accents, 81 see that you are in some
trouble. l have been watching you
for sometime, and l hope you will
excuse me for addressing you. But is
there anything that l can do?"
The girl looked at him. He was
young man, and rather handsome;
but, above all, he seemed kind. She
told him her story at once. He evi-
IDENTIFY did not doubt it. as the cab.
man had done.
"And, oh, sir" she said, in conclu-
sion, chow shall l find my father?
What shall / do?"
He looked at her more kindly than
before.
eff you will let me help you," he
said, "you shall find yourself perfect
Iy safe. | have a little sister out
West, and l will do for you exactly
what l would wish some other fellow
to do for her. You must have some
shoes at once. l wils leave you in
the janitor's Office and find some for
you. Then we will find Mr.. Bran
don, if we go to every hotel in the
city. l assure you we will find him
if you are sure he is at hotel"
"Oh, yes" said Belle, feeling great
ly comforted.
She sat in little room, hung about
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