Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1885-09-19
WAS SHE FRIV0L0US2'

! SpOtleSS cloth nCtlng so well His
strong, manly figure; his clear cut
Grecian features, and dark, wavJ
hair, thrown back with careless
grace from his smooth brow.
He was visiting one of those
wretched tenement houses used BY
the very poor, and before him was
q forlorn group.
A widow who had just buried hel
husband; she had five helpless
children-the eldest six, the young
est nurseling. and a pair oftwins
among them. The rags, and, worse
than all, the dirt of poverty every
where apparent.
An expression of almost sublime
pity rested on the face ofthe min
lister.
The woman, with the apron
thrown over her head, rocked her
self to and fro, and walled forth hel
troubles.
II don't know what I'm a-goin
to do for myself and the little 'uns
though my old man would have his
drink, he didn't beat us, and brought
enough to us to keep body and SOU
together; but now [ know we can't
do nothin' but starve and die"
"Have you no friendsW asked
Mr.. Shaw in a low voice.
"Some, butas bad or wuss of
than us. Yes" she said looking up
with a grateful, bright expression
"there is one-Lord bless her! who
has done a lot for me-MisS Mehit
able Sanks She sent medicine and
the doctor to the old man, and guy
me clothes and sunthin' to eat; and
many's the man, woman and child
that bleSses her for takin' care Oi
lem. Why, sir, she even leayeSlit-
tie cards with stamps on 'em, aud
Job Potter, who can write, sends
'em to her when we are in a very
bad state.D
After assuring her of his sympa.
thy, and that he would do what he
could for her, the minister wendell
his way home. AS he thought OF
those to whom he might appeal, a
vision of a bright face haunted him,
but while be fingered over the
thought most tenderly, there was
shadow on his brow as if there was
some slight jar that married the har
mony of his thoughts.
Mr.. Shaw was the rector of ona Of
the wealthy churches Of the city,
and Ma Belle Lee WAS one of the
parishionerS. Her face was Madon
na.like in its tender curves and
beauty, the large blue eyes with
Just a tinge of sadness, the perfect
curve of the red lips, q faultless
complexion, and blonde hair chat
was like a halo of light round the
graceful head. But ah, when she
talked it was like a dampar, a mist
on a beautiful picture, marring the
tints that otherwise would have
been perfect.
Bright and witty, but a butterfly
such a devotee to society that one
longed for the expression of a single
serious thought that could leaveD
into something like common sense
this personifcation of frivolity.-
With it all, however, she was lovely
aud lovable to every one, and Mr.
Shaw had long struggled against
an interest in her, the indulgence Of
which he felt would be fatal to his
future happiness and usefulness.
Absorbed in these thoughts he
found himself in front of Mr.. Lees
house, and, obeying an impulse, he
turned into the gate and was ad
mitted.
AS Miss Lee entered the parlol
he thought he had seldom seen Z
fairer vision, and was vexed to fee
his heart throb more quickly, and
thrill with a pleasure that he fell
must be controlled. She greeted
him with that-easy grace which Was
one of her principal charms.
"Ah, Mr.. Shaw! / am SO gladt u
see YOU. Ihave hal u real spell o.
enuui this morning. This last move
is wretched, as both hero and hero
inc die In the provoking way, al
because of some oyerstrained ides
of duty, and I was just wiz hing tha
some one would come in and ]
could have cheerful little chat tt
dispel the gloomy impression"
"Then I'm afraid" smilingly
.syou will not like your present Wis
itor. 1 have not come in a very
cheerfulhnmor and, besides l wisl
to ask a favor
"a favor! That is too lovely
Consider it granted, even TO the
half of my kingdom. am trul!
glad that you wish to ask a favo1
Of Inc, because l did not think you
opinion of me was sufficiently goot
for such a thing. Do you know,
with sudden droop of the eyes
"that you always make lie feel az
ifI am doing something wrongi"-
IDOL? Well, / shall give you
golden opportunity now to redeem
Yourself. [ have just been visiting
some of those wretchedly poor fam
lilies street, and I should lik'