The Washington critic., 1885-12-31
BY MERE ACCIDENT.

b1 blLIlE l1ONS.
In her miserable attic room Ethel
Dare, young girl of II, was prepar-
ing TO go to her days work. The air
was white with frost and everything
she touched seemed to turn to ice. She
had burned her last lump of coal the
night before, and consequently could
not have any fire. She went to the
cupboard-nothing there; she searched
everywhere, and finally found crust
of bread. This she tried to eat in the
vain hope that it would allay the gnaw-
ing hunger.
Putting on her threadbare shawl and
descending the attic stairs, she started,
stiff and breakfastless, to face the cold
She was employed at one of the large
dry goods stores where, every Satur-
day night, she was handed an envelope
containing just $3.50 as a remunera-
ton for her life of toll and hardship.
Six months before her mother had
died, and, as Ethel had no money, she
had been compelled to apply to the
authorities for burial by the city,
where she and the woman from whom
she rented were the only mourners.
Mrs Dare, in her girlhood, had been
the only daughter of very wealthy
wholesale merchant, and was petted
and spoiled by her only brother, but
she had, against her fathers wishes,
married worthless, profligate fellow,
and he had disowned her. She soon
became widow, and appealed to her
father for assistance, which was
ignobly refused in the harsh and cruel
terms that "she had made her bed, now
let her lie in it," She never wrote
again, but strove to work for her little
girl and herself and keep the wolf from
the door. On her death bed she had
told her daughter her whole sad story,
and implored of her never to marry
drunkard. Ethel had, very unfortu.
natcly for one in her station of life, in
herited her mothers great beauty, con-
sisting of large blue eyes, golden hair
and perfect features.
She had meanwhile reached the
store, and after an interminably long
day of dull monotony and dreary work
prepared to return to her miserable
attic.
II was a cold, bitter night in mid
winter; the streets of New York were
one sheet of snow and ice, and more
than one warmly-clad person as they
turned the corner and faced the wind,
sleet and snow hurried along, grasping
their wraps more tightly about them
and cast one sympathetic thought for
the poor unfortunates who had no
place to go as scene of a cheerful
wife, warm supper and pleasant flreside
passed before their gaze.
The people were hurrying or rather
sliding along, and as it was an utter
impossibility to walk, for after one
thought they had good foothold and
could manage to maintain their equilib-
rum there would be an ignominious
fall of dignity, as, with an ejaculation
of ooh, my" they would go slipping
down.
In front of one of the elegant houses
on Fifth avenue there was place UNI
usually slippery, where at least dozen
that night had fallen. A little dark.
ROBBED figure, in which we recognize oul
friend Ethel, made her appearance
and in her haste stepped right on the
slippery spot, which was followed by
a painful fall. With low moan OF
pain she dragged herself to the step
thinking she was only Jared and would
recover herself and then resume hei
journey. A sudden twingc of pair
from her ankle caused her very lips tC
turn white.
"Oh, my ankler' Everything wa
growing dark before her. She tried t
raise herself, causing another twing,
from her ankle, which made her fal
back-senseless. She had tainted.
A large, portly man, enveloped in
huge overcoat, fur mittens, arctic rub
bers-in fact, everything equivalent tc
comfort-stopped suddenly as he start
ed to ascend the steps. "My! what il
| this?''
He hastily gathered her up in hi
strong arms, gavca loud, ringing pea
to the doorbell, which brought severa
servants running to the door, strod,
through the hall, up the wide staircase
and into his wifes sitting room, ant
laid his burden on the lounge.
His wife, like the good, dear, sensi
BILE, motherly woman she was, ncvc
stopped TO ask questions and give way
to curiosity "a woman's falling, bu
proceeded TO administer the needed
restoratives.
Her efforts were soon rewarded by
long sigh issuing from the lips of tn
patient, After quivering of the eye
lids the large blue eyes opened, look
ing wonderingly around at the gran
deur such rs she had often dreamed o
but never seen. The man at her sid
had been looking intently at her fron
the first, evidently in Il brown study
from the knit brow and Thoughtful
eye; but when she opened her eyes h
started up. eyclaiming: "Iow Xix
my sister Ethel" Ethel attempted t.
raise herself, but she fell back on tn
lounge with a cry of anguish.
My poor child what Is IT."
'Aly ankle, think, is sprained
After the pain had somewhat sub
sided she said
"Will you be kind enough to tel
me how ! came here? | remembe
fainting while coming home fror
work"
Never mind now, my child" Tn
doctor, who had been sent for, now N
rived. lie was the typical rosy faced
good natured doctor, and soon had he
ankle more comfortable, taking hi
leave with the injunction that the III
most care must be taken of her" an
prophesying speedy recovery, an
mat he would bring her around a
right in a couple of weeks"
After the doctors exit "minc host
explained TO EthePs satisfaction no,
he had found her lying on the step,
He could not look at her without be
traying the deepest signs Of emotion.
My child, have you any friends o
relatives who will be anxious about yo
to whom ! might send word?"
"Alas / have no friends om onl