Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1886-07-31


came IN, broom in hand, opened vide the
windows and placed the waste basket on
the window ledge while ~she
went to seek her dustpan. As
she opened the door a mischeVious
was it benefcent- Of wind whirled
our particular bit Of paper, in company
with torn dress makers bill and the
programme Of q morning concert out OF
the open windOWl All three were blown
together to the street corner, and there
parted company. What happened to
the other two was never heard, but
Helen's letter became somehow wedged
IN between a lamp-pOst and small
block Of coal which had been dropped
near it, and remained there till toward
evening, when it was noticed and pick
ed up by an old scrap-eollectOr, who
stuffed it-Our poor, viOlet-scented
/ scrap-intO her sack among a lot Of very
dirty rags and papers Of all kinds and
emptied altogether that evening on the
[ floor Of the cellar which she occupied
with her sister. Now the scrap-cOuector,
known as "Sairey" Mallory, was a
sweeper" at the large theater where
Patti was then nightly tIiling. Her
duties led her thither every morning at
8 O'Clock, and kept her there usually for
five or six hours. She was In the habit
OF carrying with her a crust Of bread OF
some similar deicacy to serve as lunch
con. On the Thursday morning, being
seized with unaccountable daintiness, 1t
occurred to her to wrap up her crust,
which usually went unprotected into a
corner Of her huge pocket. She sought
among her sisters heap for a suitable
wrapper and selected Helen's crushed
letter, which, although it had lost
much Of its original freshness, was still
several degrees cleaner than the rest.
She smOOthed it out-nOt being able to
read, its contents had no interest for her
wrapped it round her crust, and slip
ped the parcel into her pocket. There
it rePOsed till noon, when Mrs. Mallory,
having nearly finished her work, seated
herself In company with Mesdames
Flanagan and O'Riley, parquet and
balcony sweepers, in one Of the lower
boxes, and proceeded to discuss her
luncheon. The theater, with its dim
half-ight and long rows Of carefully
''sheeted' seats was a ghOstly looking
place; the shrill voice Of an ''under-
study"-whose services, owing to the
illness OF a prima donna, were likely to
be IN request, and who was having a sol
tary rehearsal on the stage, tossing
about her lean arms as Elvira-was the
only sound which pierced the slencei
the three old crows in their box mumbled
their crusts and cOnyersed in whispers.
Suddenly a door banged, and the firm
tread Of the stage manager was heard APP
preaching. In fear and trembling Mrs.
Malouey and her companions made a
nasty exit from their comfortable quar-
ters-an exit so hasty that first mention
ed lady's luncheon wrapPer-in other
words, Helen's much abused letter
dropped on the floor and was kicked un-
noticed under one of the chairs-the
identical chair, In fact, which was Occu-
pied that evening by Miss Louise Hill.
Thus it came to pass during the second
act Of Lucia" a certain we'll known blue
monogram on a torn and dirty piece of
paper which lay halt concealed by Miss
] Hills sweeping train attracted the atten-
ton Of that young ladys escort.
By and by he managed, mobserved,
/ to secure it, and, making some excuse,
! retired to the foyer. Ten minutes later
the indignant Miss Hill received by a
messenger Mr.. Cunningham's deepest
regrets and apologies for being obliged
to leave the theatre on sudden, urgent
business" and mad to content herself for
the rest of the evening with the vacuOus
youth whom her escort had deputed to
ill his place.
=
Among the most cherished treasures
Of Mr.. and Mrs. John Cunningham is a
certain torn and direputable scrap Of
paper.