Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1886-08-02
A Test of Love.


O'Clock, when Lottie started home,
TOttenham court-road and the by
streets were full of drifts, the air was
a binding haze, and the wind fiercer
than ever.
"Oh, how pleasant home will look p
she said to herself, pulling her collar
up about her ears, and tucking her
music roll securely under her arm.
'How happy I ought to be that 1
have it to go to, even though it is
little room all by myself! What do
poor. girls do who have none, mo work,
no home-and no Roberto
Then she laughed shyly to herself,
and. blushed-a happy, rosy blush
down inside the collar, and walked
faster than ever.
Home was quite a distance, but
her feet steps carried her quickly
there, and the hall door had flown
open in response to her latch-key,
when, from somewhere in the dark
pleading voice,-'Pity, oh, for the
love of God, pity ne!'
''Who are you? Where are you?"
asked Lottie, startled, and stopping
right where the hall light shone in
her face and dazzled her eyes.
Here" And from the shadow
beside the door rose a woman's fig
Urea woman that next moment also
stood in the light, showing wrinkl-
ed, aged face, and snow-white hair,
covered with tattered bit of shawl.
81 am freezing, starving, and may
be dying. If you have any pity give
me some food and some kind of shell
ter!' she said, with desperate sort
of famished eagerness.
II will-oh, / will-come in,"
cried Lottie, her voice quivering and
her eyes shining with the generous
pity that flooded her young heart. ~
have no place l can take you to but
my room on the top floor. Can you
climb the stairs 2"
''For warmth and food? Yes, yes
lead the way cried the woman ca
gerly, looking at the girl with a treln
bling delight burning in her hollow
eyes. 81 can follow anywhere" "
But she was aged and weak, and
the four long flights of stairs were
slowly accomplished, Lottie assisting
her companion as we'll as the narrow
staircase would allow, and going very
slowly.
"This Is my room,' she eXclaim-
ed at last, throwing open door and
leading the painting woman in. "Sit
down here, and in two minutes my
fire will be lighted. Are you very
tired !"
The weary woman could only nod
as she sank into the chair Lottie
gave, while her young hostess flew
about the room.
Everything was most exquisitely
neat, and the little CRATE, brushed
and polished, was already laid for
the fire, and, at touch from Lot
ties match, blazed and cracked with
amazing brightness.
sis not that lovely?" she cried,
turning to her stranger visitor. "Now
you will soon be warm, and in few
minutes | will give you cup of tea.
Move nearer, won't you?''
Apparently speechless with CRATE
full amazement and delight, the wo-
man did as she was bid, throwing off
her wet, tattered shawl, and holding
her wrinkled hands over the blaze,
while her eager eyes still followed
every move Lottie made.
81 am my own housekeeper, you
see, continued the girl, gaily, as if
wishing to make her visitor less tim
id and more at home, ''here is my
little kitchen - and with merry
laugh she threw open the door to a
large closet, showing within two neat
ly papered shelves of dishes and tins.
81 am just as happy and independ-
ent as / can be. How do you like
it?'
'sLike it ]" echoed the woman !;
does it not look like heaven to me !?
"But are you all alone?"
Eyes, all alone. / have not rela-
tive in the world that | know of, !"
said Lottie, taking off and hanging
up her things, now that she had all
things started. 81 would be very
lonesome if l had the time, but I
havn't.'
"Then you work-you are poor" !"
cried the woman, as though the sur
roundings were suggestive of wealth
and ease.
"Oh, yes, am poor: and yet l
am rich, for / have health and
strength and good work. said Lot
tie, with a world of thankfulness
thrilling her blithe voice. s'In the
morning | am up early and arrange
my room and fire and have my little
breakfast; and | am away all day as
nursery governess and music teacher
in a great house near South Park. l
have never time to be lonesome, but
| am very happy"
The woman turned her eyes to the
fire again, and as she steadily and ST.
lently watched the dancing flames,
Lottie seized the opportunity of look
ing at her closely, when the woman
turned, almost sharply.