The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1886-01-01

she came there, and Tor what Two ~
three said, Put her out" but Charlie
Amsden said:
"Wait minute, boys. I've seen her
once before tonight, and you can see she S
III desperate distress; let's hear what She
will say. Now, then. you little waif sit
here by the CRATE and tell as your name
and where you come from"
She looked UP at him with wan
smile. you know my name. Charlie. -
She said, ssMr Amsdeh, | mean. but papa
called you Charlie; I'm Gertic Ainsley"
Amsden fairly staggered backward.
Good Godt' he cried. in great excite
ment. Eve held that cliild on my hap a
hundred times, Arthur Ainsley's girl
don't You remember how he was accidently
stabbed i'll drunken dispute and died
from the wound? He had lovely wife
and child, and was often at his house be-
fore he made sot of himself: but he s
been dead two years, and l never knew
what became of his family
The girl suddenly rose 10 her feet. Her
ragged shawl fell of, showing them more
plainly her pallor and emacation, as She
pointed with her wasted hand toward a
stand on which were drinking glasses and
deeanters of liquor.
"Yes, she cried, my papa was as good
as you bcfore lie made a sot Of himself, and
you know what killed him; but You 90
right on and do just so yourselyes-cyeIy
one of you"
Her high-pitehed voice ended in a gasp
ing cry, and She suddenly swayed forward
and fell upon the Goor in dead faint
Ansden lifted her TO the sofa. 'IIarry. =
he said, there's chance to try your skill. :
Harry Bingham was young doctor wait
ing for practice, and in the mean time fast
acquiring habits for his ruin His face
showed that the unconscious child's words
were not lost on him, as he worked for her
restoration, directing others to bring such
remedies as were at hand
''Better call the police, one said. and
have her taken to hospital
But Charlie Amsden turned to him with
A white face and trembling lips.
Fred! You have heard what she said,
and it's true. We are going Ainsley's
way-'every one of us'-but for me this is
truely a "wakc-night Never will I be
one at another wine party for know that
was the way poor Arthur began, and am
no smarter than lie was. Do I want to
risk bringing my little girl to that ?" point
ing to the inanimate form in rags This
surely ends to-night's carousal-cvery one
go or Stay, as he plcases: will settle for
everything here tonight, but it will be the
last bill of the kind, and Harry will help
me to see to this child till she is so I can
take her home with me-
Most OF the men departed in sober silence,
which they would not have done two hours
later had no interruption to their festivity
occurred. Only two, beside Amsdcn and
the young doctor, remained. The latter
soon spokc-his fingers on the feeble
wrist
you'll never take her home with you.
Charlie, she is almost gone she was nearly
dead of consumption. should say: and the
exposure and excitement of tonight will
end her misorics very soon"
But after time she revived. and remem-
bercd where she was, ard smiled at the
men SO kindly attending her. In laltering
words, and with many pauses for breath,
she told them the story of her life since
''Papa was brought home killed" They
were very poor, and lived i'll wretched
place then; and mamma was sick, and soon
after died very suddenly; as neither parent
had near relatives living, there was no one
to care for little Gertie, and she had stayed
with one and another of the poor people
among whom her mother died; they would
keep her in turns for a while. out of pity rs
much as for what she could get by errands
and by begging but when She fell sick no
one wanted her. Tcddy's granny had been
the last to house her: but being that day
herself turned out of her miserable quar-
tiers, she had told Gertie that she must
''shirll for herself
All day she had wandered in the streets
and all the evening, till she met Teddy and
learned about the New Year that people
were watching for 'And when | saw in
through your window" said the poor little
one, 81 thought you were doing it in here
and if could get in | might find it too;
but Teddy said You would not let me in, so
| sized inr' Her breathing was very labor
ed, and she dozed between her sentences,
holding Amstlen's hand
Tears. Of which lie was not ashamed
were on the young Doctors checks, as he
pointed to The clock on the mantcl and an
swered her when she family asked if the
Happy New Year would soon come.
''Ycs, little one, when the clock strikes
next time it will be here
She smiled and closed her eyes content
edly while her iluttcring breath grew
shorter and shorter.
In few minutes the clock struck twelve
Gertie opened her eyes and seemed to be
listening but She looked far away beyond
them all as she whispered
''Oh, see-how light, 1t has eome-the
Happy"
New Year she would have said; but the
faint breath failed; she lay quite still, with
a smile upon her wasted face, and spoke no