Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-02-22
THE LAST CHARITY.

Miss Garments pet charity now was the
fund for Mexican Indians. She had it
since three years ago, when handsome,
enthusiastic young curate, who was stay
ing in the same summer boarding house
as herself, had interested her in it. He
had been on ranch in northern Mexico
the year after he graduated from college
and before he had decided to 60 into the
ministry. Miss Carmen, who had very
vague idea of what a ranch was, confus-
ing it in her mind with cowboys, plum
dered coaches and rescued maidens, consld-
cred Mr.. Howard one Of those reclaimed
victims of life of dissipation Che was, by
the way, when she met him, just % years
old, though he had in reality never done
anything particularly wrong in his life.
Miss Carmen belonged to that class OF
women one never knows how to speak of,
whether as lady or young lady,"
unless one is addressing the person her.
self, when one is apt to venture on
the latter term. And it must also be &C
lnowledged she could not resist the at
traction of a man who was turning over
new leaf" this species sometimes even
took precedence Of her charity in her favor,
and that IS saying a good deal, for her
charity, whatever it happened at the time
to be, was so dear to her heart it made
her almost dread to her friends. Per
haps you met her in a store; before you
could hurry by with Good morning,
Miss Carmen" she would stop you: ''Oh,
Laura Lafarge, you're the very girl l want
to see. want you to take booth at the
fair next week for the - charity. You
can have any booth you wish, but won't
you be in the 'Mikado?' Iwant girls who
will get up handsome costumes, and you
know, with your TASTE" etc. Or: MAR
garet Wyndoff, I'm so glad I've met you;
Just step aside here moment, will you?
I'm going to ask you to help me in little
international tea I'm getting up for those
poor-such poverty, such distress, L can't
tell you how they appeal to me. Now do
promise to furnish flowers and appear in
the Greek group-the costumes will be
very simple, and I've asked for veil, /" etc.
Or on the street: Good morning, Mr..
Carey, won't you turn around and walk
with me few moments; Pm going to ask a
favor of you, which want you to promise
to grant me- It's really nothing at all for
you to do, and it is for a very worthy
charity: young Mrs. Carley has said she
will be Lady Washington, and want you
to be George in an old time tea party"
And often before you can refuse she is
gone, with ''Good-by; l knew you would !;
so kind of you; good-by."
Now it was theatricals, and for the
Mexican Indians again. Her friends, to
tell the truth, were getting little tired
of doing for these creatures. They had
been to teas for them, to kirmess for
them, to tableaux, to lectures for them;
enough of things to have educated whole
tribes of them, Mrs. Ned Brown said, if
they had only been there themselves.
And, she added, she really didn't see why
they should be made to suffer and pay
both; if they must give these things, give
them, but make the Indians go them
selves. However, Mrs. Brown was a
fiighty little woman whom every one
laughed at in their sleeve, while people
all did admire Miss Carmen, though they
were getting little tired of. their chart
ties.
All these things Miss Carmen felt in an
indefinite sort of way as she came home
from the mission school one afternoon.
1t was Mr.. Towards mission and he had
spoken so beautifully to the poor children
that day. But then he always did. He
had spoken so kindly to her, too; some
how or other some people seemed to take
it for granted that she could go out in any
kind of weather, with no matter how bad
n cold, without any danger. And today
had been her birthday, she did not think
what birthday, the fact itself was bad
enough without being numbered. She
was getting old, she thought with sigh;
dear me, much too old to be thinking so
much of this handsome young minister,
and much too old to have that drop on
her check; she must walk faster and think
of something else, and yes, she would ask
her sister to take her mission class, at
least for awhile. She passed wretched
beggar sitting on the curb grinding a
small organette that had stops nearly O
minute long between each note. Miss
Carmen looked quickly around and
then furtively dropped quarter
into the tin cup, and passed on.
She had been told such charity was mis-
applied, but then she had felt Just like il
and was willing to run the risk. So Mr..
Howard was really going back to Mexico,
not as a ranch man this time, but as a
missionary. What should she do when
he was Gone-what, had it come to thiSs
She must think of something else, and
she hurried on, without noticing two
yoang girls who passed her quickly. Il
was afraid she would see us, one Of them
said. Il know she'd ask me to be in a
booth or take part in those theatricals. "
Girls who never did any good in the
world. and probably never would, who
would not even appreciate the self sacri-
ticing labor Of Miss Carmen. Undoubt-
cdly the latter did lack judgment, or let
us say moderation, but in her proper
sphere, or under able guidance, what
might she not accomplish?
She found a note at home for her from
Cliss Tower saying she was sorry, put
her health was so wretched this winter
her physician had taboced theatricals.
She also found Mr.. Garey's card, with q
hasty note on the back, which read how
much he regretted he would not be able
10 take the part Miss Carmen had kindly
assigned to him.
Miss Carmen sat down and cried. She
knew it was silly, but she didn't care She
was tired out ana over worried and she
threw herself down on her couch and had
q "good cry She was bathing her eyes
and smoothing her hair when the maid
brought her MIR. Towards card She put
in another hair pin and then went right
down.
oh she said without even greeting
him, I'm perfectly wretched, Two of
my people have backed out / did think
when had only three in the play should
have no trouble, but the only two who can
act won't act. What shall do?''
AID she laughed nervously, feeling dap
Gerously near her mood upstairs. How
ard felt very sorry for her. SO sorry he did
not know what to say. Finally he mur-
INJURED: Il wish l could help you, OF
eouse 1couldn't act-but can't you'' he
aIlad n11icl.lr aS the fhnnCht came to