Nevada County picayune., 1888-05-16
ken with a hollow laugh. Mary '"

name. am married-married to q poor young engraver on wood. who Is dying of consumption.
 But your fathcr?'
 "IIc is dead and my rich uncles rcnounccd me when 1 married one who was neither wealthy nor aristo- cratic. But must not stop to talk | am taking home some tailor work that l earn forty cents q day by working button-holcs on. Forty cents day by working button-holc, on. Forty cents a day, It's a great sum. isn't when rent and food and medicine have all to be paid out of it. Goodby. Kitty: I'm sorry l met you. l don't want to oycrshadow your bright face with the gloom of my own. Heaven knows.
 And she would have passed on. but Kitty resolutely held her hand.
 "Tell me where you live. Mary. will go home with vou."
 Mary turned around.
 The button holes can wait. shall not receive my pay until Satur- day night in any event Yes. come home with me. get so little sym pathv now-a-Gays that cannot af- ford to put away the offered hand of any one. =
 So the spoiled child went into the precincts of tenement house and stood face to face with Death and Famine.
 Henry Ford had been trying to work. but hand and eyes alike re- fused to obey the dictates of the tire less brain. The tiny tools and the satin-smooth block of wood lay be- side him on a course pine table and he sat with closed eyes. so still, that Kitty involuntarily exclaimed:
 My God, he is dead -
 No. he is not :" the wife answer ed. going softly to him. He often looks so. when he is weary"
 And in the same second he opened his eyes with faint smile. "lou have come back. my guardian an- gel. " said he-and Mary made haste to introduce her friend.
 Il have been asleep" he resum- ed. II dreamed was eating and drinking wine and fruit, and jellies. Oh the anguish of waking"
 ''God help us," groaned the poor wife wringing her hands, i've are starving and he dreams of such things as these
 Starving, Mary" once more cch- oed Kitty.
 Mr>, Ford opened drawer and pointed to the crust of bread.
 That ia all we have" said she That is all we shall have until to- morrow night. can eat it. soaked in little water. but he-hc has the capricious appetite of an invalid and l dry bread is certainly not an invit- ing diet" with q jarring laugh.
 Mary" sobbed Kitty Kane, clinging around her friends neck II never dreamed of destitution and misery like this. Here. take my moncy-spend it,' and she put her purse into Mary's wan hand. My God, and not an hour ago l was re- pining because could not waste it in silks and laces and gewgaws.
 Mary Ford looked eagerly at the bills.
 Ten dollars, Ten dollars :" she gaspcd feebly. as shs looked down at the crumblcd bits of paper Do you mean all this for me! =
 Take it, '"
 "God bless you, kitty.' said Ma rv Ford. with q choking sob in her throat. .To me it is more than ten thousand would have been two years ago, God bless you,'
 And will 90 home" Kitty add ed. flor some wine and jelly, and delicate crackers, such as inyalids like. will not be gone long, dear Mary.'
 Kitty Kane did not go to the par tv. She spent no time on ilounces and furbclows. All her leisure hours were devoted to the sad necessity of her friends.
 The evening after the party Mr.. Fordycc called.
 .Nou were not at Miss Porters last nipht." he said, when the first greet ings were exchanged.
 No.
 But know where you were, Kit ty. never felt toward you as l felt when the poor sick man in the