The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-02-05

II I had opened my heart to her
she would have helped me. l was
shivering with cold, and the bleak
wind blowing in the narrow passage
where was standing brought back again
all my terror Of the black water, and
seemed TO urge me to escape from II.
Could overtake the lamo woman with
the child il / went after her? But how
could venture II, dressed rs l was? The
policeman had passed on now, and came
up from the steps, and there, not many
yards distant, was awoman, poor drunk
en- night walker of the lowest sort, sitting
in doorway, and the two policemen were
talking TO her and she was swearing at and
abusing them. Presently l heard one OF
them say to the other, Let her be; she is
not very far from home, and she'll make
her way there as soon as she has had a
doze and wakes up again. at once made
up my mind what j would do. AS soon
as the policemen had gone their way |
went TO the woman with my purse in my
hand, and offered her all that was in il for
stupefied TO be very much surprised atsuch
an offer, or TO inquire why it was made.
She only asked how much money there
Il
and some silver She scrambled to her feet
two bonnets,' she said; you will give
agreed, and, laughing at the good bargain,
she took Off her old things and put them
on, and without her old cloak, and with
in It, on her head, she made of and was
quickly out OF sight.
"She was taller woman than myself,
ana the cloak was long enough TO conceal
my silk dress. and | hurried along in the
direction she had taken, thinking that
should be able to soon overtake her But
l did not, though. Having first asked ii
that was the way TO the Old Kent road,
walked on for almost mile. began 10
despair again then, but IL was as though
Providence wllled that / should be saved
If j would but persevere. IL was still
bright moonlight, and hurrying along with
my eyes to the ground, a guiding sign
was there revealed to me. IL was
the impression on the hali-irozen
snow her crutch had made. OF
her footsteps there was not much trace,
but the indentation, no larger than n
penny, caused by her tired weight leaning
on the crutchstick, was plain enough. |
followed the sign all the way to the Old
Kent road, never once losing sight of IL,
and 1t showed me the way TO the street,
the name OF which she had mentioned,
but which had forgotten. II guided me
TO the very house whore her friend lived.
They were very respectable houses, with
gardens in front, and there was the round
dot in the snow right TO the door, and as
IL ended there | knew she had found
shelter. Had there been light in the
window think should have knocked,
but all WIS dark. II was not yet o'clock,
and huddled in corner in the doorway.
which was screened from view from the
street by the bushes In the garden, and
there ] waited until daylight, and could
hear those within up and about, and then
| knocked, and the door was opened"
But ] need not continue the strange
story in the teller's own language. As al
ready foreshadowed, she found the help
ing hand Of which she was in such dcsper-
ate need. "Much amazed" and no
wonder, was the little lame woman when
she found that the young girl in the bat
tered old bonnet and the bedraggled cloak
was one and the same with the iashionably
dressed person she had talked with on the
bridge. The good woman 10 whom the
poor soul from Uxbridgc had applied in
her own distress was willing 10 help the
other, and made her case known 10 Lady
-, who was instrumental In getting the
penitcnt into a suitable home. II may he
mentioned that through Lady IS inter,
est and influence the unfortunate Martha
- was released from prison. but the liz
tie lame woman'sown erring daughter was
| nowhere 10 be found.