The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1888-03-30

carries an old basket, and into IL puts
the partially or wholly rotten oranges
which are thrown ont in discharging
cargo. Finally, having obtained basket
full, she shambles oil, bep ling painfully
under her uuw holesome load, traversing
block after block, sitting frequently in
the gutter to rest and ever unheedful
alike Of the jeers Of boys and the shud.
dering avoidance Of even the least fas-
tidious. A loathsome, hideous spec.
tacle, she.
And her story' l had the curiosity
once to seek it out. One bright autumn
day room in respectable tenement
house was rented to young couple,
who paid for month in advance, furn-
ished the room simply, aud took pos
session with charming embarrassment
and sublime confidence.
She was a dainty creature, with
bright eyes, rosy cheeks.red lips, white
teeth and ravisbing dimples. He hand
some, less from good features than
from his manly, self.reliant air. Every
body in the house knew well enough
that they did not belong in one room
of q tenement house; not that they be.
trayed the fact by any seeming disdain
of their present quarters-not they.
But, bless you'll hadn't Mrs. O'Hagau
lived with the quality once, and didn't
she know a lsdy--a real lady-wher
she saw one' From the country, nc
doubts but genuine lady. And
Frank She used to lean so prettlly
over the rickety balusters of morn.
ing and, quite unconscious of listeners,
call out; "Frank, dear, did you kiss
me'" And he, laughing the while,
would run back and kiss her there az
she stood, as il he had not already
done it a round dozen of times since
breakfast is, when they had had
any breakfast. But as ] was going to
say, Mrs. O'Hagan knew Frank was a
gentleman because he always lifted his
hat to her.
They didn't always have breakfast
and sometimes no dinner, and once 10
a while they lived for twenty-four
hours on love. Poor food for two such
hearty mortals, you may say, and 80 il
was; but one can starve on love with
great cheerfuIness. let me tell you.
Aud so they did starve aud shlver
too, as winter came on, but they laugh
ed and loved as cheerily and heartily
as ever. One day said Frank
kitty, dear, cant bear to see you
suffer So" ..
II suffer" as If she had never heard
anything so surprising before.
"Yes, you! Why, your cheeks art
pale, your lips are blue aud there are
hollows under your eyes"
"Now don't worry about me, dear;
don't mind it at all SO long as have
you"
"Yes, know" said he huskily, "you
are brave little woman, but | can,
stand it, Kitty, dear, l cant; 80 I've
taken situation as"
He stopped and she, VINO had been
Watching him, cried out with fright.
ened look in her eyes:
"As what, Frank Please tell me. y
"As a. his voice was low and un.
steady-"as purser on fruit steamer
running to Cuba"
"Oh, Frank, and leave me alones'
She clung to him with positive terror.
"But can't see you starve, Kitty.
And it'll only be for month, and the
firm will pay you thirty dollars the day
the steamer sails"
"When will it sail?" she whispered
"Io-morrow."
"Oh, Frank
Well, she was, as Frank had said, q
brave little woman, and the steamer
went away the next day with her dear
love on board. She received the thirty
dollars and to please Frank did the
best she could to get back her roses
and cherry lips. And she succeeded
80 that when, 10 three weeks, she wen,
to the fruit firm to ask about the steam
er, the gruff old clerk did her beauty
homage by being very gracious. He
told her they had no news of the steam.
er except that she had arrived safely
and that she was due in week. AnC
he asked her to come again as otter
as she liked, since it was no trouble a,
all to answer her questions.
She did not go to the Office again fol
several days, but she went every day
to the wharf where the steamer was tt
land and looked lovingly at it as if i
had some share in the happiness tha
was coming to her so sooi now.
The steamer did not come in at tn,
end of the week, but the gruff clerl
smiled and said it would surely be il
the next day. But it was not; nor th.
next, nor the next. And now she wen
from the office to the wharf and wait
ed desperately in the freezing wind
each day waiting longer time. On'
day she went into the Office, and thu
gruff clerk rushed away from his desl
to the back part of the store. She
waited, but as he did not return sh,
timidly went back into the store ant
touched him on the arm, for his .bacl
was tnrned to her. He turned aut
looked down into the eyes 80 full o
eager questioning.
"Go way; go way from me- h
cried, harshly; ''ask somebody else; In
busy
He hurried from her. She followe,
him with distended eyes. She had no
noticed his roughness-only the pit,
that was under il. Halt staggering
she caught up to him and clung to hi
coat.
"Oh, sirl tell me, tell ne. You ar
hiding something"
"For Gods sake don't ask me-" h
said.
| One little hand clutche him convu
sively, the other went flntteriDg vague
| ly to her head, while the wide-ope
eyes. filled with a horrible fear, caugh
his piliful, wavering glance and held i
"What is i,7" the dry lips Whispered
"Poor little thing" murmured tn
man.
"DeadY" The lips she had coaxe
into redness for his sake could onl
form the word.
Steamer burned All lost" was IL
low response.