The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-05-05
FOUND IN THE ASHES.
ny ROSA EvANGELINE ANGEL.

She wasn't bit pretty, even Joe ha'
to own to that, and he could Judge
anyone could. Joe was an ash man il
Ward Nine, and used to see her three
times n week, summer and winter, a
she opened the basement door for hin
to remove the ash barrels. And Shit
was always in such hurry! Not mo
ment for the rough, good natured joke
he flung to others; indeed, Joe didn't
feel like joking with her.
He always felt queer lump in his
throat which made his deep voice
hoarser still when he called "Ashesl" in
front of No. ~ and heard her stumbling
through the dark passageway, and then
it was such tired, dragged out Millie
when the stubborn door did open!
So it went on, and the lump in Joe's
throat kept growing, and one bitterly
cold day the basement door seemed to
have frozen fast, so long was she fumb-
ling at the lock, and when ut last it flew
open ut sudden hard jerk, Joe heard
a faint little cry, and the next minute he
found very limp girl in his arms whose
face was whittier than ever under its
coating OF dust and smears OF SCOT.
He carried her through the long en-
trance up some steep icy steps and kick.
ed at the kitchen door. 1t opened
quickly, and Joe walked in and laid his
burden on the floor, saying gruiliy, "She
fell on the ice, mum, do ye think she's
killed."
Next ash day strange girl came to let
him in, and rs he rolled the empty bar
iels back to their places he said, was
she hurt bad2n
"Only a sprained ankle, but the doctor
said it would lay her up for six weeks,
ANYHOW, and so Missus had her took to
the hospital right away"
Joe on his off day went to the hospital
and inquired with much stammerlnS
and noisy shuflling OF his big cowhide
boots, "Ef Their was n gal taken in with
n spraincd ankle t'other day" The
man with the gold nose glasses said
ayes; are you her brotherW
40! No, sir" said Joe with very red
face. "Ahm said his questioner.
Every week Joe made his appearance
Mt the office and said: "Will she be out
this week, sir?" and at last they told
him eyes, tomorrow at 10 o'clock, and
Joe rushed of and got friend to go
with the cart in his place, and half past
nine the next morning found him dress
ed in his best, waiting at the door of the
big City Hospital. Presently n thin,
poorly.clad girl came slowly down the
steps and started in surprise as big,
bashiul man stepped up to her and said,
"Nliliel" She don't know him. How
should she, when his own mother would
scarcely recognize him in his weekday
garb OF ashes and mud, and she had
never seen him in any other? I'm Joe,
the ash-man, We know!" bespoke quick
", and then her frightened look gave
place to a wan smile us she answered,
"Oh! l didn't know you. You must
excuse me-"
Course We didn't know me, for ye
didn't expect to see me here, did ye :" =
mo, didn't think to sec anybody
knowed."
"That's why come; Thought mebbe
you'd feel kinder lonesome like, an
seemed like We didn't hay no friends
nor nobody to care for ye, so ! jest slip
ped around to see ye, and ax We where
we're goin' and what ye're goin to do?
Amt goin' back to Y, be YEP"
81 amt got no place else to go. !
don't know nobody Else in this city, an
Miss Benton is kind hearted il she is a
little cross onct in q while"
"Well, I'll go long with ye, an see
what she says"
After that they walked on slowly and
in silence till they came to the familiar
basement door.
Mrs, Benton spoke TO the girl kindly,
and told her she might stay there till
she found another place, for she couldn't
discharge any OF her "help." So, pale
Mile went and told Joe, and he prom;
ised to come the ueXt evening and tell
il he heard Of any place. AS he walked
away, he muttered to himself: Whats
the matter with me, anyhow" That
was lust it. He couldn't have told, to
save his life. All! Joe, Joe, that same
question has puzzled wiser, shrewdei
brains than yours, 10, these many years
The next evening he rang the base
ment bell and was led by Sally into the
same kitchen he had entered so many
weeks before, and Mile stood up tC
shake hands, with much blushing, and
then Joe said: ut won't hurt ye to take
a little walk, will it? The nights rca
clear and purity, an it amt muddy"
So they went out, and was it thu
witclery of the night or the subtle in
nuences OF the mo0nshine Tor can sucl
things affect hearts that beat under sucl
uncouth raimenD that made Joe 81!
what he did?
aye didn'thear ONO place "he asked
hcsitatingly, after a bit.
mo; went to some places that wa
in the paper, but they all said ] didn'
look strong, an l s'pose | don't, but
am, or will be, as soon as ] get my mint
easy bout livin'." She spoke de
spondently, aud just then Joe put hi
hand out to help her across the gutter
and splash cNmetwo big tears, warm ant
bright on his hard hand, That settle'
. Joe.
"Millie, will ye marry me?" He hur
ricd over the words us II they choke,
him. 81 mint got much to offer ye, bu
I'll work to make We home, Ct you
come an share it with me. viii ye?
80, Joe, you mustn't! know your
sorry Ter me, but you mustn't marry
girl lest cause you feel sorry fer hel
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