Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1888-09-21
Work-Girl and HeireSs.


whom the fates had made the reverse
of all this; and each, bent on widely
different errand, was going swiftly
round a London square one Novem-
Der afternoon just as gloom was
creeping over the great city.
Gerald Oakley quickened his steps
for trifling fancy; he wished to take
tickets for a theatre and to secure
the best places he could. Delphine
Marston hastened her pace for the
sake of reaching fashionable West
End house of business at the earliest
possiblemoment, hoping toreceive the
money due for a beautiful piece of art
embroidery she had done to order.
Tt had been raining, and pools of
water, which were half mud, stood
in the street. Mr.. Oakley thought
nothing of these, however; all his
effort was concentrated just then in
obtaining two stalls in a good posi-
ton for viewing the play; while Miss
MarstOn's hurried steps were moved
by the remembrance Of an invalid
mother and an empty purse.
Yes, emptyl Two small silver
coins-threepenny-b its-were all that
remained to her till the lovely border
she had been embroidering was paid
for.
Swiftly each pursued his way and
hers; and the result of their absorp-
ton in thought and Of the Pickering
shadow cast by the street-Iamp,
added to the gathering gloom, was
that they came into momentary
collision at the corner of the square.
1t would not have mattered, per-
haps, for Gerald threw himself
against the railing in order to break
the blow to the young lady but that
the accident tWirled the precious
packet containing the art embrOid-
cry right into the midst of a pool of
water glistening under the lamp
post. care you hurt? Pray pardon
my carelessness. What can I do to
repair it?'' exclaimed the young man
hurriedly, deeply distressed at being
the occasion OF the accident.
But poor, lovely Delphine was far
more distressed than he-Was, and her
beautiful eyes strained wild glanceat
the brown paper covering in which
her work was envelOped. An instant
was sufficient to tell her that one
corner had been soaked in the pool Just
enough to bring misery, almost ruin,
to the poor girl. She uttered an
agonized cry and burst into tears
despite her efforts to the contrary.
''What is it?" repeated the young
man, now in real CONSERVATION
''Have 1 spoiled your parcel by my
objectionable haste? Let me do
anything L can do to repair my
fault?''
For Gerald Oakley was as good
hearted q young fellow as ever
breathed, and he half OWNED the
real state of the case when he per-
ceived the trouble into which the
young girl was thrown by observing
the damaged paper, which contained,
doubtless, something valuable.
Necessity and despair are two
masters who do not admit of much
fencing as to the truth; and Delphine,
thinking of her mother, so helpless
and entirely left to her care, faltered
out:
1T is some art embroidery which
Il spoiled by the wet. / was taking
1T to the shop l work for. Oh, sir,
you ask what you can do. VIII YOU
buy this embroidery at n very re-
duced price? 1t would form the
border for chimney-piece or for a
table-cOver."
Certainly, I viii buy it; in fact,
my sister wants two or three borders
know. Let us take them of YOU in
stead of going elsewhere. OF course
/ VIII buy this one now, but at the
full price, not at a reduced one. Let
me ask your address and I viii send
a messenger tonight, that is If l
have not enough money with me 90
pay for it"
Delphine looked up and thanked
him heartily.
My mother and lodge two or
three streets from this, - said she And
then she named the modest sum OF
two pounds for her embroidery,
which was very beautiful.
'AllOw me to give it you now,
said Gerald, removing his hat and
regarding with growing interest this
lovely, penniless, friendless girl who
looked like a lady and who was earn
ing her bread in this precariOus way.
Il must learn her address. Ny
sister Connie might help her, " ran
swiftly through his brain. Aloud he
cOurteOusly explained that his sister
would be happy to call at the lOdg-
ings and give her some orders, upon
which Delphine's sweet voice named
the street and the house in which she
lived, after which he and she went