The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-01-06
Dy J. ". DE FOREST.

lcopyriehtl
What a singular odorl' solloquize,
Miss llolcum smiling the air with
slight tremor OF disgust about he
DostrilS.
She said odor instead Of smell. becaus,
shc was teacher u several years stand
ing In one Of tho Common schools Of New
York. and had learned iu the exercise o
Der profession 90 express herself with M
elegance Of the Johnsonian species Sh,
was accustomed 90 remark 90 Der scholars
Before you speak, always consider not
only your thoughts. but also the language
IN which ysu propose 70 give them utter
ancc"
She was At this moment ascending the
third staircase Of the cheap, plain. and
even sccdy lodging house ia which she
had her -bcdroom-kitchcn. or. in
other words. her one room Ina which she
studied. slept and did such small cooking
as was needed for her tea and breakfast
In this simple fashion she had lived for
years. not merely because her earnings
were small. and not at an because she
was siingy. bat mainly because she was
n noble. unsclfsh woman, who bad 10 at
heart 70 educate a youthful orphan
cousin.
1T Is burning charcoal. She added
after an instant. Can 10 be- shat some
poor mortal is seeking bis death y
School teaching alone had not given her
tho wisdom 20 reach this suspicion She
was rcaderof novels. she had an imogin.
alton and n native longing after the un
usual. she was capable OF concerning O
suicide AID Of conceiving herself as saw
ing him. Where practical common
sense man would merely have smclt FIRE.
this fancitul. impulsive woman scented
tragedy Of the heart We shall see
which Of these two characters best suited
the cxigeu-y thai w0s now aconizlng in
this bare and musty old lodging house
The widest Imagination is sometimes the
truost common sense
1t NAV be that young foreigner,
thought Janet Iiolcum she ran up an
other fight of stairs. hurried along
musty dusty passage and stopped before
a door marked by dirty fingers. Tmor
Gus and modest. she looked 40 10 with hes
itation 0s well as anxiety; but the char
coal fumes were stronger here and began
10 make her sick aud FAINT. she felt that
she could not hesitate long After rap.
ping and receiving no answer she put
her mouth % the keyhOlo and called. also
without effect
oh dear what shall / dot' she
groaned. confident now that o tragedy
was passing within and looking about F.
her vainly for help She had already
learned that this fifth story was uuoccu .
pied except by tho pale. slovenly, bag .
gard young foreigner whose step She had .
frequently heard. pacing 20 and fro for .
hours. over her head As she romom-
borcd that hc was a man. and that she .
had never been introduced 10 him. She
th0nght Of running down stairs and sum
mOning some other man % save BIN But
the poisonous air demanded instant
action, she tried the lock unavailiuglv.
and then flung herself desperately against
the door. the miserable bolt catch gave
way. and She was within. Unable to
breathe IN the mephitic atmosphere Of
the room. she rushed across IL. opened
window and thrust her head out Look
ing back from this position. she saw some.
thing which made her shudder
There was q painters easel; on the
easel was a picture with its face turned
from her; behind the easel on the floor Of
one corner of the room. was q wretchcd
bed, and on this, the chest and head con
cealed by the picture, lay the motionless
form Of man. The moment Janet had
drawn one long breath of the ont Of door
air she FASTENED 10 this terrible corner
No time 10 look at the man. no leisure 20
query whether he were alive or dead. she
lifted him by the shoulders. dragged him
10 the window and seated him by it in
chair Her only distinct consciousness
as 10 his condition was that the temple
which dropped against her cheek was not
entirely cold
But the appearance Of the suicide, as
she held him up in the chair. was alarm.
NC. His face ash colored his lips blue
and contracted his head dropping help.
essly on one shoulder. he seemed 70 be-
already in another world She scarcely
noticed that be did not look TO be more
han - years of age that his long. curl
ng yellow hair. although neglected was
,eautiful; that his wasted and CHASTITY
features were classic in outline. Two or
hree times she cried loudly for assist
nee: Help Murder" But outside
here was only Wilderness Of roofs; In.
ide. the musty old lodging house seemed
mother desert She was left alone with
IeT awful question Of death or life.