Woman's chronicle. (Little Rock, Ark.) 1888-1???, 1889-09-28


She seemed to have no interest apart from my own,
and proved so trustworthy that had allowed her
to assume almost the entire care of the house.
After the children asleep she was free to pass
the evenings as she peased and, as social duties
filled my own time, knew little of her movements.
She had seened so thoroughly content, that when
she announced her intention to leave me- | was
greatly surprised.
''Leave me-" I exclaimed. 'sWhy Mandy,
you are as necessary to us as the fire. or the gas!
We can't get along without you"
But she was firm. She must 60 home. Per-
haps-she seemed not sure-but perhaps she
would come back some time; | saw that it gave
her pain to leave us, and ceased to urge her to re-
main There was probably some family reason,
some trouble that she was unwilling to explain,
told Richard.
'Perhaps she is to be married." he suggested.
ooh, no; she has no followers. She is too
much OLA child to think of marrying, replied.
But there came to me the recollection of the
schoolmate whom she had not mentioned during
the year she had been with u.s. Her devotion to
the children had probably taken the place of that
friendship, thought. Mandy left us regretted
by old and young Every member of the family
bestowed parting gift, and her own distress, ag-
gravated by the noisy grief of the children, made
the parting somewhat painful. Months passed,
and 'Mandys name was seldom heard in the house.
We had given up all hope of her return and had
ceased to wonder at her silence One day note
was received asking me to call at hospital where
Mandy Driscoll was lying critically ILL., The note
was written in a perfunctory way by the nurse of
the ward At once all our former interest in our
favorite revived. The children sent loving mes
sages, and even Richard fastened my departure.
He looked grave when mentioned the name of the
hospital, but I had no suspicion of its character
until l sat by Mandy bedside.
My tears fell upon the wasted hand while list
ened to the sad story often repeated in city and
country.
IL longed to see you once more, Mrs. Harlow"
she sobbed. 81 could bear to have you know the
truth, if l could only see you again. You know
what you said, ma'am, when | engaged with you.
l wouldn't deceive nor disobey you after that; so
| used to meet James On the street, and sometimes
| was out very late when you didn't know it. 1t
was being in the street that led to the wrong; for
when it was cold or wet, James used to take me
into some place where it was comfortable, and it
wasn't always respectable, ma'am got careless
and hardened by what | saw, and that made it easy
to 90 wrong, ma am, don't you see?"
Alas, yes l saw it all. | drew from her pitt
full story of suffering during the months that
passed since she left us.
"Why did you not come to me-" l asked.
"Your heart would have been hard against me,
ma am Women have no kindness toward girls
like u.s."
1t was too true should have turned from her.
did not need the physician distum to assure me
that 'Mandy's trials would soon be over. The
poor child had no wish to stay.
"God is more merciful than man." she said.
"He forgives all sin. Mrs. Harlow, | don't believe
there is another sin that brings punishment so
hard to bear; but nobody cares, and nobody helps
us. Even these nurses despise us"
"Who did SIM" asked myself as | returned
home-the old question asked so many hundreds
of years ago. Was the innocent, chdike nurse