Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1889-06-07

n6r uuSG6u, excited
M face. An exquisite
Gu little creature, young,
49, lovely, impUlsiye. her
dainty feet should have been crushing the
sweetness from the roses instead of tread
ing the thorny path Of poverty and want.
All night long the words Of good Mrs.
Briggs, a ledger on the same floor, had
been ringing in her ears, and they filled
her frst-waking thoughts.
A boy can turn his hand to most any
thing. There's my Daniel, just about
your own age, miss. Picks up from ten
20 fifteen dollars week doing odd jobs
But it isn't so easy for frlendIess girl to
earn her living in a great city like New
York. What a pity you wasn't born
boyl"
Mrs. Briggs was right. A boy can run
errands, black boots, shovel coal, carry
parcels, cry papers, and thousand other
things which are not considered proper
employment for a girl.
Dulcie had pOndered the woman words
until they seemed burned upon her brain.
She was weary, jaded and despalrlng,
having tramped the streets from dawn till
dark for many successive days IN search
of work, often without breaking her fast.
Always the same answer at shops, stores,
mills and houses: I'VE have no use for
girl. If you were a boy, now, we might
give you something to do.
Alas! too often the cold word Of refusal
was dCCOupa ny BfdJu1IOu6 lbs ulC'
This morning, as the sunshine, stream
ing through the uncurtained window on
her face, awakened her, a sudden thought
came like an inspiration, and the torpid
blood began to course more swiftly In her
veins.
why can't be bOy?"
Starvation stared her in the face. Her
ideas upon moral matters were somewhat
vague. In the struggle for bread she had
braved nearly every danger. So when the
strongest temptation of her young life
came to her, Dulcie yielded almost with
out a struggle.
She arose, dressed herself, then looked
into her purse. A solitary dime glittered
among its meshes. While she was de-
batting whether to spend it or go hungry,
a soft rat-tat- tat came at the door.
Mrs. Briggs stood in the hot, narrow hall,
her good-humored face wreathed in
smiles.
My breakfast is Just ready, dear, and
I've laid a plate for you. Daniel was up
and away an hour ago. Business is rush
jn'-he has half a dozen jobs ahead.
I've a fried slice of the Irishman's ham
that was a 'strake of fat and a strake OF
lane There's coffee, and bread, and
hard billed eggs-a breakfast fit for queen.
It's n sin to sit down o such a feast alone,
so I've made bold to come for you,
miss.
Tears came into Dulcie's beautiful eyes;
she readily saw through the good woman s
transp Jrent artifce.
You are very kind, dear Mrs. Briggs. I
owe you more than 1 can ever repay al
ready. Still you continue to besJOW on
me out of your poverty"
Law, miss as though it wasn't pay
enough to see your sweet face at my table.
Do come. feel a bit lonesome now my
Daniels gone"
Dulcie followedthe woman into a shabby
attic room, as bare and cOmfOrtless as heI
own, in the center of which stood table
meagerly spread.
The coarse fare tasted very sweet to the
half-staryed girl. Breakfast over she
said, bravely:
Mrs. Briggs, have a favor to ask Of
you who have always been so kind to me.
"A favor? Why, bless your dear heart
there nothing 1 wouldn't willingly do fol
you"
Il know it, dear, kind friend. Viii yoJ
lend ms those for a day or twO?"
Her slender little hand touched a suit Of
clothes Daniel had Outgrown, which huns
on the white-Washed wall. a suit al
darns and patches, though neat and clean
Mrs. Briggs stared at her moment
then look of intelligence flashed into he
round, gray eyes.
Poor deari Yes, take 'em, and vel
come I'm sorry it's come to this, but
can't find it in my heart to blame you
And here's a cap thatll just fit your prett.
too small for my Daniel now, and a cola
he used to wear of a Sunday. 1 Nigh
have sold them things to the Jews, but tn
Lord must have told me to keep 'en
a-purpOse for you. Lock the door, miss
and III help you to dress. Anything t,
earn an honest hvin'-them's my sent
ments.
A few minutes later the metamorphosi
was complete. Dulcie stood before tn
little cracked mirror between the windows
and carefully tucked away her COLDER
curls under the boys cap, leaving exposes
only O few clustering rings of that eXquis
lite tint the old masters loved to paint.
Lord, miss, you're a deal too handsOm
for bOyl" Mrs. Briggs exclaimed, kissln
the girls cheeks. But you can brave
out 1 reckon. You must hold your hea
up, be sassy and impudent, and look folk
straight in the eyes. And may the LOr
be with you'll"
Yes, the sun never shOne on boy hal
so beau iful as was Dulcie, when sh
trips ed down the rickety stairs into tn
foul, ill-smelling street. Her heart bea
fast with the novel sensation Of bein
other than herself.
@Ah." she murmured, drawing q lon
breath, Il shall no longer feel afraid c
being jOstled and stared at by rude me
and boys"
Making her way to the Herald building
she invested her dime in morning papers
all of which were quickly sold. To
sure the profit was very small, but ever
penny counted.
Encouraged by success, Dulcie gre
holder, and was casting about her fl
something else to DO, when her startle
glance fell upon a slender lad leaniu
against a lamp-post, who in dress and az
pearapce was almost the exact counter
part of herself.
The lovely dimpled face, the dark
blue eyes, the yellow locks escaping fro
the clOse-llc1ng cap, even the patched an
shabby clothes were repeated as in mi
rnrl n was as though Dulcie's own Ohio