Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1889-06-30
THE GIRL IN BLACK.
They were married.
Atlanta Constitution.

AAQWQ CONSTITUTION.
Two weeks ago as a bright afternoon
was drawing to peaceful close, an aged
beggar lay upon the stone plaza fronting
the custom house, asking aims of the pass
ers.by.
He was a helpless cripple-and as he
held his palsied hand tremblingly forth,
the spectre of a smile stole upon his wrink-
led cheek-Only TO give place to look of
keen sorrow, which fell athwart his face
as shadow, when, unmindful of him,
the people hurried on.
Richly dressed ladies pulled aside their
silks fearful That they might barely touch
his ragged raiment and passed gaily on.
Gay school girls with rosy cheeks glanced
laughingly at him and went their way.
Men in fashionable dress passed proudly
blythe music of veil turned boots as they
struck, the pavement miDgling with the
strangely plaintive voice difficulty asking
a palt.Ey gift.
The sun had now sunk behind the CAPT
toI, and as the paling light cast deeper
shadows a chilling breeze swept around
the corner. The old man shivered, and
drawing his tattered garments closer about
his lank limbs, as if in very mOckery OF
comfort, tried to rise upon his clutches.
With q groan he sank back.
A light step bounded upon the crossing,
and girlish form, clad in complete black,
was at his side. One arm was thrown ten
Derby around the old beggar's shriveled
neck, while the other gently assisted his
feeble limbs TO rise. A small white hand
placed a bright silver dollar in his with
cred palm, and low, sweet voice said:
81 wish I could give you more"
Tears trickled down the old mans
cheeks as he murmured in choking
voice:
God bless you child" and then moved
slowly and painfully away.
She was a sweet-faced girl with tender
dark eyes and mass of dark brown hair
falling about her graceful neck. 1t was
growing late, and as she hurried down
the street, the old man turned, and resting
upoa his crutches, watched, with grateful
eyes, the graceful form until it was lost in
the thickening twilight.
Last night as the town clock was trem
bling on the stroke of twelve, the sound Of
subdued voices fOated ont from small
house on an obscure street in the Fourth
ward. In handsomely furnished room
on a bed lay a girl in the last agOnies OF
death. The rose had withered on the wan
cheek, the dew of death had fallen upon
the white brow. The light was growing
dim in the tender dark eyes.
There was no mis- stalking those eyes.
Alas! il was the girl in black.
A few women stood about the door in
gaudy attire, the brilliant colors heighten
ed by the sheen from the hall lights.
An officer entered the room and bending
over the bed for a moment, gszed plying
ly upon the dying girl, then turning from
the sad scene, asked.
"Who is she?n
A hard faced woman beckoned him into
the hall, and said:
eve do not know her real name. Here
she is called Katie Kramer"
And even while the words tremDied on
her lips a deep hush fell upon the watch
ers, and then the whisper passed:
"She's dead"
The old beggar's prayer has been ans
wered, for God had indeed blessed the
child.
81 wish could give you moren'
Out under the silent stars the night wind |
made mournful music like to the soft
swelling of a great orgau-and voices from
an unseen choir seemed to chant with In
finite sweetness.
"The greatest of these is Charity"
And the watchers were alone with the |
dead.
"Who knows the heart-'tis He alone,
Decidedly can try us;
He knows each chOrd-its various bias
Each spring-its various birds
Then. at the balance, let's be mute.
We never can adjust IT,
What's done, we, partly, may compute,
But never what's resisted"
~