The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-07-30
PARADISE CORNER.

T2EyE was young man, happy, careless and
EA rich; she was girl of 10, whom the
EISE9 fates had made The reverse Of all this;
~ and each. bent on a widely different
errand. was going swiftly round London square
one November afternoon just as gloom was
creeping over the great city.
Gerald Oakley quickenrd his steps for trItliu
fancy; lie wished 10 take tickets for a theater,
and to secure the best places lie could. Dephne
Marston FASTENED her pace for the sake of reach
ing fashionable West-end house Of business at
the earliest POSSIBLE moment, hoping 10 receive
the money due for beautiful piece OF art EN-
brOidery she had done to order.
1t had been raining. and pools of water, which
were half mud. stood IN The street. MI. Oakley
thought nothing of these. All his efforts were
concentrated Just then on obtaining Two stalls IN
a good position for viewing lie play whilst Miss
Marston's hurried steps were moved by the re-
membrance OF an invalid mother ana an empty
purse.
Yes, empty. Two small silver eons-three-
penny bits-weTe all that remained to her ill the
lovely border she had been emUroidering was
paid for.
Swiftly each ,pursued Iiss way land hers;
and the result Of their absorption In thought,
and OF The fiicKerng shadow cast by the street
lamp, added TO the gathering gloom, was that
they came into momentary collision at the corner
of The squarc.
Ii would not have mattered perhaps (for Ger
aid threw himself against the railing In order TO
break the blow to the young LADY,, but that the
accident twilled he precious pachet containing
The art embroidery light into the midst Of pool
OF water, gllsIenmg under the lamppOsl.
"Are you hurt? Pray, pardon my careless
ness. What can do 10 repair it?" exclaimed
lie young man,Ihurredly, deeply distressed at
being tie occasion OF the accident.
far a SSad
than lie was. and her beautiful eyes strained
wild glance at tile brown-paper covering In which
her work developed. An instant was suffi-
cient TO tell her that one cOrnar had been soaked
in the pool just enough TO make her employers
reject it-just enough TO bring misery. almost
rum, 10 The poor gil. She uttered an agoniZe
cry, aud bust into tears, despite her efforts TO
the contrary.
"W hat is it ?" repeated the young man, now in
real CONSERVATION. Have | spoiled your parcel
by my objectionable haste? Let Inc do anything
/ can 10 repair my fault"
For Gerald Oakley was as goOd-heatted a
young fellow as ever breathed and lie half de-
yined Ia real stale OF The case when he per-
ceived the trouble iuto which TINS young girl was
thrown by observing tile damaged paper which
contained doubtless, something valuable.
Necessity and despair are Two masters who do
not admit OF much fencing 10 truth. aud Del
prime, thinking Of her mother so helpless and
entirely lett 10 her care, faltered out: II is some
art embroidery which is spoiled 10y he wet. L
was taking II 10 the shop | work Tor. Oh, sir,
you ask what you can do. VIII you buy this
embroidery at a very reduced price? IL would
form the border Tor chimney piece or for
table cover"
Certainly 1 Will buy 1t; in fact, my sister
wants TWO or three borders, / Know Let us
take them OF you instead OF going elsewhere. or
course l Will buy this one now, but at full price,
not al reduced one. Let NE ask your address
and l VIII send messenger tonight, that is II
have not enough money with me 10 pay for H."
Delphine looked up and thanked him heartily.
My mother aud lodge two or three streets
frOr IL Gil said and hEn Ahd naI I I'm
modest sum OF 81 for her embroidery, which was
very beautiful.
ALLOW me 10 give 1t to you now" said Gerald
removing his hat and regarding with growing in
teTest this lovely, penniess, fIiendless gill, who
looked ike lady, and was earning her bread IN
this precarlOus way.
II must learn her address; my sister Connie
might help her" ran swiftly through his brain.
Aloud lie eOurteously explained that his sister
would be happy TO call at the lodgings aud give
her some orders, upon which Delphiue's sweet
voice named The street and the house In which
she lived, after which lie and she went their diff
feTent ways.
But young Oakley no longer thought of secur-
Ing his stalls for The theateri that could be done
presently; for the vision OF The girl who had Just
quilted him entirely filled his mind.
SO young, SO beautiful, to have to earn her
own living ike that To suffer such agony for
the fear OF the loss of G2 What should feel
if Counie was in such strait? On, we must Try
and help herl" thought lie.
Then lie stood under a lamp-pOst rejecting,
and finally walked of In the direction Of the ad-
0resS given him.
Ten minutes took him to the Louise where Del.
phlGe lodged, and a second suticed TO show Inn
that she and her mother were dOmiced at Il
bakers. He entered the shop, bought some
thing lie did not want, and then made an inquiry:
"He had promised TO ask for his sister (he was
inventive, you see readeD If TWO ladies', Mrs.
aud Miss MarstOn, lived there"
ION, yes, SIM answered the tidy shop woman
land very nice ladies they are, 100, only so poor
now that the young lady bias lost her Italian les
sons, which USED 10 bring her in something regu-
what she teaches Itallan?" asked Gerald
becoming more ana more eager to tiud out all he
could concerning Tie girl lie had just encoun-
tered.
You see Mrs. Marson is an Italian lady.
That's how It is her daughter knows the lan-
guage so perfect, Sir" replied tile woman who
was behind the counter.
But why did MISS MarstOn lose her pupils
then ?" asked Gerald.
"1hey went abroad, sir; and 'tIsn't every one
as wants TO learn Italian. do wish she could
get some more lessons, and that would set them
up again"
'"Why know lady VINO would give any
Thing 10 mud good Italian teacher !" exclaimed
lie again inyelting aud relying Oh hiSSlsler Con.
ME falling In with his charitable deslgns). I'm
deed" continued lie, II want TO take few
lessons myself before go to Italy next spring."
Best take them now, Sir returned the shop
woman, smiling. Them foreign tongues isn't
learnt in day. November 'ull slip away, and
spring comes after winter"
III young man smiled aloud and said: Thar
very true SO and my sister will call to-mor
row."
To himself he repeated the lines from Shelley,
which contain so much meaning:
Oh wind, when the winter comes,
Can the spring be far behind?
''WIll 1t be so for this young girl? Can l and
Connie together lift her out of her bitter winter
into sprlng?" thought lie, as he thanked the
woman, gave her Ills caro- and uttered a courte-
GUS goodnight.
"Well, that's as pleasant looking gentleman
as ever came into our shop said she TO herself,
looking after him. "Pl take up this card this
Mayb hat ~
Delphlne and put few roses into her cneeks.''
"Here miss" called She knocking at the door,
81 do think I've brought bit of good fortune,
for believe, just through my chatter, I've got
some Italian lessons. gentleman and lady are
to call tomorrow, ana here's his card"
Delphine, and, indeed her mother, was ex-
cited at Tie news. II seemed to promise so
much and greater freedom from anxiety, which
was killing them both.
"Mr Gerald Oakley" murmured Delphine,
reading the card, but Ia n0Wise connecting this
name with that CT The stranger who had been
SO ready to help her that evening He had
spoken en- ol ordering embroidery; lie did not know
lndl sue gave lessons In Italian.
ana tlus IL came to pass that she was taken
quite by surprise, when tile next day, toward
no moo, Young lacy walked In, followed by The
gentleman whose acquaintance she had made the
night before In so unusual manner
Connie Oakley, VINO generally aided her
brother In all his plans and schemes was fas-
cinated by the sight of Delphlne. Tie girl was
so graceful and added all The charms of Italian
beauty 10 tile refinement OF English loneliness
will be falling IN love with her." thought Connie
And We need not blame her for desiring to spare
her only brother from the difficulties which
attend mesaliance.
However, she resolved TO go cordially through
this interview, and then 10 tell her brother
plainly, as they walked home together, that lie
must avoid all appearance of scandal for the
young lady's sake, and leave her 10 call when
ever II was necessary on the Marst0ns
But however good our designs aud wise our
plans they may be upset In a moment Even
while Connie Oakley was settling this prudent
line OF acting In her own mind, her brother over.
turned 1t in instant.
Connie" said he "Miss MarstOn can give
you and me Italian lessons together. had de.
cided to lake some and to WORK hard before |
got out to tour II about Italy in the spring. 1t is
so stupid not 10 be able TO speak TO the peasants;
one loses hall the enjoyment"
fOor Connie She had already said how de.
ilghted she should be TO improve her Italian;
Dut she was In nowise delighted TO do so at the
cost Of her dearly beloved brother losing her
heart 10 this stranger who earned her living by
dini OF hard work, and who lived over bakers
shop.
well, we ian settle that later on,n stammered
she, unae3e - conceal her distaste TO GeraId's
plan. But Gerald, intent on ngratiating himself
with Delphine and her mother, and in discover