Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-08-02
TRUELOVE CASTAWAY
A TOUCHING TRAGEDY IN THE
LIFE OF A POOR ENG
LISH GIRL
CHAPTER !.
MY SISTER. OH, MY SISTER.

long, narrow line. The sun took advan-
sage of the line to make thin plate or lamina
o. bright sunshine, across which the merry
notes danced with their usual cheerfulness.
There was a smell of leather bindings; the
tables were covered with magazines and papers;
few readers sat at the tables.
The librarian sat in his corner, q many
. pigeon-holed cabinet against the wall at his
side. great book before him-no librarian Is
complete without a great book before him
and the usual materials for cataloguing on his
desk, because to carry on the catalogue is as
necessary part of the daily work rs to open
the days letters is for a secretary. He was a
man Of sixty, or perhaps more, his beard
white and his gray halr scauty on the top.
The Librarian Of free library is familiar
with every kind of reader. He Classics them
all. He is a sympathetic creature and they
will con1ide their cases to him. asking for his
advice. They do not seek it in search for a
book to read. but in the search for work. And
sometimes he knows or has heard things which
may help them.
Sometimes, however, as in the case of Naomi
HeIyer. he was altogether at sea. Naomi first
appeared on this Saturday evening. She came
IN timidly and looked about her with besta-
hon- There was no other woman in the place.
Perhaps women were not admitted Then the
librarian stepped out of his corner and invited
her to take a seat and ask for anything she
might want.
He saw a woman of thirty, dressed in the
black stuff frock of workwoman. with a cloth
Jacket, though it was SO warm an evening. Her
dress was perfectly neat and well fitting; her
gloves were worn; she had the appearance of
.esolute responsibility coupled with small pay
Her face was thin and pale and her features
Delicate. She was not beautiful but he'looked
steady and serious-what is called responsible
The librarian noticed these things; he also no.
ticed that there was trouble in the face-abid-
ing trouble.
When she took off her worn gloves the IL
brarian saw upon her forefnger the usual sign
of needlework. which a woman can no more
disguise than a mulatto can hide the black
streaks below his finger nails. She took place
at one OF the tables and began to turn over the
leaves OF an illustrated paper, but languidly, as
n she took no interest III what she read The
librarian, watching her from his corner, OBJ
served that she presently put down the paper
and began to walk about, reading the titles of
the books on the shelves, as if she was in search
Of something.
being a conscientious librarian as well as
observant and sympathetic he left his place in
the corner and asked her il there were any
work which she wished to read She shook her
head There was nothing, she said. The Ii
ODseTEeu IQaL SDe naQ an extremely
sweet voice. He also observed that she went
looking at the titles as if she really did want
something.
The librarian was experienced as we'll as con-
sclentlous, observant and sympathetic. He dis
covered that there was something behind this
restless curiosity.
Il think you are looking for some book" he
said. If you will tell me what it is
Have you got" she asked, coloring deeply,
amy book that tells about" she hesitated.
hnn no Nn6
About women"-here she looked about to
make sure that nobody else could hear and her
voice dropped to a Whisper. about women in
prison, how they are treated and how they
I'VE have a book called Five Years Of Penal
servitude,'" he replied, but that is about
male convicts, not women"
May l see that?"
He found and gave her the volume.
nner the library closed she brought him
back the book and went away. But her ewes
were red. She had been crying
During the week the librarian found himself
thinking good deal about this woman. She
lookeu refined and delicate perhaps above the
position she now held which seemed to be
poorly paid, judging from her dress. By her
language and her manner she showed herself
what Is called ladylike, or what ladies prefer to
call rather superior person. He could not
remember whether she wore a wedding ring
He hoped that she would come again
On Saturday evening she did come again
The librarian greeted her with the smile re-
served for habitual readers. LET me find You
another book" he said
please let me have the samer-as il the
librarian should remember every book taken
up by every reader. But he did remember her
book and gave 1t to her.
She finished the book that evening But
long after she closed the volume she sat with
IL in her hand thinking. She was in a corner
where there were no other readers But the
librarian could see her. And from time to
time the tears rose to her eyes and ran down
her cheeks. He wondered what was meant by
This grief what miserable story lay behind
She the last to leave the library The
other readers had all gone half an hour before
.he time for closing, but she sat there notion
less: thinking. crying silently, and the librarian
made pretense not to see her.
When the clock struck 10 he locked the roorn
and went out few minutes after her His
mind was quite full of her distress as he walked
away along the streets, now growing cool in
The July twilight
Presently he saw before him, going the same
way, his reader. He overlook her ana ventured
10 speak.
I'VE are going the same way?' he asked.
Il am going to She mentioned a street
not far of.
1T is the same way" he replied "Nav
walk with you2 lam the librarian YOU know"
she nesitated a little. But official such as
Librarian Is not perfect stranger Besides.
he was old and looked harmless, and his voice
she said presently.
They walked together in silence, side by side.
Presently the Librarian began to ASK few
leading questions and learned that his new
friend was workwoman at a dress makers in
the neighborhOod 1t is not a fashionabl
quarter and the pay given to the most superior
person Is but meager-stil it was enough and
the work was regular.
Il do not belong to the place" she said 81
come from the country. / have no friends
and am fortunate IN getting any work at all.
You must come u great deal to the library"
he replied There you can be quiet and have
the eompanionship OF books if you care for
them But you must not always read sad
books"
Il have no heart" she said. '.for ANYTHING
bat sad books. This is my street. Good
night"
week later she came again-always on a
Saturday evening. The reason was that abe
worked extra time in order to get a little more
money on other evenings.
Il have found you a book about female CON-
victs," the librarian told her. 1T is twenty
years old, but suppose things are not changed
much"
''Oh, give il me-thank your
She snatched 1t from him and sought her cor
ner, where she sat, her head on her hand. Rad
ing the book all the evening.
Ihey walked home together again
You are in great trouble" said the librar;an
III II will be any help to you tell me what il ia
A good many people tell me their troubies
Sometimes 1t helps only to talk about thinss
Have you no friends?'' s'
mo. have lost All NV ala S-;u,