The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1890-12-26

SO0uOE' CO IL 10 SlHiply putting On tHc
grand doings until New Years day.
Yes" assented Mrs. Roberts.
'Old Mrs. Barnes said it would be a
great deal better times for her to give
up the two rooms to u.s." went on Miss
Crimp. And Kitty and Harry'll wait,
just like two little sweet-hearted angels
as they are," kissing them both.
On the thirty-frst Miss Crimp again
stood at Mrs. Monroe's door and rang
the bell, waiting then a respectful
while. No answer came, and again and
again she rang, hearing the bell sound
loudly and coldly. as if in an empty
house. A chill struck to her heart as she
waited in the keen wintry blast. She
had never before been SO near the end
of her resources. The desired change
of rooms could not be made without a
payment in advance, and she, although
Mrs. Roberts did not know it, was des-
titute of common comforts in her own
garrett.
mo ones at home" was the answer
to her inquiry next door concerning
Mrs. Monroe
Her knees seemed to weaken under
her as she turned away. She had not
realized how firmly she had depended
upon getting the money, nor how sorely
she was in need of it.
Seventy-fve cents were left in her
purse. 1t would not do to diminish it,
so the long way home must be walked.
She only shook her head as in utter
WEAKNESS she again sat by Mrs. Rob-
erts' fire.
''But don't give up yet, children"
she said, after half an hours rest. 81
haven't If things were not for the
best of course things wouldn't be so.
No, / can't stay now"
Up to her room she went forgetting
the cold and darkness in the one idea
which now filed her mind. Searching
among the few things left of long ago
prosperity she found small bundle of
embroidered lace which she wrapped up
and again went out.
"1ts hand-embroidered and very
fine," she said, timidly offering it at the
fancy counter of large store.
Sorry" said the busy clerk, with
glance at her wistful face, ''but there
are so many new varieties of laces
now that we should have no sale for
this"
Out again on the sidewalk she took a
few uncertain steps then turned into
less pretentious store. How could such
little things as Kitty and Harry believe
that all things work together for good if
they were entirely disappointed in what
they had hoped for at this holiday sea-
son?
The seventy-fve cents were spent for
doll and book, and she came out
with a smile on her face as a child
passed before her whose soft curls
might have belonged to Harry himself
The boy smiled back at her and was
passing on when there came a noise and
confusion in the street close by.
Miss Crimp looked around in bewil-
derment. Some frightened horses came
rushing blindly toward the sidewalk.
The child, who had just got out of
carriage and had been slow in following
those in charge of him into store, WIS
exactly in their track.
Miss Crimp never could recall any
thing between the moment in which
she caught the smile of the bright face
and that in which she held the child in
her arms on the ground outside the
curbstone, while a noise of grinding
hoofs, shouts and EXPLANATIONS quickly
drew a crowd about her. Then came a
as she was raised by kindly hands.
No, I'm not hurt at ALL" she in
sisted. "How is the boy?"
Lively as a cricket" said police
man.
She only waited to see him seized and
cried over before picking up the parcel
containing her New Years gifts, and
quietly making her way out of the
crowd. She was not hurt, she was sure
of that. Perhaps it was the memories
brought up by the sight of the old lace
in the bright gas-light which had
brought such mist before her eyes and
such weakness to her feet causing her
almost to stagger as she went on her
way. And-the lace was gone. How
could she have forgotten to look for it
in the place where she fell? But it was
too late now, her feet absolutely re-
fused to obey as she half turned to go
back.
The light was out in Mrs. Roberts
room and she passed on to her own. Its
four bare walls were all, it seemed,
which a cruel world granted her on this
New Years eve. No light. no warmth,
no food, no strength-no courage? A