The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1891-09-09

mouth and hairR
'Liz'beth got bit of looking glass,
rrept close up to the grating where the
street lamps shone in and looked at her
self. It was wistful sort of face; the
mouth had quiver in it, and the eyes
yes, they were gray, but not like
those other eyes. There was pathetic,
appealing look in them that made Liz
beth almost sorry for herself.
She put away the glass and tried to
WOO the fancies back, but they did not
come, and soon she fell asleep.
When she awoke the sun was shining
in her face and Bijou was mewing
loudly. Iiz'beth sat up, or tried to,
but she felt very strange. Her head was
light, and che laid it down again. Her
throat was sore and her lips were parched.
"Dear me-" she thought, "it must be
afternoon, and Bijou must be hungry.
| must get her some milk"
She took away the brick, but there
was no money there. Where had it
gomez Oh, she remembered now. She
had given it to Mag, and Mag had
struck her. She picked up the bit of
looking glass. Yes, there was the mark
across her cheek. 1t was all black and
yellow, but the rest of her face was
white and thin. Bijou was thin, too,
aud cried pitifully.
an 90 out and beg for you, Kitty /;
you shau't be hungry"
When she got up 'Liz'beth found that
she was very weak. She could hardly
stand, but she managed to get out on
the sidewalk. A woman noticed her
white face and gave her drink.
"What day is it3" asked 'Lis'beth.
"Saturday."
"Saturday9 Why, then Eve been
asleep two days. Isn't that funny9 No
wonder Bijou Is hungry. She must have
something to eat right away"
"Will you please give me a penny,
sirl' she asked of some one who had a
face which seemed kinder to her than
that of most men.
"A psuny9 Here you are" And
into her hand fell a bright new nickel.
A man stood by the counter whom
Liz beth had never seen there before.
lie was not like the othe other folks who
came there ordinarily. From long habit
the child glanced at his shoes. Yes,
they were patent leather, and the clothes
were not like those the baker wore. The
face was handsome one, in spite of the
fact that it was red and swollen aud had
neither been shaved nor washed that
day.
'Liz'beth forgot her hunger and stood
looking at him.
"Weil, little one, what do you think
of mea wouldn't take a prize, would
II"
Liz'beth started; there was something
about that voice. What was itl "Your
mouth, your hair, your eyes-I wonder
if that is what makes me love her so2"
"Sir2' said Liz beth, looking up
again.
81 didn't speak. You were talking
to yourself. What ais you2"
"Please sir, l don't know. felt queer
when l went to sleep, and I slept for two
days, and hain't had nothin' TO eat"
Nothing to eat for two daysl Well,
haven't had anything to eat for a
week."
'Liz'beth looked at him. "Nothin
to eat for week! Why, he must be
awful hungry" she thought.
She looked at the bright new nickel.
! She turned it over in her dirty fingers.
Then she looked at the man again. He
had not taken his eyes off her.
Poor man, he does look awful
hungry" she said to herself. And then,
with sudden impulse, she held out her
precious money.
"a weeks lots worse'n two days. l
can stan it little longer, l guess, but
I'd like cent to get some milk for
Bijou. M you can have the rest"
The stranger started. His dull eyes
opened wide and something glistened in
them.
"Why, you poor little beggar," he
said, brokenly, and then he stopped.
Here was a lesson in giving which many
self-rightohus ones might copy to ad-
vautage. "Did you think l didn't eat
because l hadn't money, baby2"
The child looked at him in wonder.
She knew of no other reason why people
didn't cat, and her eyes widened still
more when the strange man put his hand
in his pocket aud drew out a big hand
ful of silver.
"There, said he, stake this and buy
barrel of milk if you like. I'll take
drink Of milk, myself. 1t will be better
than what I've been taking for the past
ten days"
'Liz'beth got her milk and pie. She
was rich now. She hurried back to the
cellar. BIjou had ceased crying and lay
on the bit of old blanket in the corner
quite still.
"Come here, Kitty, and get your
milk, ;" called Liz beth. But the kitten
was dead. Nc amount of coaxing would
make it stir, and the little girl was heart
broken. She forgot her pie and sat
looking drearily out of the window
through her tears. The feet went by as
usual. Suddenly came a quick step,
flash OF patent leather; some one peered
down through the grating, and moment
later the man who had given her the
money was beside her. The next mo-
ment she was in his arms and was being
carried swiftly upstairs, and then she was
in a carriage riding away. Liz beth did !
rot struggle and scream. Why should |
shef The stranger meant her no harm,
else he would not hold her so close and |
kiss her so wildly, saying over and over:
"Thank God Thank Godp
The carriage few along the street, and |
before iz'beth could recover her wits |