Crawford avalanche., 1892-01-14

mucu more 10 man.
"What was his name, Liza?" asked
Polly BIaines.
Polly was concoited. and Liza, hyper.
sensitive, scented patronage.
II ain't going TO tell yer" she said.
Then. with swift contradiction, "his first
name was Charlie"
''NNas he hanisome?" asked Polly
pinching her neighbor under the table, SC
that the latter, high-colored, coarse.
looking girl, gave little squeak.
81 never SEQ anybody better looking.
said Liza, with promptitude. "He wasn't
any of your pink edolly men," (Polly's
favored suitor happened TO be fair
III was dark and his nose was straight
like gentleman's, and his teeth was
white, and" eliza warmed 10 her sub
jeci) ''he used TO wear n red silk e,with a
pin in it And" she went on, "he always
gave mo lots of presents-lots, and he
loved me so, as he couldn't bear mo out
of his sight Oh" she cried excitedly,
"he did love me. and we was SO happy,
keepin' company, and he was a-goin' TO
marry me- She paused abruptly.
Indeed. her shrill voice had got almost
beyond ncr control.
''What did hs die of" asked one of
tho girls, with genuine compassion in her
tones.
Liza looked at her-gasped -hesitated
moment-then rose and pushed back
her chair.
"That don't matter 10 no one" she
said, in hard voice that yet had catch
in it, "He's dead, and that's enough
and you needn't any of you ever talk to
me about him. So there" And she
went back into the laundry
There was moments silence. Miss
Calender sat looking thoughtful; then
she rose and followed Liza into tho next
room. closing tho door. The other girls
regarded one another with somo surprise.
Liza was usually silent and was consid-
cred morose, but her affiicti0n had made
them kind to her in their rough way,
though she was certainly not favorite
among them. But now that they real
lied that she had a romance in her life
the love of sentiment, which is III every
woman, made them feel sympathy for
her hitherto unknown.
Liza was standing by her washtub,
and she had already plunged in her hands
and begun to vigorously soap one from
tho heap of towels she had to wash. Her
lips were set tight together, her bosom
was heaving, and tear had rolled down
her cheek and dropped off it on hel
coarse apron. She put up her arm, hel
hands being soapy, and laid her elbow
across her eyes for u minute.
Eliza" said soft voice, in accents
more tender than she was wont to hear,
so that her name sounded quite musical.
She looked up.
Eliza" said Miss Calender again
and then she came close up TO the girl
and drew her toward her.
Liza was unused to any such demon,
stration. Perhaps that was why she
half-pulled herself away.
"My dear" said Miss Calender, 1--WE
must be great friends, you and |, for We
have q sorrow in common. Nothing
binds people So close together as to bc
linked by mutual trouble. Two year:
ago was engaged to be married, and h,
WHO was to have been my husband was
was shot, in Afghanistan.
"Oh, Miss ! cried Liza, "Oh, Miss =
$50 you see," said Miss Callendel
softly, "you and must be comfort tC
each other"
Liza did not speak. She began tc
pull ut her apron strings, then getting
them into knot, busted herself undoing
| it.
at don't seem Us could do anytbink,
she said presently. "You always seem:
| hu,N hrta, Ia
smiling. don't see how you can be il
when any one as has cared for yer has
died"
"God helps me to be happy, said Miss
Callendor simply. Besides, l have
many things to be grateful for.
"Ah, there yer are," cried Liza, al.
most passionately; "you aint poor and
lonely and hugly. You could have love
if yer wanted TO; you don't go longin
and longin', and pain in your heart
mostwhilcs. | wouldn't tell any o
them" pointing to the door ''for they
wouldn't understand, but you amt like
them, and you won't make mock at me
but there's times, specially in the even
ings. when ache for some one to say
quite gentle-like TO me, Liza. and jus
to look at me q bit loyin' Why shouldn
have what others do? Cause l ain't
pretty? Amt my heart as good as
Polly's there? Wouldn't be truer thar
her? Maybe | won't mind later on, bu
| ain so old now us all that come to
And natur's natur, whether we're ladies
or poor girls. Amt it nat'ral to wan
| to be loved!'
"Most natural DEAR" said Miss Cal
lender 10 whom Liza was just then 4
revelation.
"Then," went on the girl, emboldeneC
by the sympathy which was rather il
manner than words, "when folks are
kind to me it's mostly pity as makes 'em
and hate to be pitied. 1t ain't be-
cause they wants me with EN-; there's
even some, | suppose. as wouldn't care
to keep company with me in case folks
should stare. And, oh, I'm proud, l an
I'm awfully proud. There's none sc
proud as them as is despised, yor
know"
"l don't despise you, Eliza" said Miss
Calender, spontaneously. "And In
sure others don't"
"If thought you liked me bit, no
because you pitied me, I'd be uncommon
glad" said Liza, shyly. IL s'pose, sh'
went on, half-ashamed at her own conf
dences, ''it wouldn't make no manner o
difference to you, me likin' you?"
4" Indeed it would" Miss Calender an
swered, and she bent forward and kisseC
Liza on the forehead.
Liza turned away quickly. Il reckon
I'd better get on with my work, y she said
huskily.
And at that minute the door was open