The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-04-14
THE LITTLE WOMAN IN BLACK.
She Hunted All Over New York to Find
Richard and She Found Him


Richard and She Found Him
One day as was coming up from the
ferry at the foot Of Forty-second street
there was little woman dressed in black
sitting at my right. She wasn't in mourn
ing, but in plain black, and, though she
must have been thirty-five years old, she
had the face of girl of twenty. 1t WAS a
sweet, womanly face, and yet there was
look to it which did not Ikea combina-
ton of suffering and determination. She
asked me few questions about the town
and knew that she was stranger here.
She dropped out Of sight at Broadway
that great lane of human life, up and down
which so many travel to be swallowed up
and seen no more. / wondered a bit and
then forgot her.
4 week later | met the little woman on
Twenty-third street of an afternoon. She
was fitting up and down like one lost in
the crowd, and yet / saw that she closely
scrutinized the face of every man she
passed. Two or three times she gave a
start of surprise, as if she had met a ia
miliar face, but she walked on again to re-
new her search. 1t looked to me as if she
were hunting for somebody-some one per-
son in the great crowds surging up and
down like waves which could not be
checked. By and by she vanished from
sight and could but wonder again.
Two weeks ago discovered her again in
the corridors of the postoffice. She hung
about for an hour or more, having no err
rand except to scan the face of every man
who passed her as she leaned against the
wall. There were three or four who would
have spoken to her. but she mad way of
looking at a man which plainly warned
him to keep his distance. She went away
after awhile-went off down Broadway
and then wondered if she were not in the
employ of some detective agency.
A week ago, one night as | tramped
down Broadway, meeting belated pedes-
trian now and then, i suddenly saw the
little woman in black at the corner OF Ca
nal street. She stood there looking up and
down Canal, but as passed her she went
off up Broadway, walking at a pace which
showed that she had come to soIne sudden
determination.
Yesterday, 40 the Grand Union depot, /
encountered her again. and perhaps for the
last time. Happening into one OF the wait
ing rooms, | saw her sitting beside q man.
He was a man of forty. and he had
wicked, dissipated look. 1t was plain 70
see that he was also in bad humor, while
she looked more determined than ever.
There they sat, side by side, silent and mo
rose, he glancing toward the door DOW and
then, while she occasionally raised her eyes
to the clock. After awhile / sat down on
the seat back of them, and / hadn't been
there long when heard him growl;
1.-The idea of your chasing me around ike
thisl tell you l won't go backr
"Riehardp' she replied, and there was
something in her voice TO warn him that
she was fearfully in earnest You are go
ing back-dead or alive! Take your choice!
If you refuse to come I'll shoot you here in
the depot
He settled back, and / looked over the
top of the seat to see her hand clssping the
butt of pistol, which was thrust into
shopping bag.
Ten minutes later they took train up
the river, he looking dogged and sullen.
her eyes having a dangerous look as she
followed him through the gates The lit
tie woman had come and gone, and only
one person in great New York conld solve
the mystery of her coning-the man who
went away with her a prisoner.-Sew
York World