The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1892-12-16
So Mabel tried the next door knob.

A specialized old woman, with a
dor BILE chin and big cameo brooch,
bounced suddenly out at her.
"Woolen shoulder capes r said she.
"Wa al, dunno. What we ask for
them IIemme have look Mittonsl
La ! shouldn't think there'd be no
wear to them things. Eff yell leave some
of the comforters till my son Zeke comes
home to try 'em on, L might make
sale for ye.'
"Oh, L couldn't do that y gasped
Mabel
'Oh p said the old woman with q
toss of her head that had nearly unset.
tied the spectacles. "Ain't willin' to trust
me, ell ? Wall, then I guess ye'd bet.
ter go along"
And she shut the dor in Miss Mul.
lens face.
Third customer apparent bawlel out
from the back kitchen that ''she didn'+
want anything
The fourth was a tall, sallow- faced
woman, who read Mabel lecture OH
the propriety of giving up this gadding.
about-the street business and taking up
some creditable work.
The girl was beginning to feel weak.
kneed and trembling now, the rose
spots on her cheeks had widened into
decided flush all over her face, and
she WINGED before the saliow- faced fe-
males harsh words as if they had been
blows.
Il haven't sold an article--not one pr
murmured Mabel, ruefully viewing the
tumbled contents of her basket. "Oh,
dear And 1 am so tired, and it makes
me feel so ashamed when those people
talk so to me, and stare so rudely and
slam the door in my face But-oh,
dear. this isn't being heroine r
With resolute rallying of her quail.
ing spirits, she ran up the steps of
ruinous wooden house and rang. An
untidy woman bawled at her out of the
window overhead
why don't you pull the bell wire
out while you're about it? Don't We
know there's a sick woman in the
house q
Almost at the same moment the door
opened.
Don't sass the lady, Marian" said a
smooth, oily voice.
And sinster-eyed man projected his
disagreeable visage almost close to hers.
"Eh? Woosted goods for sale-tip-
pets and knit gloves? Just precisely
what I'm a-wantin', my dear. Oh, yes,
I'll buy anything such pretty girl has
to sell Set the basket down here, and
allow me-"
But Mabel jerked away the basket, of
which he fain would have relieved her,
and with burning face and TREMENDOUSLY
throbbing breast ran away down the
street, never pausing until she came
80 violently in contact with an UNI
brella coming around the corner that
the basket with its contents, was scat
tered over the pavement, already wet
and muddy with the raw autumn rain.
Il beg your PARDON she sobbed,
"but-''
why, Miss Mullen, what are you
running away from?" cried deep,
cheerful bass.
"Mr. Rockinghamr'
And then Mabel burst out crying.
1t was not until the mittens, capes
and comforters were all cleaned off the
pavement and returned to their original
place, and Mabel was sitting, chilled,
shivering and sobbing at intervals, like
a grieved child in front of the pastors
study fire, that he began to comprehend
the true nature of affairs.
Its no use trying" said Mabel.
I'm not heroine, and I never shall be
one. I thought was going to do a
good work, but 1 haven't; I've only
made fool of myself and spoiled all
poor Louisa Blundell's things, and in
my heart I'm full of envy, hatred, NAL
ice and all uncharitableness Oh, why
did you preach that sermon at me?"
Il, Mabel? Preach at your
Il know I'm awfully wickedI'. sobbed
the girl Il can't ever be saint or a
missionary, and I'm not fit to come to
church and say my prayers with other
people,, that can't do the simplest
good work! And l know you mean me
when you talk about improbable
servants, and"
"Mabel-dear little Mabel-hush I
Listen to me T. gently urged Mr.. Rock
ingham.
IF you're going to scold me-"
But as her big, brown, tear-drenched
eyes met his, sudden dumbness smote
her the piteously gesticulating hands
fell into her lap, and she shrank back
into the shadows.
Il don't understand T. she said.
But it was strange" Mabel declared,
an hour afterward, in recounting the
whole story to faithful Zuleima, "how
could ever be 50 blind And it is
stranger still that he should love mo
so dearly Such an idiotio little fail.
ure as I've proved myself Say, Zu-
leima, do you think I'm half good
enough for him p
Certainly do, said Zuleima.
do yous think" putting her face
very close to the elder sister's-"that
shall make good minister's wife p
He thinks so, said Zuleima And
that's enough. Helen Forest Graves.
a----.
The Father of Arithmetic.
EuoI;d 1raS tho fotbar nf c,aon,at,u