The Somerset reporter., 1893-12-21

t1culdr christmas DAY. BOln occupants
were women. Both were young-that
is, about %.
In No. 80 was Miss Estelle Fabayan,
a soubrette filling an engagement at the
Empire. 1t was just noon. Miss Fa-
bayan had evidently returned from an
after breakfast walk, for she was stand
ing in the sunlight at the window with
her hat and street clothes on, idly tap
ping her shIl gloved fingers on the sill
as she looked out on the almost deserted
sidewalk.
In room No. 80 Miss Eleanor Carlysle
was sitting at table, her gold eye
glasses poised airily on her tip tilted
nose. She was looking over some pages
of manuscript, Miss Carlysle had come
on from Boston at the invitation of the
Young Ladies' Scientific Relief society
She WIS to read an essay that evening on
The Ethics of Charity" She had been
giving the finishing touches to the essay
Presently she put down the last sheet
of the manuscript and walked to the
window.
Ire soubrette and the Boston essayist,
unconscious of each others presence,
W. q 1t that particular moment doing
precisely the same thing. Each was
l1o.ing laugidly out of the window, and
each was tapping the sill with her fin
gers.
just then something occurred. A
young woman who had come suddenly
into view on the opposite side of the
street from the St. Julien attracted the
attention of the two young women at
the hotel windows. She was glancing
nervously behind her. AS she broke
INTO run and dashed across the street
the soubrette pressed her pretty nose to
the pane to see where she went. So did
the essayist. Neither of them saw, for a
jutting cornce hid the sidewalk imme-
diately beneath.
Miss Carlysle returned to her table
and began to write letter.
Miss Fabayan had different impulse
The sunlight had seemed so inviting that
she determined to take another walk
She had just opened her door when some
one rushing along the hall almost col
lided with her. The person turned sharp
ly and brushed past her into her room.
Miss Fabayan saw at glance that ii
was the young woman whom she had
seen minute before running across the
street.
"Wellr'- began Miss Fabayan.
ooh, please don't put me out! Please
don't! They'll get me if you do, and |
never did it! Please don't!'
The young woman had sunk ON her
ly grasping Miss Fabayan's hand.
We will see about that, said the SOU
brette. "Now, who are you and what
is the matter? Sit down and explain
Instead of obeying the young woman
threw herself on a sofa and cried hys-
terically for several minutes. Then she
grew calmer and began 10 speak rapidly.
"Oh, indeed am not SO bad rs they
say | am. | did not steal! 1t was the
woman | met on the street. 1t must
have been that one But you don't know
do you? ! was drinking. Yes, | drink.
When came down to the city from Yer
mont, expected to do very differently
from what | did thought it would he
all pleasure and excitement. BUTT wasn't.
| found work. 1t was in dressmaker's
shop. Some Of the girls who worked
there taught me to drink. They took
me to their rooms, where they had wine
and other drinks. After awhile ac-
quired an appetite for it. Last night |
was drinking with them again. There
was strange Frenchwoman there, and
she went with me, when we left, to my
room. There we drank more. and when
| woke up there was man from the
dressnakers, asking for costly dress
which had taken home To finish in time
for Christmas night.
Il could not find it in the room. He
said he must have it, and that if | did
not give it to him at once he should 20
to the police. He saw that | had been
drinking, and he accused me of taking
the dress to pawnshop. He said had
stolen it. But | didn't. 1t must have
been that Frenchwoman who was with
me. l did not know when she went ont.
But the police will not believe that. No
one knew that the Frenchwoman went
TO my room with me, for it was late.
They will say | stole it myself. and they
will put Inc i'll Jail. If could get away
now, would go back home. They
would take me back there. | would not
drink ON the farm, and | would never
come to the city again | hate it. But
If am put in Jail never could 90 back
10 the folks again. They would know
about it, and there would be no place
for me to go. Oh, You do not believe
that stole the dress, do you: Tell me
you believe what | say
Miss Fabayan was biting her pretty
lips. Evidently she was undecided. Just
then there was sound of quick footsteps
m the hall. The sounds came nearer
They are coming! They are cominG!
sobbed the girl wildly.
Miss Fabayan turned quickly to her.
flush! If | can save you. will YOU go
back to the farm and stay there"
"Oh, indeed, will. +
"Get into that closet then-quick"
The girl ran to the closet and closed
the door Just as sharp rap was given
on the door leading into the hall.
The hotel clerk and an officer stood in
the hall.
"Er-ah-Miss Fabayan-er-did You
see young woman pass down the half
asked the clerk.
Il did not"
"Did you-er-ah-is there any one
ahr-
''Wellf' demanded Miss Fabayan
sharply.
That's all. Excuse u.s. stammered