The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1893-07-18

relieved; Sophy would not attempt 10 cry
on the street.
PART III.
when they reached the street and the
gate closed behind them Jack Hamlin again
became uneasy. The girl clouded face and
melancholy manner were not promising. 1t
also occurred to him that he might meet
some one who knew him and thus compro-
mise her. This was to be avoided ut all
well, now, where shall we go?'
She slightly raised her tear-dimmed eyes.
.Nhcre Won pleaSe-l don't care.
There isn't any SHOW going on here, is
there:" He had Il vague idea of Il circus or
menarerie-hmself in the shadow of the
box behind her.
Il don't know of any.
.Or any restaurant or cake shop"
''Theres Il place where the girls go to get
candy in Main street. Some of them are
there now.
Jack sbud,lered. This was not to be
thought Of. But where do YOU Walk
TIP and down the Main street
Where everybody can see you?' said
Jack, scandaized.
The girl nodded.
They walked on in silence for a few mo-
mcnts. Then il bright idea struck Mr.. Ham
lin lie suddenly remembered that Ill one
of his many fits of impulsiyc generosity and
largesSe he had given to an old negro retain
or. who's" wife had nurScd him through a
dangerous illness Il house ana lot on the
river bank. lie h%d been told that they
had opcncti small laundry or wash house.
II occurred to him that Il stroll there and y
call upon !"Unclc Hannibal' and Aunt
Chloe' combined the propricty and respccta-
biIity due to the young person he was with,
and the requisite secrecy and absence OF
uubIiritv due to himself He at once stIg
gcSted 1t.
You see she was Il mighty good woman
and You ought to know her, FOR she was
my old nurse
Fl1e girl glanced at Inn win sudden
impaticnce.
Honest Iniin," said Jack solcmnly;
''Sh" did nurse me through my last cough.
! amt playing old family gags on YOU
"Oh, dear, burst out the girl, impusiYe-
". Il do wish YOU WOuldnt ever play
them again. | wish YOU wouldn't pretend
to be my uncle; | wish YOU wouldn't make
me pass for yUur niece. 1t ism t right.
It's all wrong. Oh. don't you know It's
all wrong-and can't come right anyway.
It's just killing me. | can't stand il. I'd
rather you'd say what | am and how /
came to YOU and how yon ptied me-
They had luckily entered Z; narrow Sdc
street, and the SGhS which shook the young
girls frame were unnoticcd In a fcw
moments Jack felt n horrible conviction
stealing over him that in his present atti-
tudc toward her he WAS not unlike that
hOUil StrallOn. ana llal however innocent
was his own intent, there was Il Sjcil"n-
ing resemblance to the situation on the
boat in the base advantage he had taken
of her fricndincsS. II" had never Jod
her chat he was Il gambler like Stratton,
and that is was impossible for him to as
Sist her except by stealth or the deception
he had practced, without compromising
her. He who had for years faced the
SncerS and half frightened opposition of
the world. dared not tell the truth to this
girl from whom he expected nothing and
who did not interest him. He felt he WAS
almost Sinking 1T her side. At last he
said dcspcr3 tcly:
But J Snatched them hald-Acaded at
the organ, Sophy, didn't ~
"Oh. yes" said The Girl. you played
beautifully ami grHndly. it WAS so good
Of YOU, 100. For | think somehow Mime.
Bancc had been n little suspicious of you;
but that settled it, Everybody thought. it
was tnc-and some thought it was Your
profession. Perhaps" she added, tmidly,
lit u.s."
II play Il good deal. I reckon" said Jack.
with Il grim humor, which did not, however.
amrsc him.
II wish I could. and make money by it,
said the girl. eagerly.
Jack WINGED. but She did not notice it,
as She went on hurricdly:
"Fhai's what | wanted to talk to YOU
about. | want to leave the school and
pie won't know me, and where | can be
alone and work ] Shall die here among
these girh>-With all their talk of the r
friends. and thcir--Sstcrs-;n their qucs-
tionS about YOU"
Tell 'em to dry up," said Jack indignant
~. ''TAk c EN- 10 the cake shop ana load
'cm with candy and ice cream That'II
stop their mouths You'yc got moncy-you
got my last remittance. didn't vou?" he
replied quickly. IF You didn't. here's y
his hand was already in hi> pocket when
the girl stopped him with Il dc<pairing res
ture;
"Yes.. I got it al I haven't touched it.
I don't want it, For can't live on Won,
Don't You underestimate want fo wor1.
Listen. / can draw and paint. Nine.
f"hce SAYS / 90 1t well; my dra wing master
saye | might i'll time take portraits ana
get paid for il. And. even now, can rr-
touch photographs and make coroleJ minio-
lures from thcm. And" she STONED ana
glanced nj Jack half timidly, I've done
some already"
a glow of surprised relief suffusod the
gambler. Not so much at this aSfonish;n,
revelation dis at the change it seemed ia
effect in her. Her pale blue eves m,Ln
palcr by tears. cleared and frightened undnr
their swollen ills like wiped steel; thn
limos of her depressed mouth straghtenctI
and became tlrm. Her voice had lost its
homeless monotone.
'Thcrc's 4 shop in he next street,
photographer where they have one OF
mine, in the window.', she went on. reas-
sured Jacks unaffected interest. cts only
round the corncr-if you care to see
Jack asSentcd. a few PAGES further
brought them to the corner Of a narrow
street, where they presently turned into Il
broader thorou@hfare and stopped before
the window of Il photographer. Sophy
pointed to an oval frame containing Il por-
trait painted on porcelain.
Mr. Hamln was startled. inexperienced
as he was Il certain artistic inclination told
him it was good, although it is to be fear
eI he would have been astonished oven if
it had been worse. The mere fact that his