The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-10-16
CHAPTER TX.
THE FIRST STEP.

THE FIRST STEP.
1--WE must think about clothes next,
AURA" said Taras when / had agreed tc
accept the strange name he proposed
s'You will want quite a lot of things-some
to wear indoors, some to go out in, Others
~tochange and so on"
"Why, / amt got no money" said I, TAX
en- aback by the very first condition of liv-
ing in a new and civilized world.
Luckily ! have-somewhere," said he,
feeling in his pockets. "Ah, here it is."
"a lot o. thingsll cost a lot o. money"
remarked, as he looked at his purse.
That's true. II there's not enough here
to pay for ell you buy, give one Of these
cards and have the things sent home, to be
paid for on delivery"
Hooked In the purse and saw gold, more
han / had ever before seen at one time.
My utmost possession had never amounted
to more than a shilling, and no one had
thought fit TO trust me with a larger sum.
] laid the purse down with n vague feeling
that | might be taking undo advantage OF
Taras' generosity. When he spoke, I stop
ped him.
Hold on" said /, I'm tryin to think
this out. / amt sure whether I oughter
take all this money or didn't oughter."
GOOD. Puzzle IL out and take il or re-
fuse IL as il seems to you right or wrong
/ stuck my knuckles In my hips, drew a
long breath and taxed my sluggish power
of reasoning to its utmost, while Taras
smoked on in grave silence, too considerable
to suffer any sign to appear in his face OF
the amusement my perplexity must have
given him.
''Taras," said / at length, 'I'm a-goin to
take that money, cause IL you was in want
and I had money i should like you to take
It on me-"
bravo, little friendp' said ne joyfully.
sYou have grasped the meaning of the
golden rule already. Now you had better
20 out and buy what you want. Do you
know the ne~ighborhood"
mo, but IL you tell me where the shops
isIll find 'em. amt afraid of asting my
ways"
EITHER of the streets that pass the church
will lead you into the Westminster Bridge
road, where there are plenty of shops"
j nodded, but made no movement, for the
question what sort of things would be suit
able to my new state threw me into another
spell Of ~cogitation.
You'd you like Mere Lucas to go with
yo0Y Iaras asked
III You think she knows better AN me
what 1 O ughter wear"
II would rather you exercised your owr
Judgment. wan you to walk alone as
soon ~ possible"
I understood what he meant by that
phrase. It was really as IL / were born
again and learning to walk.
"You amt got any fancy, like, 1t don't
matter to you what / wear, do itf"
"Oh, yes, 1t does" he replied, with a
laugh II should be sorry to see you In
rags or ugly clothes"
my head In troubled meditation for a min
ute or two. "Ill do the best 1 KEN"
With that I left him, but before 1 reached
the Westminster Bridge road l had to stop
two or three times to 'do a think' over the
problem before me, and the question was not
satisfactorily solved when / found myself
in the street of shops. A milliner's gay dis
play attracted me first, and bearing in mind
that Taras objected to anything ugly / fixed
my attention on a hat with a high crown
and turned up rim of crushed strawberry
plush, with two ostrich feathers, one emer.
aid and the other magenta, dropping grace
fully down the back.
This seemed to my eyes the most lovely
thing imaginable. and l think / should have
gone In and bought il had IL not suddenly
occurred to me hat / had seen something
In this style on high days and holidays in
Shadwell, n that I was to sunder myself
entirely from all modes Of the past. Then
- little farther on q show of silk handker.
,hiefs for the neck, spotted and lowered, In
bright yellow and other vivid hues, ap
pealed once more to my sense of the beauti.
full. But here again / was confronted by q
memory Of ladies from Jamaica road going
on on Whit Monday to Epping forest in o
van. The same consideration drew me away
from fancy boots and a mantle makers,
where my eyes were fascinated by a long
stamped velvet jacket with a trimming oil
beads and bright steel.
Whatever in the world am I to wear,n
asked myself. coming to a stand once
more under the railway arch and folding
my arms upon my chest In desperation.
us there anything any ways pretty that
they don't wear in Shadwellf"