The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-10-07

ring / tied it round my neck, hiding the
ring In my bosom.
have but the faintest recollection of
what happened during the day, my mind
being too scared by previous events to be
sensitive to slight impressions. / remem-
Der feeling wretched and hungry and sick
with the fatigue of walking. wandered
on because found no place to rest until
hazard led me into Greenwich park about
dusk. There / fell asleep on bench.
1t was raining when awoke, but it was
too dark to distinguish anything, even the
trees, and could not sleep again for shiv-
ering with cold and the aching Of my body.
So sat there in dull resignation. watching
the daylight come and marking one by one
the heavy drops as they FLASHED on the
bench beside me, falling from the boughs
above, until goaded by hunger I threw of
my lethargy and went down into the town.
1t was still early, but the coffee shops
were open, their windows clouded by the
warmth within. The first one / entered
was full of customers, and the man serving
them was so busy that he scarcely glanced
at me In replying to my humble appeal for
food.
"Oh, amt got the time to attend to
beggars-out you gop' said he, bustling
The next one was less crowded, and 3
woman was in the kitchen before the fam
ing fire. She turned round, setting her
hands on her hips, and looked mo down
from head to foot as asked her to give me
something to eat and drink.
II amt got no money. but I'll do job Of
work for it," said.
Had worn my old rags she would GER
tainly have given me something, for these
people are never wanting in charity of that
kind, but the dress wore excited her mis-
trust.
"Ain't got no money" said she, land you
dressed like that with gown good enough
for me. Why, what have you doneS" and
rs made no reply she continued: You're
run away from service and done something
wrong Don't tell me- You've got it in
your face. You wouldn't look so wild IL
you hadn't done mischief. No, my gal, I
don't employ young women of your sort
high heeled boots and all-and you can
take no for an answer and 60"
The fog which sheltered me from obser-
walton the day before had given place to q
driving rain, and now as l plodded ON
through the streets every one noticed me.
Two factory girls, with the fringe and gau-
dy ostrich feathers of their class, stopped,
gaping, right before me.
"Oh, my Lor, look at her, Liz" said one,
and then as l passed she broke forth into O
shrek of laughter and derision.
The spectacle was grotesque enough TO
excite coarse vita girl, with melancholy
madness in her face, dragging slowly along
the street in the drenching rain, and re-
specially dressed. That did not occur to
me then. was too detected to heed ridi-
cule or TO ask myself what there was in my
misery that seemed ludicrous.
When grew dizzy and felt too weak 10
walk, turned down bystreet, hoping TO
find another bench where might rest
little But had walked away from the
park, and the by street only led me into
desolate waste, broken by few squalid
houses In scattered blocks, gas works and
here aud there I'm the dim horizon factory
shaft. Not bank 10 sit on--not even n
railing 20 rest against nothing but n level
stretch Of mud and refuse thinly patched
with tufts OF grimy nettles and whitening
grass, an ocher sky above and distance
xrav with the slanting re'-
IOn,inh,e Monday.