South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1893-12-07
Down by the West Wharf there v.s

tne Day, where the noise and heat OF
the city were left far behind and the
infinite calm Of the great ocean brought
days bliss-a day all too short.
lis guests were not those in elegant
yachting costumes, such as he had left
that day at the hotel but were meanly
clad, and many women carried babies
In their arms, and there were ragged
children olinging to the ragged skirts
of the mothers.
But the rspturous respect and adj
miration with which they all greeted
Julian King was marvellous. To them
he was the magician who was to give
them the days outing, to give their
starved souls taste of Gods beauty
on earth. His group Of invited guests
at the weekly boating party always
varied but the love with which each
group greeted him never was lacking.
This was the important business which
called him to the CITY each week, and
nothing ever came before it, or was
permitted to interfere with the
pleasure of his West Wharf guests.
The happiness of the yachting party
from the hotel was surely not equal to
the happiness of Julian Kings party.
There was one mother who was
worrying over her son. He was i'll in
the hospital.
can such good by, sorr," she
said. "He's always bin good to his
mother, and he's bin that sick they
said he'd die. But yistiddy he said to
me, Now, nanny, you go on the
boat; I'm more aisy like, and ye'd
better CO. Deary me! if he only cud
get wellI"
"What hospital is he IMP" said King.
kindly. 'Maybe can do something
for him"
"Oh, SORT, if ye only kin! He's in
st. James's, an bin there goin' on two
months now. Deary mel
She was fond of talking about her
boy, and told how he had been a news
boy and had been run over by an ex-
press wagon. King had heard 80 many
varied stories OF distress that it was
hard to discriminate; but this boy in
terested him. He remembered him,
the following week, when he went to
the city, and went over to the hos
pital.
He found tho mother there already.
She was charwoman, and had hurried
with her work so as to spend part of
the morning with the boy. She
grasped Kings hand with great joy,
she was 30 glad to see him. The boy
lay very still, his pinched face showing
lines Of pain; but the big Irish blue
eyes gazed friendly on the stranger.
and how are you to-day, Patsy 2"
asked King. "Your mother has been
telling me what a fine, brave lad you
are, and you must be getting well soon,
eh?"
"Yes. sir" said the boy; 'I'm bet
ter"
Flowers frightened up his bedside
and pioture-book OF two lay on the
table.
eye see" said the boy, Everybody
is 80 good ter me can't help but git
better. Nanny, she comes; and the
doctors they comes, only they hurt
sometimes; an Miss Helen she comes
an brings me flowers an things ter
eat; an now you comet"
His thin lips parted in wide grin
of pleasure.
King talked awhile, and then went
away to join tho party waiting,for him
at the West Wharf.
! He did not return to the hotel that
night. There. was a large reception to
be given that evening. He had in.
tended being present, and thought
passed through his mind of the cool
breezes, the dreamy music, the beauty
Of the women; but it was not long
ing thought.
'tMiss Dane will hold her usual
court; there will be the usdsl crowd,
and do not care about 80, he unused.
He spent the dav with Patsy. 1t
was morning ct>happinessg to the
poor child. q. forgot his pain listen
ing TO Mr.. hing's stories, and Mr..
Hing brought him beautiful fruit, and
: told him about the trip they would
take on the water when Patsy became
we'll again.
'tAn' that'H be pretty soon, I guess, {"
said Patsy, wistfully watching his visi-
tors face.
When King returned to Patsy in the
afternoon some one was at the bedside,
figure in black. King did not wish
to intrude, 30 he stood beside window,
and presently the lady rose and passed
to the other end Of the dormitory.
King came directly to Patsy.
"You seen her, didn't yep asked
Patsy, his eyes shining. t'That's Miss
Helen. She comes here an brings US
fellers flowers an things all the time,
an now she's goin' to sing. Jest you
listen"
King started in surprise. Miss
Helen! And now she was singing.
King drew back further in the
shadow. It was Helen Dane. There
In her plain black gown, with the pink
roses at her waist, she was far sweeter
vision than the Helen Dane in her ele.
CANT costumes, the admired and feted
queen of the hotel at Birchdale.
She sat down to the piano and played
for the boys, and then presently she
had gone, and dreamily King heard
Patsy talking about Miss Helen.
eye see, all us fellers says she's
ours, cause she's so sweet to us all, we
got to love her. An she sings like
that there bird in the winder, don't
she, Mr.. King?"
"Yes," said King. Does she como
often?'
Pretty often" he said. "Onot che
came, an'--an' the docthors had kinder
hurt me that day, an I cried"-shame.
facedly he turned AWAY hia eves.-sI