The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1893-02-22

you both TO poor quarter of the
city," said Hugh. Aud indeed l felt
that the dog might help to cheer the
little crippled lad lie was taking me
10 see.
II was not the first time DIR. Hugh
had carried me oil TO see some patient
Of his. Elizabeth had a malicious
way of limiting that lie had
me on probation as a model
doctors wife. But Cousin Hugh and
had been comrades ever since 1 could
remember; aud when was out of
reach of Elizabeth's sharp tongue there
was seldom anything to remind me
that we had not been boys together,
instead Of girl and boy.
The one step from the sublime to
the ridiculous is short one In my
ncighborhood, and we had taken il in
turn round the corner from the
stately terraced street where was my
home. The absurd little boxe, in
which the people here were housed
might be an improvement on the great
tencmcnts of other cities, but to take
them seriously as homes was rather
d filcult. "That one yondcr is mere
gcrauium pot" said |, nodding with
gesture towards a tiny red bow
window filed with those great rcd
aud green plants.
OF course, there was ''drcssmaking"
on the modest placard on the door
and equally, of course, there was the
dressmaker's small, pale face at the
window, where the aorid round
bunchcs of blossoms seemed to have
drained all life aud color from her.
alt is a case of Rappaccinps daugh-
ter reversed" | said. "Iustead Of
giving her their bloom the flowers
have taken all hers TO themselves. /
never SEQ big coarse hedge-row like
that one without knowing that there
fading lily of a woman behind it
stitching and stitching her heart out.
Cannot you make an excuse, DR..
Hugh? Mistake the house. or some
thing, aud let us knoci; and see il our
faded lily won't come out?'
But just then the door opened; the
dressmasker was letting out a custom
er. Who or what that was l never
needed, for from where we stood over
the way my dog had dashed across, up
the lew steps, and was fawning on
the little woman IN transport of
joy.
Size did not stoop to meet those Gag
CT carcsses; those sharp little canine
cries of delighted secognition had no
response. Only, rs we came up, she
made a hurried, CROPPING movement
for the handle of the door as IL she
would have shut it in our faces. Hugh
was too quick for her. He stepped in
across the threshold, where she stood
leaning pale and quivering against the
wall.
"We owe it to ourselves" he said,
"to make some explanation. OF course
the dog Is yours"
She made a hasty motion of dis
claimer; but Hugh went on;
"Of course the dog is yours; we
have had him so long in our keeping
because he was found ono night last
winter, and this lady kindly let him
come indoors with her out of the Bit
Ter weather. But we have no idea OF
keeping the little fellow from you
unless, indeed, you would care to parI
with him
This last tentatively, for it had moi
escaped Hugh any more than it had
me, that as between dog and mistress
The affection was certainly all on ore
side. The little woman-girl she was
raiher-hnd retrcated, sinking down
on the steep box-siairs that almost
filled up the tiny entry. The dog did
not feel himself rcpulsed, as we did
but fell, dog fashion, to kissing the
worn hands with which she covered
her face. II was in that same instant
that we heard child's cry. She le
her hands fall together, the wedding
ring flashing out on the worn finger
and then for the first time noticing