Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1894-07-31
4 FRIEND IN need.
Ihey had quarreled-


One day, while she was visiting a poor
part of the city, she had seen him-for his
business often took him there, especially II
he knew IL was her day for visiting that
family-take small ragamufiln over his
knee and administer to her, for 10 was a
girl ragam uffin, more 70 his discrodit, a
sharp but decided punishment.
Shocked and disappointed In him more
than she could have said, the young per
son, whom we had best call Beatrice, be-
cause that was her name. sot into her car
riage and drove home with toars In her
heart II not In her eyes. For. after all, 10
Is very trying 10 be disappointed oven In
one whom you arc indifferent to. Whom
they met that evening, she was cold and
incorporating. and he, aftor trying
once or twice 10 make peace without ask
Ing what the matter was-another diff
cult thing 70 do--demanded In a worried
manner what In the world no had done TO
offend her. And she told him.
And, besides telling him, she said she
would have nothing to do with man who
would strike child, and that no expla-
nation was needed, and--good night.
After no went abe cried for half an hour,
until her eyes were quite unfit 70 DO seen,
and then went down TO get book from
the library and read far into tho night.
As for him-his name WAS Diok Just
plain, everyday Dick-he marched homo
In towering rage, and, after eating sup
per, marched across the city again to
where charmingly inane but always
peaceful young girl lived, and there sf' mt
the evening, pretending to himself tn no
one woman was essential 10 his happi..oss
-hhemi
When he got homo. though he felt cool
er and ashamed Of himself, he sat down
and wrote note. Though you refused to
let me explain this afternoon, l hope you
will read this note on ths subject" IL
road: The child have known for several
years and have, up TO today, never laid
violent hands upon It's young porson, but
whom she rushed out upon me with cry
Of what thought happiness at seeing me
--as she IL sometimes wont 10 dO---and
then proceodof 20 sink hor small aud worry
sharp teeth into my knee l don't think
that even your sweet temper would have
stood the shock Mine didn't, and
spanked her. Suppose you were rushed
upon, Beatrice, and the little ragamuflin
sank her teeth In your kneo''--
~ "Come, Dicky," said he 60 himself at
this point; that won't do at all. Not at
all Girls, you know. don't have 'em."
So he decided upon another plan, and soon
after sought his bed, where he dreamed Of
but that's still another tale
The following day, promptly at 1890,
he closed his Office and made his way to
that unsavory section Of the city again
and Co tho home OF tho small cause Of bls
troubles
lie found her deeply involved In the
problem of making mud pies out OF some
very black mud IN the baok yard, while
her mother, WILDLY lady" scrubbed
cheerily at the wash she took In" for a
living, on the porch.
Ho wadcd through the sloppy soapsuds
and bluing water 20 "A chair, and then he
said II want to take Patsie 20 the matinee
this afternoon, Mrs. Maloncy. II you'll
give hor a bit OF a schrub Che always talked
hrogue whom no convcrscd with the Wild
dy), we'll 20 and have foine time, won't
wo, Patsiof"
And PatsIe nodded her head and went
on with her problem. But the WILDLY lady,
pleased and delighted that ho should sud
| denly be SO kind, tore her small youngster
away from those pies with ruthless
hand, and before Dick realized what she
was doing she had the slip Of n gown off
the little girls back, and the remainder OF
her garments, and was industriously put
ting her through the tub, while Dick, after
one astonished look at tho bare plump
| young body, turned away and waited un-
| I'll lac heard her put down In tho room near
him, where Mrs Maloney had taken her
To put on the one clean dress she had
When she emerged from that room five
minutes later, she was such pretty,
bright eyed, rosy checked little thing and
90 shiningly clean, that Dicks warm
heart quite rewarmed itself toward her,
and without tho slightest feeling Of bored
ness he took her In his arms and carried
her out Of the alley and down the street
20 the theater