The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1895-11-22
GOING HOME.
ouc Of the Heart Tragedies En"ctc" !" :"
O"' Busy City.

o'' - Wv BUSY City.
New York Recorder
His tall form was just beginning to
hend under the weight Of years MS
hand trembled and his step wavered
but his kind old face was stu ruuuy'
burned by the suns OF many sulnn'els.
He carried an old fashioned carpet pas
in one hand and an aged umpreiia ~
the other. He seemed somewhat aanea
as no passed out of the big tram nouse
on Forty -second street ana loosee
around at the busy scene. Inc rattiinI
cabs. the shouting drivers, the hurie!
hurley and hustle Of the city confused
him. "a. honos,
The policeman on post, a big, hones'
fellow, approached him solicitously'
"Looking for some one!"
The old man shook his head.
II kinder thought Molly would mee'
me-" he said, helplessly. :.
"Who's Molly?" asked the policeman.
"Molly's my daughter: I've come
down from Stanton to see her =
"Where's she at?''
"Huh?"
"Where does she live?"
"Oh. YES, | see. DO you know where
Chrystie street ISL" a..
II should remark! Does she i've
there!' ~ A. Ill
The big policeman looked at the old
man in a auizzical, you.can t-fooi- me,
oort of a way. But the honest, ques-
tioning face rebuked him. 90,
"Yes, do you know the placer
How longs she been there?"
uChe left the old home about ten
wears ago. rubbing his head rehect-
lively. A look of pity crept into the
policeman's face
II guess / could find the place, ne
said. ~
ssYou see, Molly was too good for the
farm''-the weatherbeaten features
settled into reminiscent expression.
ssThere wasn't prettier girl in stan,
ton, nor for miles around. She could
have had pick of the boys, too, but
they wasn't good enough for her, either.
She wanted to earn her own living.
said she didn't want to depend on the
old folks funny notions girls get now
a-days. One summer. city chaP' VINO
was stopping at the hotel, told her ne
could get her job in the city, singln
in one of the big chui ches. Mother
didn't like the notion, but, says l.;
the girls bound to go, and she nad
better have show. II she don 7 IKE
it she can come back, Well, she
didn't come back. Say, mister, what
do they pay for singin in the big
churches here? 1t must be powerful
lot. My, but don't she cut dash in
the summer when she comes up to the
old place. Silks and satins till you
can't rest Where'd you say that street
vast" :.
The policeman looked as if he didn t
want to tell.
Half an hour later the old man turned
into Chrystie street. Luck-was II
luck?-was with him. In the second
house where he inquired they told HIM
Molly lived there.
Was she in?
Yes, she would be down in moment,
and the young woman in the Mother
Hubbard dress who answered the bell
went out into the hall and called
"Say. Molly, your country friend is
here
The old man dropped into a chair.
The strength seemed to have left his
body. 4 veil fell from his eyes.
He knew little something OF the
world. Even up in Stanton now and
then a breath from the big city taints
the fresh country air. He was not
altogether an '.old fool'' The silks
and satins did not mystify him any
longer. Nor did he wonder what they
paid for singing in the Zig city
churches.
There was step on the stairs. A
girl paused on the threshold of the
door. The room was darkened. They
did not throw open the blinds very
wide on Chrystie street. Molly did
not recognize cher friend" who had
risen and stood with his back to what
little light was admitted to the room.
Crisp muslin rustled beneath her scant
drapery as she approached the old man.
Wantonly she threw her soft, bare arms
around his neck and then she knew.
Father ~
A world of pain and horror were
mingled in that cry. The frightened
girl shrank back and crouched at his
feet.
Father -
This time the word was uttered in a
whisper, as one speaks the name of
some dear one who has gone and the
pain of parting is still fresh. Father,
what brings you here?"
The old man stopped and raised the
girl to her feet. He wrapped his arms
around her as if to shield her from the
contamination of the place.
molly, l have come to take you
home. Will you Gomez"
An old man and girl passed into
the big train house. The policeman
across the street saw Them
II thought so, he muttered. Poor
old man."