Waterbury evening Democrat., 1895-07-10
A PERFORMER.
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Of young tvomanfood which believes all things, hopes all things, Condones all things. She had left her Brooklyn homo in the morning and had attended one Df Professor Max 5ordan's ethical lectures in New York, where the moral condition of dissolute men vas iiiade fairly radiant with possibilities, if only the hand of n helper could be extended It was late in the afternoon when she left the humble home of her Aunt Eunice, in that old quarter of Second avenue which still preserves so much of good fss7z York. She rode down town on the Third avenue Elevated and got down at Fulton street. At first She thought she would get off at the bridge and walk over. Thpn some dim religious suggestion suggested Fulton street prayer meetings, and while she knew this was no hour for devotions there she went to the ancient thoroughfare and walked briskly toward the river.
 She really wished she might be helpful.
 The brotsd street was almost empty. At o'clock of Sunday afternoon the fish markets and number1ess booths are de- serted, and few finger who carf give good account of themselves It is as quiet as Wall street, as safe as church.
 Marcia hurried along on the north pave mefit, when 6 big, brutal looking man swung out from an angle in one of the re- freshment stands by the market, straight ahead of her. AS 8 girl accustomed to cit fes she only meant to slip by Oil the outer side and proceed to the ferry.
 But the big man had seen her. He stop ped, steadied himself and regarded her. At first she was almost frightened Then he spoke to her, and, oh, how the deep so- norous tones stirred the depths of her in- nocent soul!
 "Lady, don't be afraid of mo. Iwouldn't harm a hair of your head. have had good home--as good as that you are going to. Don't think am all bad. Help me, for the love of heaven, to a bite to eatF'
 Why, this was providentiall Marcia for got her initial fright and remembered that this was one of the very cases about which Professor Max Jordan had discoursed SO touchingly. How strange, too, that he should have known she had q good homel And what power had told him she was go- ing to that home, instead of away from itP
 She felt she was made for the moment q custodian of secrets of an omniscient power. And so it was with reverence that she paused, her neatly gloved hands clasping her pretty purse, and turned to face the great man whose dominant voice control led her.
 "It seems like 1ittlo thing to you," he continued. "If you knew my story, you would see''-
 He did not proceed. Maybe it was d good thing. Maybe if he had Marcia would have caught 0 warning note of insincerity.
 "How much do you want?' she asked, and her tone told him all the story of her mental, her spiritual condition.
 Gould you spare mo 50 cents?" asked the big man. It was q tremendous amount for him.
 She had three 50 cent pieces in her purse besides ferry tickets, and she had a home! She pulled out one of the coins with all an impetuous converts willingness, and even stepped forward in the fervor of her giving.
 But, after all, this was only her bounty. That she must bestow it wisely was a bounden duty.
 "You have been drinking" she said, with wonderful boldness.
 "Yes, miss, have, but if"-
 "Never mind that. want you to prom ise me you will not do so any moro. Oh, my friend, it is the''-
 "God bless you my beautiful young la- dyI It is the first kind word have heard in years"
 He tumbled toward her in so uncertain a fashion she feared ho might fall against her. She stepped back. Maybe she had done enough. After all, she could only be expected to plant the seed of reformation in such soil. She turned away.
 "Here" said the same strong, resonant voice; "dont leave me-"
 But I must go.''
 "Then take me with you. Think of the temptations all around me, and I am weak"
 Suppose she could really redeem him. How strangely powerful was that voiccI How rare triumph She felt strangely impelled to try.
 And yet recurring wave of reason told her she was standing hero in Fulton mar- ket, talking with about the most disrepu- table specimen of manhood, barring the voice, 1t had ever been her i'll fortune to see.
 That reflection in part saved her. She turned away again.
 "Here!" he cried. "You must not leave me a1one." And the voice rang through her being like the mighty rhythm of an organ symphony.
 "Then go with me-" said the only half emancipated girl.
 "You will turn me over to the police"
 1T will not" There was reproof as well as denial in the tone. He followed her.. Every step she gained moro freedom from his strangely powerful voice. He seemed to recognize this in her very carriage. With his renewed efforts to regain dominance she grew moro and more strong. She saw him clearly at last. She blamed herself. Then she grew angry and blamed him more. He became threatening. At the very moment of reaching the ferryhouse he came alongside, almost putting himself in her way.
 ''Wbat's a half a tlollar?' he demanded. the pleading quality of his resonant voice all gone, the savage snarl too plain to be mistaken.
 All that was healthy and strong and normal in Marcia was aroused.
 Ibid I only give you half dollarp" "Ya-as-that's all. "Let mo see." He produced the coin, and she held out her hand so promptly that before he could escape she had recovered it. Then she gave him a dime and famed against him like virtue, an Eden garden sword before the face of vice forever outcast. "Don't follow me step farther" she said. "Never mind why. There is an off cer in the ferryhouse. Get out of my way"
 And ho did, cursing himself for a clumsy. Ten cents when he might have had 50!
 But, as for Marcia, she felt that one quick contact with vice overweighing all the rounded periods of Professor Max Jor- dan, and she never more yearned for re- form. LIE Roy ARMSTRONG. Cerebro-Atomitism. Jargon-Slimlet's brain is proof to me of the atomic theory.