The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-09-01

hare halls from the different rooms be-
low. Human love and sympathy seemed
very far away to Miss Eliza as she sat
silent in her little room. presently she
saw in the dim light the voting clerk
ress her door He entered his room ana
there was again silence.
May | have some Matches said
voice suddenly. and Miss Eliza started
There was the young man himself be
side he-.
"Oh. certainly" she said. putting her
little box in his hand. The hand ana
its owrer disappeared. and Miss Eliza
anxiously awaited his return. He soon
came back, cropping his way into the
rccm
Would you kindly light the gas FOR
me?" said the old lady. timidly. He ala
so. and as the room filled with light, the
patient face OF the little woman touch
ed and startled the young man.
He looked down on her, and her sweet
smile seemed to discover within him some
spark OF hidden chivalry He noticed the
tray with her supper on IL beside her:
poor. meagre, badly cooked. and he felt
"A sudden wave Of Indignation in ms
heart, not that Mrs Roydens boarders
ever enjoyed "high-class" food. but this
was uncommon bad" he thought
Wont yOu sit down. said Miss Eliza.
Tile young man Immediately seated
himself on the edge of an old trunk, TO
Miss Elias sorrow. for she had another
chair.
u see YOU every day as you pass NY
door" she began. land feel quite wei
acquainted with my next neighbor by his
step. al least"
The young man laughed. IT know YOU.
too, Miss Eliza. and often look in at you.
You are always working, | believe. 10
YOU sew every minute on this stunY And
he touched the great pile. She smiled ana
he went on.
"You work harder than I do I think
though have a pretty stin time OF II at
the bank"
so you work in a bank?" said Miss
Eliza.
Yes, l grind out figures all day. ana
count up other folks money" he answer
ed a little bitterly
1t must be "A very responsible posi-
ton said Miss Eliza, with old-iashion-
ed JUNCTION.
A shadow crossed the yourg fellows
face.
"Oh. yes. responsible enough; but ITS
only the big guns that get chances 10
bolt for Canada. No show for such as
us" he answered.
Miss Eliza looked alarmed. and he
laughed and changed the subject
did you see the big FIRE town at the
corner? A livery stable went up as /
came BY tonight"
mo. 1 heard the bells only" she said.
"Oh. 1 forgot your window shows you
jt 81 the same fine view of the weeks
washing as mine does Wen, that nro
was a terror. 1 had a hand in getting
out a horse, (which made me late for
81 pper" he remarked. thus mentioning
obesity an exploit that had gained MIN
the admiration Of tie whole block ana
the district ire company.
Miss Eliza understood however, ana
thought him a hero. indeed.
Does your mother live IN the city,
she inquired.
lie shook his head. mo. Mother died
hen / was Il boy. and father cleared out
to the West. He left me with MY aunt.
shes dead now. poor thing" lhen ne
added. slowly, IS he looked at Miss Eli
za's few shabby little books on the table
"she was a good woman. too ike you
Hiss Eliza blushed deeply At 5his I'M
piled compliment and looked away.
He rose and turned 20 the doD-. "G30d-
bye. / must be s0ing now. Thanks tor
the matches"
DO come again." said Miss Eliza. Gag
ery.
lie nodded. and disappeared down the
dark tall.
Hiss Eliza leaned back in her chair
and thought Of her visitor.
Low nice he was and kind to stop
c nd talk 10 me-"
SO, thinking away in this strain. She
was nearly asleep when a sharp knock
reused her suddenly
Her new friend stood in the doorway
with a paper box in his hand. He adj
vanced rather sheepishly. Coming nome,
/ passed Am ice-cream saloon and thought
you might like some. Better hurry up,
for it's pretty damp
Miss Eliza was overwhelmed Ice-cream
brought up three flights OF stairs 10 an
Old woman like her. al this time of night
Surely such a thing had never been heard
OF before. She insisted tsat be should
share H.
He seized the tea things from her tray
and cleaned them up. while. with trem-
bling fingers. she opened The moist brown
box
They divided the cream and had n mer-
rs time over IL. Miss Eliza did her best
to be entertaining and succee1td well
FOR an Old lady
After that night they became good
friends. indeed Harry called in every
day, 10 the amusement of those OF the
notice him.
Miss Eliza absolutely grew radiant and
almost adored him. lie liked her WOO
manly gentlcness and enjoyed her al
lection. and told her all his troubles, even
his love affairs. She was an especial
help az present. for Harry was in rather
an unhappy condition. me love aHalrs
above mentioned might be more truly
written as A Love Affair. For Harry
after divers fiirtauOns, was now des-
perately In love
He was engaged to a country girl whom
he had met IN one of his summer yaca.
tiers.
The poor fellow longed ardently to mar
~ Ter. but his salary vas too small
now, although he hoped for a raise"
To Miss Eliza he went for sympathy
and found T.
If you only could see Nellie" he often
said. shes such beauty All the tel
lows up there are after her It's hard. i
can see her so rarely A. for marrying
there's no hope"
But Miss Eliza cheered him up
She had not struggled against adverse
fortune for sixty years without gaining
strong and spiritual insight into the
needs Of the human soul.
She helped him In many ways for every
man is happier and safer who confdss IN
a good woman, even IL she is old ami
crippled.
SO the summer slipped away and the
winter came As the days grew shorter, a
shadow seemed TO creep over the quaint
friendship Miss Eliza felt thar Harry
was less frequent in his visits and more
silent when he did come
Something was the matter. she knew,
end as he did not tell her. she prayed
the more feryently.
As for Harry. he needed prayers. for