Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1895-11-15

MOTT street opium JOINT.
The other woman kept up subdued
lamcntation.
When the tough girl turned hand
spring inCo the wings, Mrs. Manhattan
deliberately leaned forward and clapped
her little jewelcd hands.
The tough girl returned, gave Mrs Man
haitian fearful smile and sang another
verse
81 wonder, said Mrs. Manhattan mus
ingly, eff she ever had u flower in her
life" and then she quickly detached a
cluster of jack roses from her gold belt
and tossed them down to the tough girl.
"T'ings is comm me way, sure" said
the tough girl to an envious circle behind
the scenes.
"Say, who's de swells9" queried one Of
the company
"Dey's lady frens of mine" replied the
tough girl, with dignity.
"You be blowed, " was the incredulous
chorus.
"I've knowed 'cm for years. See?' And
the tough girl glarcd at the unbelieving
circle so flerccly that they were obliged to
accept her statement. Then she mounted
the Steps which led to the box, opened the
door and was lost to sight.
Come in said Mrs. Manhattan as
:
open door, "como in. How do you do?'
The tough girl Regarded Mrs. Manhat-
tan curiousy. Sire noted IT, daiut.. silks
and laocs, the jewel, Gil Tire lt,lc hands,
the French hat. the GOLD AND crystal Ninai-
grcttc and the shell ior,n,t,'.
Coo, ain't she " h",l.!' waS her in
ward comment.
Il amt RICH, mp ter dc linit. she re
piled "Got Il cough d,. Is d.i,in me ter
drink And she laughed and winlcd
knowingly.
Mrs. Manhattan REGARDED the tough girl
curiously. She Lad been Summing under
the protection of Il fine looking detective
who dressed like clubman and was alto
gcthor very charming, and She had been
to the French ball. She had supposed that
she had seen very, very tough people, but
she decided as she looked at this face be-
fore her, stamped with misery, sin and
disease, that this was q little the toughest
she had ever seen.
Would you like something to drink"
she suddenly asked the girl.
Would u duck swim?' was the answer.
Mrs. Manhattan ordered three beers.
The other woman retired to a corner and
had fit all by herself.
The tough girl tossed off her beer and
I
emptied her glass into the cuspidore.
Then the lady ordered more beers and
while the girl disposed of them she studied
this strange specimen of womankind.
| Such depravity she had never seen. She
| tried to discover some trace of womanly
! feeling, but in vain.
"Wot's he a-chargin yuse fer dem beers?"
suddenly demanded the girl.
Fifteen cents apiece" indifferently re-
piled Mrs. Manhattan.
"WotY Say, yuse jest wait minute. "
And the tough girl disappeared. When she
returned, she remarked proudly:
Il settled his mugs. l tole him. 'Wot
yuse cheatin lady frcns of mine fer? L
didn't know dcy wuz frens of yuse @ says
WAL, dey is I've knowed EN- fer years
an dat goes Sce?' "
I'm really obliged to you" said Mrs
Manhattan as she paid her bill.
OATS all right. Say, take some tickets
fer me benefit, won't yuse I'm wOrkin to
git enough plunkS to buy me some teeth, -
explained the tough girl.
Mrs. Manhattan slipped bill in the
girls hand.
ono, l don't want the tickets" she
said, 'but perhaps YOU can use this" And
then she was gone, and the stupefied tough
| SlIl lOOhtu tlOW ii anu SAW Il GU Dlll lying
in her thin hand
One day, six months later when Mrs.
Manhattan had forgotten all about tho
tough girl, she received word that little
boy, in whom she had taken some interest,
had fallen Off the fire escape of an east side
tenement and broken his neck His sor-
rowing mother wrote her the details of his
sudden taking off and begged Mrs. Man
haitian for the loan of So, las funerals
come so high"
Il will 60 down myself" said Mrs.
Manhattan to the other woman, land do
what | can for these poor creatures"
"You'L catch typhus," said the other
woman
"NonScnser'
"And cholera"
Absurd"
"And smallpox"
"Cume, " said Mrs. Manhattan "Get on
your bonnet"
"Mv bonuetYn rasned tho other woman
Eyes. You're coming with me" An!
although she sputtered protested and
....--.