Eagle River Democrat. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1893-1896, 1896-02-03

awful place Tor IOflOfn Stranger.
'"Then every one seemed to think
badly of me directly | ventured to
speak to them | went into one or
two shops that didn' seem SO grand,
and asked, could they tell me OF any
work? but they looked-dear, dear, as
if they fancied | was going to steal,
and spoke so cold, and followed me to
the door, my heart fairly sunk; and
the second day my last farthing was
gone, and it came on to rain, with a
cold wind at night, and | sat medown
with the dear child in my arms Oh a
doorstep. l thought, surely it was a
judgement on me for taking on me to
come SO far, and, more than all, Tor
risking her.
'The shops were all shutting up,
and the streets got dark, and there
were fewer people about; it was such
a wretched night, and | felt it would
be her death, almost, to remain IN the
streets, for the poor dear had taken
a cold, and it went to my heart to
hear her hard breathing as she lay IN
my arms wrapped up in my shawl.
''God knows [ had done for the best,
and yet felt that night as if He ludg-
ed me for my Impotence, and that
His hand was heavy upon me; and l
prayed as if it was my last, that, at
least she might be spared.
''It was a quiet street where | had
sat down, and the house seemed
empty; at the corner was big shop
with a very bright light, and it did
seem some comfort to look at that,
till they began to put up the shutters,
and, at last, there was only one mar
row streak of light left-one notices
these little things at times. had seen
a lady pass up and down where | sat
several times; she was beautifully
dressed, for | heard her silks rustic as
she passed; the last time she turned
short back, and she stopped down and
whispered, hurriedly. will you do
something for me? ! will pay you'll"
~ said, Yes in a moment, and be-
fore | could ask what it was, she had
pulled a ring off her finger, and said
speaking very fast. "Take it in there
quick, before they close; get a sover-
eign on it, no more; be quick, for mer-
cy's sake!'
"She pointed to the shop as she
spoke. stood up, and took the ring,
but was all in a maze, for [ had no
idea what she meant.
"'Am [ to sell it, ma amp [ ask
ed her. No, no!' she said, quite
hoarse with haste, pledge it pledge it
in your own name, quick! Stay, get
five-and-twenty to pay yourself give
me the child, quick"
"Still was all abroad, but [ said
no more, for [ saw she was in some
trouble, and thought the shop folks
would understand; but [ wouldn' t
let my darling again out of my sight,
SO [ carried her in my arms, and the
poor lamb went where she had never
been, nor neither, till then-inslde Of
a pawnbroker'
"Ah! it was all new to YOU and
Agnes, who had now lifted Ida to her
knees, and was making up the flowers
into bouquet, with some strips Of
satin-the childs eyes glistening with
delight, her little hand resting loving
ly on the girls shoulder.
''Indeedit was, Nelly went on; "but
| went in as brave as could be, and
showed the man in the shop the ring.
He took it, and just asked How
much?' and dropped some stuff from a
bottle on to it, and then gave me the
money; but, just as he was counting
it, he looked up at me, sharp-like, and
asked was it my own? said a lady
had sent me, and he said no more,
only gave me the money, and the bit
of card-the ticket knownow what
it is called. He was in a great hurry,
and the door was shut after me the
moment | came out.
'Itook the money to the lady-she
was standing in the dark, just as had
left her, and she quite snatched at the
money, in her eagerness, but she only
took the pound, and babe me keep
the rest for myself. | thanked her,
and just as she was hurrying off, /
made bold to ask her did she know
where [ could get a decent place to
sleep in? for / had seen enough since l
came to London to make me more on
my guard.
''She pointed down a street, and
gave me some directions, all in a
hurry, and then she was off in q
minute.
II tried to find the place, but could
not, and at last I ventured to ask at
a cofee-shop, and found a bed, and
so we got shelter once more"
''How providentialp' said Agnes.
eyes, indeed" returned the other,
''and it was the means, too, ofhelping
me further, for, you see, | had had
about me all the while something that
could have made money Of, and this
just set me thinking, and next day |
took the old ring I had sewn up in
my dress and kept safe through all,
and l got some money in the same
way-pledged it, as they call it. |
never could have made up my mind
to part with that ring outright, unless,
indeed, for her sake, but | found out,
by this, that could get money for it,
and yet not lose my ring; and, indeed,
was truly thankful for the help.
"Whatever we should have done
without, | don't know; for my dear
child fell i'll with the cough, and | had
to nurse her, and get medicine, and
I L