The Canton times. (Canton, Miss.) 1893-1906, 1896-06-05
MRS. .PHELPS' REVELATION.
BY CHARLES e. REED.

| \ W
Madam, need help; won't you Civ
me something's" The question was ad
dressed to Mrs. Phelps, who had jus
entered her carriage.
mo, I've no money to waste on laz,
; vagabonds" was her sharp reply a.
the carriage door slammed shut.
Mrs. Phelps, wealthy young widow
prominent in fashionable society, wa.
in an unpleasant frame of mind. She
had just visited three of the largest
stores in the city in vain search fol
certain costly fabric, and now felt
that she was an exceedingly unfortunate
and most ill-used individual. Present
ly the carriage drew up before another
store, which Mrs. Phelps entered after
lnstructing her four-year-old son to
remain seated in the carriage until her
return. Master Phelps was very obedi-
emit for about three minutes. Then his
attention was attracted by something
which appealed to him quite as strongly
as to less aristocratic juvenile-the
antics of monkey under charge of. a
peripatetic musician. Standing on tip
toe, he laid his hands against the door,
which, having been accidentally
left unfastened, yielded to the pressure
and partly opened; and in very short
time the young gentleman was out of
the carriage and halfway across the
street. Then, in an instant, there was
hoarse cry of warning, a woman's
Strickland something grasped the boy,
swung him from right in front of
runaway team, and laid him, frightened
and screaming, in his mothers arms.
After she had soothed the child and
put him into the carriage, Mrs. Phelps
turned to the rather shabbily dressed |
man to whose agility her sons rescue
was due.
"You have saved my Arthur's life!"
she exclaimed. "Come tomorrow to
my residence and name your reward.
Meanwhile, take this" and she handed
him 500 gold piece.
But the man refused the proffered
gold.
why should you reward a lazy vaga-
bond? That is what you called me a
bit ago when I asked you for some
lining" he remarked.
Mrs. Phelps looked at him closely
md recognized him.
Il was out ofhumor," she explained.
Pardon what said, and tell me how
can assist you."
Madam, you've invited me to come to
'our home. If you'd do me a kindness.
ome to mine instead"
Mrs. Phelps looked at him in amaze
nent.
Il can hardly do that" she said. 81
'ould much rather"
AS you please, madam. I'm glad T
as able to rescue your child. If you're
lad, l wish you'd visit my home. II
mt much to ask" 81
What is your name, and where do y
on live?" y
He said his name was James Tbomn- =,
IN, and named an obscure street as his :
idress.
After I've taken my child home. I'll =,
II and see you," said Mrs. Phelps. =,
III be there by the time YOU are .~be
sponded. y
An hour later Mrs. Phelps, accom- 90
MED by trusty servant, having
wen into narrow street, entered a Nv
ISL uninyiting tenement, and assembled 81
rec flights or rickety, filthy stairs ~
IS admitted to small attic room. No
'hted by single window. The floor Oh
IS carpetless. A cracked stove, an III
table, large box which served as 70,
cupboard, bed, and two or three .
'ken-backed chairs, were the only
rniture. But though SO bare and
nfortless. the room was clean. Upon WA
scantily covered bed lay two persons o.
woman of perhaps IS and little AZ.
OF about six-both evidently IN and -,
II sleeping uneasily. s n'
4 asked you TO come here because ' -,