Evening star., 1896-12-05


faint
she collapsed. he supported her until the
car was stopped. Then the policeman al
the crossing Who in obedience to natures
first Law OF self-preseryation. had unbut-
toned his coat; despite the fact that he
thereby revealed a wiited calico shirt and a
rotund but unwilted stomach. came for
ward and the suffering girl was taken into
chemists shop hard by.
1t was haven of refreshment after the
burning outer air, for it shady and
cool thin, shiny black cat sprawled
with abandon on the mosaic floor in the eff
tort TO expose as much of her frame as
possible to its cool contact. There were no
electric fans in the shop. but two counters
were entirely devoted to soda and mineral
water fountains. and the quantity of crack
ed ice in use at them had salutary in
fuence on the temperature.
They put the poor thing in chair at the
farthest. and hence coolest, end of the
shop. and two clerks began devoting them
selves to her relief Tow els wet with ice
water were applied to her head and
wrists The policeman had sunk on one
knee by her side and looked the picture OF
municipal 0snevolence. But the scrap of
paper and lead pencil in his hands showed
he was waiting for a chance TO get the
girls name and address in case of fa tai
result.
An ambulance had been summoned from
the New York Hospital But when 1t ar
rived. the girl refused to go in it. with a
e.
She was neatly dressed in some light sum
mer fabric. and looked more than respect
able.
The young man had remained close at
M nd. sympathetic looker-on rather than
assistant in the charitable endeaYor to
bring the girl around. Possibly because
others seemed to know perfectly what to
do, while he. like many another had ONLY
a willing heart and ignorant hands in an
emergency.
The girl, in raising her heavy eyelids.
may have recognized the Young man as
her neighbor on the car. He had win
ming. kindly expression. At last the girl
moved to rise. saying. in her weak voice,
that she felt well enough to GO In getting
to her feet, her hand went forth. and un-
thinkingly she gsasped the young fellow S
arm He crooked it firmly that she might
feel its stout support, and they walked
slowly to the door a hanson had drawn
up in front of the shop with a view to tba
likely need of its services
DC you mind coming with me in that
cab TO my homer the girl said to the
young man, in low voice, but wistfulIy.
dlmdentiy- Il am afraid to 80 alone and
a policeman in the cab woulG look too bad
ly. L am sorry to trouble you so much. but
Tear L may fai1t again, and feel that |
can trust you: that you are a gentleman
The young man. who was not without a
leaven of Good Samaritanisu at once az
sented. and after gently helping her into
the cab climbed in h mself. When he asked
lne girl where he should tell the driver to
go, she answered in weak voice: Tell
him to drive UP to Central Park and take
a turn in there first. The air may help me.
and then i will give my home address"
During the drive uptown the girl said lit
tie. Her head leaned wearily against the
side of the cab and her eyes remained
closed But soon after they had entered
the park. and the air circled about them
more freely, she sat up. Then she began TO
speak to her companion in a frmer voice
and with great earnestness. There was a
singuiarly soft, moving quality in her
voice, and 1T was exquistely modula ted.
Dehcate earnest oddly fascinating, she
affected the young fellow pathetically.
know something of human nature. ="
She said and 1 feel that you are a kind.
pity for the suffering. At all events I am
gong 10 tell you something, and am going
TO ask you something. But you must
promise me never to betray what shall
say whether you grant my request or not
you?"
Certainly" replied the young man. SYM
pathetically. II should respect any conf
dence you repose in me- without a given
promise. And IT can help you. 1 shall be
glad to do so''
The girl heaved a long sigh of relief. and
her eyes slowly closed again. as If the ef.
tort of making her communication was
overpowering her at the start. Then with
d quick compression of her lips she began
1t was not the heat which made me
faint At least, not that alone. 1t was the
mental strain L have been going throug h
for the past ten hours. 1 have done n
great wrong to my husband. You need not
ask my motive IN This. You may guess it.
IL was mad thing to do and unless ii is
repaired this very night my happiness for
life is ruined. He is executor with two
others. for the estate of very wealthy
woman There is TO be meeting at his
rooms tomorrow of the executors and the
heirs of the estate in regard to the dispo-
sition of certain things of vast Importance
Necessary documents relating to this
he SAT do
posit vaults yesterday by my husband and
the other two executors. and my husband
took them to his rooms. He is lawyer
and he had to study out two or three points
with these documents close at hand to re-
fer to.