The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-12-06

Avenue cable car was at 1Wenty-1nlru
street and Broadway when this occur
red. There was nothing extraordinary in
the mere fact. The morRing papers re-
ported that three or four policemen had
suecumbed the day before. This was a
young girl of slight physique and ex-
ceeding delicacy OF constitution, If her
color told the truth. She was also pecu-
larly attractive. though that has moth
ing to do with her fainting.
1t was 4 o'clock in the afternoon of the
sixth day Of this merciless prosecution of
the sun New York city had gasped un-
der it, writhed under it, tainted under
ii. died under it, for in scores of cases
the vital flame was quenched by the in
sufferable heat. Even on the shady side
of Broadway and in relatively cool spots
where at times blessed little puffs Of
wind came as heeting, but welcome yisi-
tants. the thermometric tube inhumanly
registered SO degrees. In the "'better
done" portions OF the city it ranged at
record breaking height Small wonder
that this slender girl should faint.
She had been showing symptoms of
distress all the way up town, but had
fought hard to hold out until she reach
ed her destination. A young man next
to her i'm the car had regarded her close
" now and then over the corner Of his
paper. When she collapsed, he supported
her until the car was stopped. Then the
policeman at the crossing, who, in obedi-
ence to Natures first law of self-preser-
walton had upbuttoned his coat despite
the fact that he thereby revealed wilted
calico shirt and rotund but unwilted
stomach, came forward and the suffer
ing girl was taken into chemist'e shop
hard by.
1t was a haven of refreshment after
the burning outer air, for it was shady
and cool A thin, shiny black cat sprawl
ed with abandon on the mosaic floor in the
effort 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 cracked ice in use at them
had salutary influence on the tempera-
ture.
They put the poor thing in a chair at
the farthest, and hence coolest, end of the
shop, and two clerks began deyoting
themselves to her relief. Towels wet
with ice-water were applied to her head
and wrists The policeman had sunk on
one knee by her side and looked the pict-
ure of municipal benevolenee. But the
scrap Of paper and lead pencil III his
hands showed he was waiting for
chance to get the girls name and adj
dress, in case of fatal result.
An ambulance had been summoned
from the New York Hospital But when
it arrived, the girl refused to 90 in it,
with a faint but decided gesture OF re-
pugnance. She was neatly dressed in
some light summer fabric and looked
more than respectable.
The young man had remained close at
hand, sympathetic IoOker-on rather than
assistant in the charitable endeavor to
bring the girl round. 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. lie 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 unthinkinkly she grasped the
young fellows arm. He crooked 1t
firmly that she might feel its stout sup
port, and they walked slowly to the door
A hanson had drawn up in front of the
shop with view to the likely need Of its |
services.
"Do you mind coming with me in that
cab to my homer the girl said to the |
young man, in a low voice, but visit |
fully, diffidently II am afraid to go alone, |
and a policeman in the cab would look |
too badly. / am sorry to trouble you |
30 much, but fear ! may faint again, |
and / feel that | can trust you, that you
are a gentleman"
The young man, who was not without |
a leayen Of Good Samaritanism, at once
assented, and after gently helping her |
into the cab climbed in himself. When |
he asked the girl where he should tell the |.
driver to go, she answered in a weak |
voice: ''Tell him to drive up to Central |
Park and take turn in there, first. The |
air may help me, and then ! viii give my |
home address"
During the drive uptown, the girl said |
little. Her head leaned YEARLY against
the side of the cab, and her eyes remain
ed closed. But soon after they had en-
tered 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 singularly soft, moving pal
ity in her voice and it was exquisitely
modulated. Delicate, earnest, oddly fas-
cinating, she affected the young fellow
pathetically. =,
Il know something of human nature!'
she said, "and / feel that you KIND,
honorable, self-confident man. You have
pity for the suffering. At all events,
am going to 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 MT. That you can do without hesita-
ton. viii yen?
''Certalaly," replied the young man,
sympatheticslly. II should respect any
confidence you roposed in me, without
given promise. And If I can help you,
| shall be glad to do so3