Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1896-11-27
LIZA-A SKETCH.

She was a thin slip Of girl. with
pale. sallow cheeks and figure as fragile
~ the flowers she carried In her basket.
It was her eyes and her hands which
marked her off from the common herd.
Had these been Of regulation pattern,
there would have been nothing to dis
tinguish her from any dozen Of her com
panions. But her eyes, which were brown
in color were large and lustrous aud
had provoking habit Of dropping the
lashes when she looked at one. Whether
calculated coquetry or native born man
ner chiefly concerned would have puz-
zled an expert to decide. That II was
"fetohing" few men would have VEN
tured to deny. Her hand, small and
we'll shaped, boosted the taper fingers
and fllbert nails generally associated
with birth and breeding.
She sold flowers In Cheapside Her
station was the steps Of the Peel statue,
and every morning, week In and week
out, as the clocks Of the city were strik-
ing 10 she would deposit her basket at
the foot Of tho column and prepare for
the business Of the day.
From 10 to she piled her wares dill
igently, pushing tho sale with all the
.aoe "nicn me seAper,ehco mao tauBne
her anu nii inc wiies "hioh woman
WIZ oouiu suBseso Du' enoh oVenihs'
"hon 'he WeaIy oiUy WINS i"e. oniP.y hB
ana 'he peil Vi enc sro"t caVheural "as
| still eohoing overhead, her eye would
sweep the long length Of crowded a.
ppa'e Win soaroh'hs sianoes, anu ~
sho soaiineu 'no cunning "u'"'uue
pouring weeewaru = spu' u of, ,'sn
wouid suddenly sho" IN ene WAL whi.s
e nos anu III. .no u 's.h own mD' w
nasfi ana kihoie WIN curious hy7'''
iien'
ne Always contrived 70 DO IN Oheap'
side between and :So' IL was their
custom 10 walk together DOWN Sueen
VICTORIA stieet 10 blackfriars DrioBe. hs
THIS point they separated--hhe crossing
TO the surrey SIDE no taxing a Turn
througn fleet street ana inc strand pe-
rore following IN the same direotion'
Ihey had cohimehoeo tne Piac'ico IN
midwlnter' had continued IL throushout
inc spring, ana now they haa reached
midsummer
From nfar she could dlstingulsh ms
barrow among tho thronB OF vehioleS
which illied the thorouBhiare' "hen no
mad doubled the corner ana gov INTO
the compar~tiVe SLICK water OF the
churcnyhrn, sle crosseu over anu Joiheu
MIN. nod that was almost linpercepJi-
bic, answered by smile that was pright
ana sunny, was ail tho recognition 'hae
nAHgn6 hptwrpn GnDm,
The girls glance wandered inVoluu'
tarily 10 the barrow IL was inc SEASON
for cherries, and she noticed the long
array OF empty baskets
Been avn good day Joe' amt
yerF
Middlin Ike.
wy y'aint ony one molly IeIt.
'P'raps been givin EN- away Inc
tone was unnlHthkaDiy huriy
For the next 10 yards they walked on
IN silence, tho Birl Watching tho man
furtively, tho man pushing the parrow
lanRuidly and staring strenuousiy AZ
nothing.
'Ha yet thort on wot ! toie yeri ne
said presently, as tho girl stepped OH
the pavement 10 avoid COLLISION WIN
parcels boy. Ihe llght mat had IiBht'
ened them died out OF her eyes, the
color which had come into her oheeks
forsook them, her mouth grew hard, ana
her face lost at once It's youth ana AMI
NATION
Tho man continued 10 stare INTO va
cancy and Walk mechanically aIter MS
barrow.
can't do ut, Joe. cant 90 ut.
amt got no rest these two nights-but
can't do ut -
The words came with difficulty and
the voice palpitated with emotion.
The man shrugged his shoulders i'm
patiently.
"Wot's the good NV i'm, eh2 A
dod rim ole lunatic. Wot's the use Nv
i'm ter anybody? He orter been dead
years ago.
"He's me father, Joe, " she murmur-
ed reproachfully.
Father he blowedl He's dun lot
fer yer, amt her Y'ort ter feel proud
NV i'm, didn't yer? Pinohin his gals
money-drinkin till he's got the devils
an talkin tommy rot bout bein gen.