Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-04-18

| even attempt the batue
His fallen fortunes had not made
| Handy morose or dependent. Looking
at him out Of the corner OF her eye. Kate
realized that he promised 10 be an at
! tractive protege. He was quite presenta-
bic: no had his share Of good looks. and.
though his garments were far from new,
| and their cut suggested their rural ORR
gin. they had yet TO reach the stage or
| shabbiness Moreover there was a
boyishness about him which Miss Mason
| found pleasing. and which, In her own
mind gave amp.c excuse for taking him
under her protecting wing. Undoubtedly
he could, II ne would. find many openings
for the charitable work OF the Young
Ladies' Society among the poorer classes
with which he would be more or less
identified so long as he remained in the
employ OF the railway company.
II think. Mr.. Handy" Kate urged.
"you could be great hep TO US. IL
would do you good to look about among
the people who need assistance. You
could assist us in picking out the really
| deserving cases: why. there's no end OF
| the things you could do. You see our
congregation" she interrupted herself.
"But perhaps you belong TO some other
church,"
81 used TO 60 to church regularly-in
| the country. said Handy, but here
| it's different somehow. What with Sun
day work and-well, you know, fellow
when he's down on his luck likes TO lie
| low IL seemed TO me that afterward
wouldn't want too many folks to know
what I'm doing now. although I'm not
| ashamed of it,"
There's no reason why you should be,
said Kate, warmly. Now, Mr.. Handy,
IL you have time, I should be very glad
TO see you at our church-St. Matthew'S
Sunday night ] think you will like the
service. and after it IS over we can talk
about our charity work. Remember
shall look for you"
The organist Of ST. Matthews was
playing the congregation out OF church
after the Sunday evening service when
Kate saw her new acquaintance again.
He was standing alone i'm the space be-
hind the pews, watching the lines of peo-
pie moving down the aisles. She went
up to him at once.
81 am so glad you are here" was her
cordial greeting. Didn't you like the
music? We think IT is the best in the
city. And our rector is such a dear
didn't his sermon please you? And have
you any poor families for me? We car
take care Of two or three more, for we've
several new members"
II have found two families" said the
young man. Both Of them are des-
perately hard-up. and too proud TO ask
! assistance. But they'll accept IL. no
doubt. II it comes to them. l have brought
their addresses"
He gave her a slip OF paper
That's a good beginning. l knew you
could aid us wonderfully. / can't stop
TO say more just now: but, Mr.. Handy,
/ do wish you could come to a meeting
were TO have in the lecture-rOom down
stairs next Wednesday night. There are
to be several good speakers, and should
like TO tell you how we fare with the
people you've found. You will find 1t
interesting"
OF course, Handy, whose work left him
free in the evening. and often in the af-
ternoon. accepted the invitation. He heard
the speakers Miss Mason had eulogized
ana thought all OF them overestimated'
except one. "That chap gets right at
you: I like him" he reflected; but he
began to pick flaws in his fayorite whei
he saw the latter make his way TO Kate
side. \ little later in the evening the
young woman introduced him 10 Mr.
Herrick. who seemed to be aware o
Handy's services as agent for the Youns
ladies' Society, and treated him yer,
kindly The same services led TO his
presentation to several members of the
organization. Handy forgot for time
his prejudice against Herrick, but II
came back TO him as the assembly broke
ND. Each member of the society, he
noticed, seemed to be provided with al
escort generally young and very brother
". Once the disintcgrating process was
begun IL went on rapidly, until Handy
found that Miss Mason Herrick, and
himself had one end of the room TO them
I selves. At the other end half a dozer
middle-aged or elderly men had drawn
their chairs together and were conversina
earnestly. 80.
cts too bad Kate" Herrick said. witt
2 look at the group. "The committed
In session. you see, and I've got 10 joir
il. Can you amuse yourself until It's
business Is over? I'll cut It as soon as
can"
"No. YOU mustn't DO that. I know how
important you think the committees &C
ton will be Besides. Mr.. Handy Will
perhaps guard me home"
Handy grew rosy. Il shall be de
lighted" he managed to say, though jus
then one OF his fits Of bashfulness as
sailed him. Herrick looked doubtful.
THANK YOU" Kate said, with little
smile. 'Don't waste any more time
Tom. Your committee needs you. Coco
, night"
p she ana f13EtS nlONth lpNiAh b.4' No'i
. ! Herrick seemed about to follow them, bu
checked himself. 4 moment later h
Wa with his committee.
AS the pair stepped into the street, KATE
took Handy's arm as unconsciously as d
She had not guessed that the youth was II
an agony of doubt whether 10 offer IL e
her. They walked along slowly. bu
neither spoke for a little time. At las
the girl began to question him about hi
investigations for the society, and Handy
moro at his case, found how 70 use hi!
tongue again. 1t seemed 10 him tina
they reached the Majors house alto
gether too quickly.
ct Is too late TO ask you to come n
tonight" Kate said in parting, but SIN
put a delightful little emphasis on th'
last word II hope you will come anC
tell me If you find any new cases for us
; Don't wait for one Of the meetings. Yol
will almost always. find me az home II
, the evening"
Handy was not a vain youngster, bu
he didn't believe that her interest In IN
starving poor altogether accounted 10
the invitation. He walked 10 his board
ing house that night in a more JuDllan
frame Of mind than he had known II
months. Yet a week passed before MIS-
Mason saw him again, although, as sh
knew. he could easily have found pre-
text to visit her I'm a day or two. Tina
he did not appear sooner piQued her no
a little. 1t puzzled Tom Herrick' L
whom Kate had lost no time IN announe
. ing what she had said TO Handy. Al
though Herrick was evidently displeased
/ he made no comment, rather to tn
disappointment of the young lady, L
} whom Il did not occur at first that h
2 might not feel at liberty TO express al
; opinion.
We'll" she said. a little defiantly "
can see. Tom, that you're thinking some
[ | thing about moor Mr.. Handy Why don