Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1897-07-08

Is POOR WluoW WHO lives on tho third floor
OF Hampton street. Please sond the things
ordered at once. will come in after school
and pay for them. And, Mr.. Davis, please
give good weight. Truly yours.
LILLIAN SMELL"
Mr.. Davis had been friend of the
Smell family for years, and it was not
the first time that Lillian had appealed
to him for help in her charitable work.
So that was not the reason that so
strange look came into his honest
brown eyes.
"Agnes Gregory and lives on Hamp.
ton street." he murmured. at surely
must be Margaret's child. Good God |
Margaret and her child wanting
/ bread /"
A half hour later Mark Davis was
making his way up the stairs to the
floor upon which Mrs. Gregory rooms
were situated. His knock at the first
door was answered by red-faced
woman.
"Mis' Gregory it is you air want
in'?" she asked sharply. "And it's no
bad news you air after bringin' her, 1
hope
81 wanted to deliver some groceries
a friend has sent her."
The clouded face cleared as if ba
magic. "Heaven's blissin' be on your
head then Mis- Gregory, she's gone
out, but I've her key here, and will
unlock the door. That's her by, and
a swate child he is"
Mark looked eagerly at the pink and
white face of the boy. He held out
great golden orange, and little Roy ce
spang for it, his childish laugh echoing
through the room. Then the grocer
followed Mrs. Donavan to the home OF
Margaret Gregory.
1t was bare place, but clean and
neat. Mark sighed as he noted the
signs of abiect poverty. While the
deliveryman was bring up the parcels,
Mrs. Donavan volubly explained that
Mrs. Gregory had gone to try to get
money due her. The warm hearted
Irish woman had surmised that for
tune was at low ebb with her neighbor,
partly because of little Royce'a unu-
sual fretrulness, which had been
quoted by huge slice of bread and
| butter.
"She's worked her precious fingers
most to the bone" she concluded,
"but works scarce, and | don't know
what's ever goln' to become OF her and
her babies"
The wood soon came. Florence's
half cord had been reinforced by a
whole cord, perhaps because she had
written her cousin that the needy
widow was protege of Miss SHELLS.
As to Lilian's order for groceries,
Mr.. Davis had added to it sack of
flour, ham, coffee, tea, sugar, apples,
cookies, cheese, canned fruits and
meats, and big bag of candy.
Mrs. Donavan went back to her own
room, and the wagons rolled way.
Mark hastily built fire, then sat down
to think how best to explain the liber-
ty he had taken.
The bare room faded from his vision
as he sat there. In its place came an
old country garden overgrown with
roses and clematis. 1t was June, and
the air was heavy with the scent of
many blossoms. By his side was a
beautiful girl in whose curls the sun
shine seemed entangled. He bent
lower, and the rose.red lips of his
companion murmured, 81 love you,
Mark" Still lower his head sank un-
til his lips touched the ones that had
uttered the sweet words.
A start, and he sat upright, glancing
around him. That was ten years ago.
He was poor then, and Margaret, beau
tiful Margaret Henson, had been the
only daughter of wealthy home. So
their engagement had been forbidden.
They parted, vowing eternal constancy,
A yea, later Margaret became the wife
of Vance Gregory, but it was not until
months after that Mark learned of the
treachery and deceit that had been
employed to urge her to that step.
1t was too late then. There was
nothing to do but to endure.
He had known for some time that
Margaret was n widow and lived in the
city. He knew nothing of her poverty,
supposing that her means were ample.
To go to her Low with story of love
had never occurred to him. She knew
nothing of what had parted them. He
could not blacken the memory of the
man who had been her husband, the
father of her children.
He sprang to his feet. There was nc
need of an explanation. He passed out,
pausing for final word with Mrs.
Donavan.
"Tell Mrs. Gregory the things came
from the teachers at No. g."
"To be sure, Mr.. Davis" responded
the woman, who had recognized
Mark. "I'll tell her all bout it. And
may the blissin's of all the saints rest
on your dear head !"
Mark hurried away, leaving shin
ing silver dollar in Royce's hand.
1t was only a few minutes after his
departure that thinly clad woman
came toiling wenrily up the stairs. 1t
was Margaret Gregory. The woman
who owed her was out of town. The
needy mother had applied at several