The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1897-01-14
sober than he meant it should be.

! party. 1Ou can begin making your
arrangements at once. Here is hun
dred dollars for the feminine adorn-
ments. | will pay Smith and the mn
sic afterward"
That was all. John Stirling had a
sunny, Cnselfish temper, aud when he
had made mp his mind to grant his
wife the indulgence she craved, it
would not have been like him 10 spoil
her pleasure by anv indie itioi of dis
satisfaction.
Still, as [ have huted. her intuitiDns
were strong. and her nature sensltsye
and inspr"- sihle, and she had certain
earrsr Of having persuaded her hus
i'ari mewhat against his own wish
es that rather disincliued her to com
mence ber preparations. L was near
ly eleven o'clock before she dressed
herself for her shopping expedition.
She was just tying the strings OF her
elegant fall hat when she heard
a ring at the door, and presently a
servant came in with the information
that a little child who had brought
home some sewing, wanted to see
her
Mrs Stirling was motherly y by in
stlnct, and her heart warmed at once
to the shy little creature who came
timidly III. 1t was a girl not more
than seven years old-quite too Young
Mrs. Stirling thought, to be trusted
alone III the streets; but then she her
self had been brought up under the
successive rule of the nurscry-maid
and governess
She took the bundle from the child'a
hand, and said, with the same bright
kind smile which had wiled John
Strings bachelor heart away" Where
did you come from, and how did you
find the way here alone. you poor lit
tie thing?''
Sister Anne sent me, ma'am. She
had done your embroidery, and she
thought il she could get the money
for it, to pay Mr. Jenkins, maybe he
would let rs stay in the room till she
got little hetter'
She is sick, then?"
"Yes'm She didn't feel we'll enough
to come. 1t has been hard getting
along all summer, for the ladies she
works for were most all out of town,
and some of them owing her; and L
spose the worry and not having much
to eqt did 1t. ma am"
Mrs. Stirling leaned toward the
little creature and looked at her more
closely Could it be hunger, she
thought, that made those blue eyes
look SO large, and the skin SO trans
parent? Was this little thing actual
Iy suffering for bread, and she going
to spend five hundred dollars in one
evening, feasting those who never
felt a want even of dainties? She
knew now what thoughts had been
in her husbands mind when he spoke
of the suffering among the poor. She
said, pleasantly.
"Well, child, you must have some
luncheon, and then | will go with you
to see your sister, l had better speak
to her about the work"
Isn't it right? Can't you pay herr"
The child gave a start of alarm. and
spoke with the premature womanli-
ness and the natural apprehension Of
misfortune which are among the sad
dest fruits of poverty.
Mrs Stirling relieved her with ready
sympathy.
Yes indeed, the work is all right.
It's done beautifully: but | want to
see your sister about some more, and
perhaps [ can do her good"
1t would have made the kind lady's
heart ache could she have seen the
eagerness with which the half famish-
ed child deyoured the lunch which
was set before her in the kitchen.
In few moments they were ready
to start. Mrs. Stirling had replaced
her velvet mantel by a Scotch shawl
her French hat by a simple straw land
with a basket in her hand, containing a
few dalnties With which she hoped to
tempt the sick girls palate, she fol
lowed the child across the city toward
| C Street a locality hitherto terra
incongnifd to hel
IT, a half dilapidaied wooden house
in narrow court, she found the OBJ
ject of her search. She went up two
| flights of stairs, and entered back
room lighted by one window. The
atmosphere struck her. in spite of hei
warm attire, with sudden chill. Eyi
IDENTIFY the sun never came there. The
dampness on the walls, the general
aspect of gloom and cheerlessness
was only relieved by an air of scrupu
Ions ueatness, which prevailed every
thing. Mrs. Stirling had already no
ticed this quality IN the attire of the
child, which, though cheap and pool
and patched, was as immaculate IN its
cleanliness as her own.
At the window, attempting to sew
the older sister sat, but she was evi
IDENTIFY very i'll. Every now and tier
spasm of coughing seized her, which
compelled her to lay down her work
and cltsp both hands on her side
while the paleness of her thin cheel
flushed into hectic Mrs Stirling haC
not seen her before since spring the
work returned that morning haylng
been sent to her by servant. Sh'
went mp to her and sat down in n chai
which stood near.
y our sister SAID you were SICK. ant
so / came to see if | could be of US
to YOU she said in gentle tones, whicl
of themselves carried a certain com
fort with them.
You have changed terribly sine
spring. l must hear all about it; bu
| want you should eat what | hay
brought you-here are some wine
jelly, and a bit of cold chicken-the
will do you good"
The poor girl looked at the Wand
with the involuntary greediness c
hunger. Then she blushed deeply
and said in q low voice,
Il am very grateful, Madam, but
) You please. | will wait until you leav
: me. Allow me at present TO atten
, to you"
1 NO indeedr' Mrs Stirling spoke i
her pretty, absolute fashion. Il al
I 4