The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1897-10-15
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
A SLUM ANGEL.

as the little district visitor was de-
scending. The ascending party struck
vesta, which threw fitful glare over
the damp and filthy walls and the gray
powned form of Hester Moore.
DR.. Paul Maryland stepped aside, fat
tening his broad shoulders against the
baluster rail to admit wider passage
| for her benefit.
During the next two weeks this
stunning" doctor and the soberly-
dressed little district visitor met about
half dozen times on their separate
ways to or from some den in crowded
, alley, and at the end of fortnight they
actually defied criticism and spoke. 1t
| was raining a steady drizzle, and
through the mire of dirty court Paul
Maryland saw a familiar form in gray
stepping over the puddles without an
| umbrella.
please take mine," he said.
But she would only consent to share
it.
'These places are not fit for you,"
said the doctor later when walking with
her homeward. you are too young,
too-too-indeed, it is scarcely safe for
so young a girl to venture among the
criminals that are hidden here"
But l must" she murmured.
"Ah, you are one of those brave wem-
en- willing to risk anything. had heard
OF you long before had the pleasure of
lighting you down those rickety stairs
two weeks ago"
"You have heard of me?" she asked,
with an abrupt sharpness of tone which
he did not notice.
Yes, from the poor wretches whom
you have made your devoted friends"
he exclaimed. "It is more often for you
they call in the extremity of their pain
than for me-"
Il am glad if 1 have done any good"
she said, signing with relief.
"Good!" he echoed. "If the depraved
creatures about here worship anything
at all, it is the. Little Gray Lady, as they
have named you"
DIR. Paul Maryland was celebrating his
Goth birthday over lonely cup of tea.
Old Betsy, his housekeeper and one
time nurse, had made doubtful look
ing cake in honor of the occasion, and
her affectionate master was sacrificing
his digestion to please her.
1t was not often that he was left to
enjoy meal in peace, and to-day was
not an exception to the rule. He was
still contemplating second slice of
cake when he received a hasty summons
| to ooea -, Iovap5ar cpurf
That's just like him." she growled
in monologue. Hell never be rich
while he doctors them paupers for moth
ing. And they take vantage of his
goodness, they do. Now, If Master Jack
hadn't turned out scoundrel"-here,
being a devout Catholic, she crossed
herself and unused mournfully upon the
doctors secret sorrow.
Master Jack" was Paul Mayland's
youngest brother, his junior by Is
years, who had been left as a sacred
trust by their dying mother to the
elders care. Some seeds of depravity,
perhaps sown in long generations past,
early developed in young Jack. After
rushing through various vicissitudes of
gambling and drink, he devoted the re-
naming part of his sodden intellect to
the criminal science of burglary.
His distracted brother for several
years grieved for his sacred trust" as
a thing lost TO him, until one night
Jack had appeared craving protection
from the law. For the sake of his dead
mother, Paul had shielded the boy,
who, when the danger was over. broke
loose again, and in the course of time
his dexterity earned him in the Grim
nal world the sobriquet of Lightning
Tack"
At Lavender court, in the room where
> his patient lay, DR.. Maryland found the
Little Gray Lady kneeling by the
iruckle bed on which a consumptive
child was dying.
81 sent for you" she said. II knew
you would come if you possibly could
She had puzzled him from the first
her absolute loneliness and her reserve
There were moments when he won
dered if she were firing of her chart
table work, so obvious to him had beer
her troubled mind sometimes. To
night, walking beside her through the
busy streets, he abruptly put his fancy
pto words.