Evening star., 1897-01-16


her to place where tea was to be had
She sat there dejectedly, leaning her head
on her hand, while bhe refreshments were
being bEought; he osposite her, in melan-
tea, but could not tfink) 1t, shaking her
head wher he offered her the buttered
bread.
II must get home'' she said at last II
can't eat. I shall batbettpr there"
They walked slowly to Rose Garden
court, and at No. he helped her up the
sordid stair, she cffnging breathlessly to
the shaky rail at every step or two, he
Braunt sat in his armchair, angry cloud
on his brow. He was,in his gruffest mood,
looking at them WREN they entered with
surly displeasure, but he said nothing. 1t
was the evening after the men, with their
small majority, had resolved to continue
the strike, and Braunts pipe was cold.
Not another scrap of tobacco could be
gathered, although he had turned out
every pocket in hope of finding crumb or
two. Jessie sank into cnair, her white
face turning appealingly, alternately from
her father to her friend, evidently fearing
that something harsh might be said, for
she knew her father was rough spoken
when i'll pleased.
Jessie is not well,'' said the organist.
Braunt did not answer him. but crossed
over to his daughter. and, smoothing her
hair, said more gently than she expected:
whats wrong, lassie? Art hungry?'
mo, no." murmured the girl, eagerly.
I'VE had tea before We came in. I'm not
Langly, slow as he was to comprehend,
saw that Braunt, at least, had been with
out food perhaps for long. He had sew
scanty store but 1t had always been re-
fused, sometimes in a manner not alto
gether friendly. The organist went quiet
ly out, leaving father and daughter alone
together.
"Would you like me to get some one to
come in-some woman?" said Braunt, anx-
iously. I'VE don't know our neighbors but
one of the women would come in if she
knew you were ILL.,"
The girl shook her head.
II want none-naught but just to rest a
little. 1t will all pass away soon. I need
but rest
The father returned to his chair, and
they sat silent in the gathering darkness.
Presently the door was pushed open, and
Langly entered with parcels in his arms.
He placed a loaf on the table with the rest
of his burdens, and put on the empty
hearth the newspaper, that held penny
worth of Goals.
Braunt glared at him, speechless for
moment; then cried out, Indignantly:
.'Tll ha' none O. thy charity, my lad, id
II l willv'
Before Langly could reply, Jessie rose
tremblingly to her feet.
Don't, father, DON'T, she walled; then
sw aging as she attempted to walk toward
him, she fell suddenly in a heap on the
door.
LdHSly SpTdHS lOIWdTu, Dul 6TdunI
brushed him roughly aside, and, st ooping
over his daughter lifted her light form in
his arms speaking soothngly and caress-
iEgly to her. He carried her to the bed
and placed her lovingly upon it.
Rum he cried to Langly. Run for a
doctor There's one down Light street
There's something main wrong here, I'm
feared"
The doctor objected to go to Rose Garden
court; he had his own patients to attend to-
he said. He knew there was little to be
got out of the court.
Il am organist at ST. Martyrs" replied
the messenger, eagerly. Il will see you
paid"
"Oh, it's not that" said the doctor
''Who generally attends to people in the
court? There must be some one
Il don't know" answered Langly, Ind I
gent. Gomez y Il
So the doctor, grunYbling-for this kind of
practice was out OF his line-went with
him. / d
They found Brauntsanxiously chatting the
hands of the girl. -; on
you've been long about it," he cried as
they entered. - :
Neither answered. and the doctor went
quickly to the bed, with the seemingly cal
lous indifference of a man to whom such
scenes are matters of hourly routine. He
placed his fingers upon her wrist bent fis
ear down to her breast, then put his hand
on her smooth. white brow.
Has she been long ill?" he asked,
sharply. D. n-1
Jessie was always weakly" answered
the father, land latteriy has not been at
all well, poor girl
Who has attended her?'
mo one
"Oh, well, you know, I can't grant a
death certificate under these circumstances.
There will most likely be an inquest
Good God!' shrieked Braunt AN in
quest! You don't mean to say-you can't
mean iti-.JeSSie Is NOT dead2''
Yes, she Is dead. I can do no good here
III let the coroner know, and he can do as
he pleases. l have no doubt it is all right,
but We are bound to act according to the
law, you know. Good nightr'
Braunt threw himself upon the bed in a
storm of grief; Langly stood by the side of
the dead girl, stunned. He took her limp,
thin hand in his, and gazed down upon her,
dazed and fearless. Her father rose and
paced the room, alternately pleading with
fate and cursng it. Suddenly he turned on
Langly like a madman.
What are you doing here?" he roared.
1t was your interference that caused her
last words to be troubled Get you gone
and leavesus alone"
Langly turred from the bed and walked
slowly to the door without word, Braunt
following him with his lowering. bloodshot
eyes. The young man paused irresolutely
at the door, leaned his arm against it and
bowed his head in hopeless anguish.
Heaven help me"' he sad despairingly,
Il loved her, too"
Braunt looked at him a moment, not
compre hending at first Gradually the
anger faded from his face.
Did you SO, lad?' he said, gently. at
last. Il didn't know-I didn't know. For
give me my british temper. God knows it
should be broken by this time. I'm crazy.
lad, and know not what l say. 1 have not
penny piece in the world, nor where to
go to get aught. My lassie shall not have
a paupers funeral in this heartless town.
No. not If l have to take her in my arms
as 1 ha' oft DONE and trudge WI her to
the north, sleeping under the hedges by
the way. Yes, that's what I'll do. Wen
be tramping to the Dead March then. 1t
will keep us company. Wen rest at night
in the green fields under the trees, away
from the smoke and din, alone together.
All. God! I'll begin the journey now and
tramp all night to be quit O this Babylon
the morning."
mo, no." cried Langly, catching his arm.
You mustn't do that. You must hear what
the coroner says"
What has the coroner or any one else to
do with me or herr"
ut Is the law; you must obey 1t"
What care l for the law? What's it
done for either me Jessie? I'll have no
pauper funeral, law or no law
There won't be a pauper funeral There
are kind hearts in London, as well as in
the north. Promise me you'll do nothing
until see If can get the money
Il PROMISE" said Rraunt sinking into his