The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-02-28

she held the four pennies disconsolatcly in the
yalm OF her hand.
IL sccin TO have lost the other one" she said.
End rose slowly.
"Huh!" grunted the conductor, and rang the
bell.
The Western woman unfurlcd her dripping
umbrella. gathered up her skirts and made FOR
the CurhStonc. She was IA mile from home and
the rain was coming down in wind-blown sheets.
She thought of going back to Mrs. Gotham's
and explaining her prcdicamcni, hut she didn't.
She put her head and her umbrella down and
charged through the storm in the direction OF
home. The street was almost deserted. and tho
Western woman p~loughcd ahead without pay
INK any attention to what might he coming her
way. 1t gave her a start, therefore, when II
voice walled at her side:
ON. fur the love % Gawd. ma'am, wont 70
give me 10 cents TO help me out o trouble =
The Western woman stopped short and laugh
81. The woman who had lone the waiting was
old and soaked to the skin hy the rain. She WAS
also soaked to the skin. from within. with beer,
but that wasn't why the Western woman laugh
ed. She hadn't made out the beer yet. The old
woman drew back at this unexpected hilnrity.
Won really must forgive me for laughing"
said the Western woman. but you've asked the
wrong person Why. I'm walking home in this
rain because ] haven't CslrfRrc myself
oh, Gawd bless you. dear exclaimed the old
woman. "Oh, but that TOO had! Sure. an I'm
sorry for yc, an on a night like his, too An
look 1t. Faith, an II | had an umbrella like that
Id know where 20 get q price fur it..
carefully. II did have the money five pennies;
but when Iidgot on the ear found that | had lost
IAN did the conductor put yc of fur a miscr.
able penny The dog
oh. he didn't put me of! ! got of" with
"WGil, | don't think any the better OF yc fur
doin' that same" said the old woman with great
"Good night. she said. " hope you'll strike
S" "ThnnE y I" taT capr you sa II yiHSS@ old tdfS Woman bcnovo.
lcntiy, IAN I hope yen do the same"
The Western woman had scarcely turned to
go when II thought struck her, Those four pen
nieS! OF what good were they Ia her That
poor, old, forlorn woman probably needed them.
SAY" She called; wait n minute"
They Splashcd toward each. other once moro,
pocket ~ She went. What In the world had got
into those pennies, any way III" could find
other inspiration. She shifted her umbrella to
the other shoulder and diycd into the other
old woman, whose hccry qualities were hc,om,
ing evident now that she WAS On the windwnrl
side, the Western Woman slowly drew her
as to get the light from the street lamp and
counted the totnl from the two hguls. one. two,
three, four, tyc! The hecry old woman was
waiting In u dcfcrcntial attitude. The Western
woman looked hNcily at the contents Of her out
stretched palm, those 1--WE pennies. which meant
n cable car ride home. hut the old woman hest.
tRtingly held out her own hand.
",Gawd bless yc, dear, she murmurcd in an
ticipation.
pennies were transferred. Then she turned
around and charged through the storm once
more, half laughing, half in the mood IN which n
man says things which are not encouraged in good
sOcirty. She hadn't gone twenty steps when she
heard n Noise behind her. She turned around,
ana there again was me old Woman, 7%lrnhlilS
along rs fast rs her awkward od bones would
carry her, and painting hrnkcnly, She was rather
shumcfaCcd as she %oyCrtOUk the Western women
underneath the street lamp.
"Gawd bless yn,' she gaspcd, but there's no
need in n lady like you H-wAlkin' home through
this here rain. There was 1--WE % them pennies
yc give me, an though do need help, that do
lapsing into IA wall, ITS not fur me 10 take the
last cent Of n kind.spokcn body like ycrsclf.
There was live pennies, an yen ride home this
night, Gawd bless yC!'
"I-I knew there wore five pennies, said the
Western woman. - found the Othor one In my
other pocket when | gave them 10 yuJ.'
We knoW i, said ne old woman III. aston
me an was goin' to walk home, oh, The saints
preserve yet sure an, YOU re one Yourself, that
ye are! Never ye mind me, ,dcaric,' she con
tinucd cOntdcntially, laying her hand on the
twinkle to the corner OF. her eye, Don't 20
hesitate on my account, IT'S a had night, but
sure an I've had worse luck In better weather.
and she shook her gown, so that the Western
woman caught the sound OF jingling coins,
Tho Ave pennies changed hands once more.
Good night said the Western woman again,
and thank you very, very much,
,s "nSnh mention IN iss, I'm duit said ssI ahs old sSrs an! be- :,
isn't every night one has the chance o. dom, SO
much good with five cents, and she waved her
hand Renially after the Western woman, who
was this time headed for the cable car.