Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1898-10-01

The miller cast look at him and
slouched Off beating his boot with his
whip. The netmaker raised bis head,
and Marshall saw that his eyes were
sightless-
Where can find lo6ging?' que
ried the homeless man
The netmaker resumed his mendinS
That depends on what you call lodg-
ing. By your voice you re a gent
e" call lodging what you call lodg-
ing, interrupted Marshall
"Pollyw screamed the netmaker
with alacrity. ''Polly. come a-herer'
What you WANT cried an irritable
voice inside ''El there YETI
Putty way 70 answer your gran ia
Their. What you mean? Tain FL He's
went Come and SEQ what / want
Here's gent that'll take the second
story front often your hands.
In the doorway stood plain. pallid
faced girl of medium height and frail
| figure, a mass of unkempt. ash colored
hair blowing about her head
IL you come see the room, then?'
! said she, with startling abruptness.
"I'n engage it without seeing it. - re-
turned Marshall, ON the defensive.
She looked at him oddly, her light
blue eyes doubtful She reached and
took his bag out of his hand
81 cannot, he said in a tone of voice
which would have made those who knew
him Taught cannot on any account
| permit you to carry my bag"
The blind grandfather guffawed-
'She's stronger n she looks, - he said
"She's made a quick bargain bout the
room. Let her carry the bag"
Marshall bore it in and ON to the
second story 'front.'" Polly toiling up
the stairs back of him.
He took in the meagerly furnished
| apartment.
81 wonder if L am in my sphere
now?" he murmured-
"Whaten:"
He had forgot Polly. He turned and
| found her regarding him
Il do not need you," he said
THANK you for carryin the bag she
stammered and was gone
Strange to say, her words startled
| Marshall HE had discovered something
for the first time in his life-a girl was
| grateful to him that he had recognized
his physical strength as superior to her
own.
He soon had occasion to ascertain that
no one considered her weaker than the
strongest. Not her blind grandfather,
who, sitting by the door weaving his
| nets, babe her bring in loads of wood,
aud the like. which would have been
enough for two such as she; not Ell
Drear, the moon faced miller to whom
she had plighted herself, but whom she
refused to marry in the coming June,
although in the winter she had prom
ised to do so.
Somehow me and her gran daddy
CANT make her do it nohow, +" said the
miller TO Marshall when he had poured
into the city mans ears the story of his
woes after that same city man had with
much freedom asked the lover the mean
ing of n very noticeable GOODNESS ON the
part of the lady of his choice.
81 CANT make herr' her grandfather
cried It'll be the first time, then.
Didn't make her see your points, Ell?
Her go ag' in me, indeedp'
Here was a tragedy. In the presence
of tragedy all men are equal Marshall
had found his sphere. He looked over
at Polly gathering vegetables in the
garden, sunbonnet obscuring her face,
and she was the heroine of the tragedy.
Good for that, he would study the hero
inc. He did So in his desultory fashion.
He watched her for several weeks. All
at once it dawned upon him that he
had seen her before he had come to her
home
''MercifuI powers" he exclaimed,
"were she and I affinities in some pre-
vious state of existencei''
'Mr. Marshall" said she one day,
when, smoking his cigar, he stood out
side the kitchen window leaning ON the
sill, she ironing inside, I'm obliged to
tell you somethin- was to Katco, and
one time I saw you givin the children
money"
Her face was red, perhaps from her
labors He recollected the passing Of
the serious girl at Katco-that, then,
was the previous state of existence 1t
was disappointing
Upon my word, Polly" said he,
ST rather thought you were not IN
known to me remembered you with
out being able to place you"
Ibid you now" she asked excitedly,
really and truly?''
Really and truly" he answered SOL
emnly, land 1 am sorry that it was at
no anterior date to Katco. And now I'll
tell you why 1 am lettering outside
your window like an ancient knight
Mr.. Drear has taken me into his conf
dence. He is unhappy and on your ac-
count. That is very cruel of you, Polly,
to make unhappy those who love you 1"
She let the iron slide across the table
aud confronted him with folded arms.
Ibid he dare to tell you to come to
me?" she demanded.
81 have found my sphere indeed, !"
Marshall murmured, knocking the ash
from his cigar, "when Polly accuses me
of being Mr.. Drear's best friend and
perceives no incongrnity in that fact. :"
"What do you say?" she asked "Are
you maxim fun of me?''
No longer fierce, she had dropped,
was leaning drearilv rDon the ironing