The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1898-09-16

After some struggling the man stood
at the window. The light from across
the opposite street cast a faint glow on
the wall and window, and she could see
that his face was fairly livid and his
eyes bright and staring. The cup
would not go through the bars until
she had bent its rim, he watching her
eagerly. He emptied it thirstily twice.
"You mustn't have any MORE" she
said warningly. Here is a cloth wet
in the cold water. Rub your face and
it will refresh you"
II believe you've saved my life," he
murmured. 81 felt myself sinking
away with every breath till I heard
your voice."
81 heard you come up the alley with
the policeman" whispered Molly, land
I knew you told the truth. I am so
sorry"
"Well, you're blessed womaD!" said
he, fervently. Both for believing the
story of an unfortunate man, and for
thinking to bring me the water. I'm a
respectable farmer, from IL miles
west of Veneering ,and it's true about
the sunstroke. He found me lying on
the ground, and of course took me for
drunk. have money enough to make
some one smart for this-only there's
the disgrace of the police court in the
morning"
| Dizzy and weak, he leaned against
the bars and groaned at the thought.
"If you've friends in town, maybe /
could see some one for you tonight,
whispered Molly, timidly.
The man Strengthened himself. 'The
very ideal" he exclaimed. go to DR..
Roberts, on Fourteenth and Locust
streets. He treated me last month
when l was sick. Here's the envelope
he addressed to me himself when he
receipted my bill. Give it to him and
| tell him about this"
Before he had tine to say more,
Molly seized the envelope and slipped
away. The young man felt his way to
the shelf-like berth in the corner and
sat down to rest. Somehow, the dark
ness did not seem so intense as it had
| before, nor did he feel exhausted. The
cold water had refreshed him, the
kindly words of the little Samaritan
had strengthened him. His heart felt
warm when he thought of her.
| In less than an hour he heard tap
ping on the bars. This time he did not
have to crawl along the floor to reach
the window.
"Dr. Roberts was very angry" she
whispered, "and went to headquar-
ters to see about your case. He says
that he'll bring the officers right away.
I'm so glad. Good-by."
"But watt" said the prisoner. "Tell
me your name. want to know whom
to thank for this great service"
I'm only Molly Britts," she whis-
pered, "and I work for Mrs. Revell
across the alley. You're welcome, I'm
sure, but it's not likely you'll ever see
me again.
"But I'd like to know why won't, !"
was the answer. Sam just to forget
all this? John Derring is his own mas
ter, and he'll probably see you before
he leaves town tomorrow"
| "But-but-I don't want you to see
me-" answered she, glad that the dark
hid her bushes.
"Why?" he urged.
"Oh-because I'm so-ugly!" whis-
pered Molly, in agonized confusion
that made the brand on her cheek
burn and throb.
"Oh!" laughed the young man soft
ly, tone of relief in his voice. you'll
have to let me be the judge of that.
Shake hands till tomorrow" as Mol
| ly's work-hardened little hand slipped
through the bars into his warm clasp,
"and take my God bless you along
with you. Good night"
Molly hurried away just as the po-
licemen with their lanterns turned
into the alley. From her window in
the rear Of the house she watched the
group of men out Of sight, on their way
from the Jail, turned to look at herself
In the mirror moment, and then went
to bed to cry herself to sleep and to
dream of feverishly bright eyes and
dark curly hair.
John Derring, pale from his expert
ence of the night before, stood before
Molly In the kitchen the next morn
ing. She blushed and quivered painful
ly, but not by the tremble of an eye
lash did he show that he saw the throb-
bing mark on her face, and from that
moment she worshiped him. Three
months later she stepped out one
morning, clad in modest gray, and
went with him TO the nearest parson-
age, where they were married, much
to Mrs. Revell's dismay and disgust,
that lady giving speech to some of her
burning thoughts on ingratitude.
The once forlorn, heart-starved lit
tie woman is a merry, lovable and be-
loved wife now, and the red mark, that
was the heaviest burden of her early
years, is fading, since, secure in her
husbands love and admiration, she has
ceased to be conscious of it. On a cab
met in their parlor stands q little tin
cup, curiously bent and battered, a
souvenir, so John laughingly tells Mol
ly. of her "jail bird."-Ladies' World.
| In Other Days.
what wheel do you ride now, Bear
ings?"
'The same as always. only this years
make"
| "And your wife?"
| "Oh! she is riding some sort of chean