The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-05-28
guess it was another boy. m'm." said the

guess it was another boy, m'm." said the
boy
"Oh, mol" cried Jennie Il am sure I
know the-coat and The oueer--I beg your
pardon-I mean quaint cap But, II you'd
let me see your face more clearly, IL I've
made mistake l saw your face when
you fell the other day, you know"
The newsboy gave startled glimpse up,
and so jerkcd the queer dirty cap that a
tumble of short curly hair fell from its
ties, beneath the head covering. Jennie
gasped. The boy--the boy wore certainly
the neither garments of boy, but he broke
into torrent OF tears, budding down in
his corner, which assured the amazed Mass
Jennie that he wasn't boy at all but
girl Only a girl could weep In that way.
Down went Jennie's magazine, poem for
gotten; down went JennIe's pocket-book.
The cheque forgotten; down went good lit
tie Jennie herself In the corner, her tears
at once flowing in sympathy.
you poor little thing" cried Jennie,
what are you doing mere. dressed Ike
that?"
"Di-Di-Dicks H. and can't walk, an
an'-dad made me Gomez
But your dress!''
Girls amt lowed 10 sell papers. so
dad told me to wear Dt-Di-Dick's clos"
rs Dick yer mr.
He's dyingr' came out with a wall.
Jennie trembled, gathering her purse
and magazine together. She had made
money by selling the misery of a dying
child-a child who had no money. Jennie
trembed and then she picked up the little
girl and took her hand and said:
Let us go and see and comfort Dick"
H.
What would papa have said, shortly
expected home for dinner? What would
the Mortified dearest friends have said,
chatting merriy in cozy parlors and eat
ing candy? What indeed, would every
body have said " they had seen the
daughter Of the bank secretary walking
in the dusky, dirty back streets, comfort
ing very little boy who was only pre-
tense OF boy, anyway. All! well! Miss
Jennie's conscience was ner own, and
she had made up her mind now about who
owned that check, whose misery and
sickness gave the little poem birth She
walked on with her head In the air, and
an athletic, touch-me-not grace which.
perhaps, basket ball had assisted nature
to give. She was a remarkably, straight.
erect, and determined young lady when
she was set upon a thing, and even her
big brother Ia the bank was aware of the
solidity Of her biceps
They came 10 a tenement building and
arose up narrow stairs. The little news
paper girl Dantingly followed Miss Jen-
MES footsteps In passage they halted.
Where are your rooms, dear? Where
are Dfck's?' asked Miss Jennie
We've only one" said the child. and
they entered it., and in an instant Miss
Jennie was on her knees by a mattress
on The floor where the boy lay. with
gaunt face and lean limbs, and a piteous
crying in his eyes for relief-for death.
Jennie did not notice starved looking
woman at a washtub. who cried out In
amazement al her entrance She did not
see the horrible squalor. She saw bur the
boy, and he looked up and wondered that
anyone should weep for him. il had never
occurred before, save when the occasional
tears Of his mother fell she who longed
as much as he TO have relief-to have Il
all over and done with.
Dick, poor Dlck" cried Miss Jennie.
81 was very wicked. Do you remember?
l saw you weak and stagger and fan and
Il made money by telling people about
it-instead of helping you. lit feels like
blood money. Take it--take It ALL dear
Dick, and I'll ask papa Cor more / gave
some of 1t away-your money. My poor
boyl'
The door swung open and a man STUN
bed in. the master OF this household the
lord of this hearth. He was dirty; he was
tlpsy he was vile At the sight, Jennie
jumped back against the WALL for a mo-
ment In a sickness OF dread. The mother
simply stayed IN open mouthed paralysis,
by her tub The girl ran behind her moth
er. The sick boy rocked as IL he hoped this
scene might end the drama. The mans
eyes, magnetic, flashed at once upon the
money.
Where did you get that?" he cried,
staggering ereedIly forward. GIVE ii
here"
The boy did not secnf to care, but the
wife cried out feebly. The man turned on
her.
"Ain't I keepin this houseY' he growied.
Come. I'll take charge OF the house
keeping money"
1T is not yours
The words came from Jennie-very low,
very firm. The man turned and faced de-
termined young giri, white as death. trem-
bling, but trembling only with disgust and
rage. The man sourly sneered at her and
made nearer TO the silver dollars.
Dare not touch II! It is not yoursl /
have heard of such as you. You are horrI-
be-you would rob your dying boyi Dare
not touch It."
She put out brave, strong arm. push
ing him back and the man. suddenly flu
rious, struck at her. Swiftly Jennie avoid
ed the blow-thanks to basketbaIl--and in
her righteous wrath she seized a little stool
near by, and struck down on him so that
he fell, Bleeding. Then she picked up
Dlck-like a father-and ran, ran through
the streets 10 her own and right into the
arms Of her father on the porch, coming
home from dinncr.
Daddy, OH daddy" she cried. take
him in He's sick, and he's itl'
my poeml Don't you understand? He's
The poem! He gave me the check, the
money. OH Daddy, If you let him die
III never kiss you AGAIN.
With queer disturbed face the bank
secretary carried them both into the
house, and sought out mamma
TITS outrageousl" cried mamma "The
boys dying OF consumption. We can't
keep him here. He may linger for months,
for years With proper care"
II want him to live for years." said Jen-
nit "Daddyr'
And when Jennie said 'paddyg mamma
knew she must yield