The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1900-02-17

"Handy-I didn't think you would re-
member it, he said, blushing little at
the speech.
s'0h, but l did remember you, and
your name was on the tip of my tongue.
| hope you have had no trouble about that
wretched bill"
"There isn't much to tell you, and yet
l thought you would like to hear it, he
explained.
81 should like it very much,' said
Kate, encouragingly: sit was very good
of you to look me up. am sure. Ion
ly wish you had come little earlier, and
had found me at home But now | have
an appointment | shall have to keep
Perhaps if you could walk little way
with me you might tell me your news -
THANK you" responded Handy, with
trace Of relief in his tone, for he had
dreaded call at house where he imag
ined he might be regarded as an intruder.
81 sent the bill away-to town in the
East, where | used to live. 1t is still in
the hands of the person to whom sent it.
| haven been able to get it back yet, but
will pretty soon. Besides, as am sure
it is genuine, won't you please let me pay
back what you gave meY'
HReally, cannot consent to that so
long as there is a shadow of doubt. My
father says it is counterfeit, and he's an
authority"
They had reached corner, and Handy,
she saw clearly, was meditating retreat
down the side street, now that his proffer
had been made and declined. Such a
course did not suit her at ALL
"I am very glad to hear that you have
traced the bill, she went on, hurriedly.
Besides, | want to ask favor. Can
you not come with me little further?'
Handy abandoned his idea of flight with
commendable alacrity, and as they walked
on Kate made her request
''Our church society," she explained,
''has agreed to help some poor people.
We had list of families given us, but the
other girls captured them all, and none
was left for me. / don't think it fair to
sit by idly, do you? And I thought that
possibly you might know of some case in
which l could do something"
"Just now l can't help you,' he an
swered, regretfully. 'You know I've
been here but short time. l came to
this city to be a salesman. l had good
place, but the firm cut down expenses and
| lost it. Then / was out in the cold till
got work on the toad, and since then
I've made few acquaintances. 1t seems
very lonesome sometimes.
~ should think it would" said Kate,
sympathetically She believed she under
stood the case thoroughly young man
fresh from country town, forced to labor Of
an uncongenial sort, surrounded by persons
with whom he had little in common. Per-
haps she could do something for him; it
might be that right here was work ready
to her hand, work fully as useful as supply
ing the needs of some improvident claimant
for charity. Surely it was better to aid
brave youth in gallant fight against
adverse fate than to succor some craven
who would not even attempt the battle.
His fallen fortunes had not made Han
dy morose or Respondent. Looking at
him out of the corner of her eye Kate
realized that he promised to be an attrac-
tive protege. He was quite presentable;
he had his share of good looks, and, though
his garments were far from new, and their
cut suggested their rural origin, they had
vet to reach the stage of shabbiness.
Moreover, there was boyishness about
him which Miss Mason found pleasing,
and which, in her own mind, gave ample
excuse for taking him under her protecting
wing Undoubtedly, he could, if he
would, find many openings for the charita
BILE work of the Young Ladies' Society
among the poorer classes, with which he
would be more or less identified so long as
he remained in the employ of the railway
company.
''I think, Mr.. Handy" Kate urged,
''you could be great help to us. 1t
would do you good to look about among
the people who need assistance. You
could assist us in picking out the really
deserving cases; why, there's no end of
the things you could do. You see our
congregation" she interrupted herself.
''But perhaps, you belong to some other
church p
~ used to go to church regularly-in
the country, said Handy, "but here
it s different somehow. What with Sun
day work and-well, you know, fellow
when he's down on his luck likes to lie
low. 1t seemed to me that afterward |
wouldn't want too many folks to know
what I'm doing now, although I'm not
ashamed of it. -
''There' no reason why you should be,
said Kate, warmly ''Now, Mr.. Handy,
if you have time, | should be very glad to
see you at our church-St. Matthew s.
Sunday night. think you will like the
service, and after it is over we can talk
about our charity work. Remember, |
shall look for you. .
The organist of St. Matthews was play
ing the congregation out of church after
the Sunday evening service, when Kate
saw her new acquaintance again. He was
standing along in the space behind the
pews, watching the INES OF people moving
down the aisles. She went up to him at
once.
81 am SO glad you are here, was her
cordial greeting. "Didn' t. you like the
music /? We think it is the best in the
city. And our rector is such dear; didn t
his sermon please you? And have you
any poor families for me? We can take
care of two or three more, for we've
several new members.
ssI have found two families, said the
young man. ''Both of them are desper-
ately hard-up, and too proud to ask assist
ance. But they'll accept it, no doubt, if
it comes to them, have brought their ad-
dresses"
He gave her slip of paper.
s'That's good beginning. Iknew you
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