The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1900-01-11

this timer
Starving" was the answer, spoken
with hollow laugh.
MARY
"But YOU mustn't call me Mary
Ballard any more-that's not my
name. am married-married to
poor young engraver on wood, who
is dying OF consumption"
But your fathe r?''
. He is dead-and my rich uncles
renowned me when | married one
who was neither wealthy nor aristo-
cratic But | must not stop to talk.
am taking home some tailor work
that | earn 40 cent Il day by working
buttonholes on. Forty cents a day.
It's a great sum. isn't it, when rent
and food and medicine have all to be
paid out of it. Good-by, Kitty; I'm
sorry met you. | don't want to
overshadow your bright face with
the gloom of my own
And she would have passed on. but |
Kitty resoutely held her hand
Tell me where you live, Mary; !
will go home with YOU
Mary turned around.
The buttOn-hOles can wait | shall |
not receive my pay until Saturday |
night, in any event. Yes, come home |
with me. | get so little SYMPATHY |
nowadays that | cannot afford to
put away the offered hand of any
one
So the spoiled child went into the
dreary precincts of tenement-house
and stood face to face with death and
famine.
Henry Ford had been trying to
work, but hand and eyes alike refus-
ed to obey the dictates of the treless
brain. The tiny tools and satin
smooth block of wood lay beside him
on a coarse pine table and he sat
with closed eyes, SO still. that Kitty
involuntarily exclaimed:
My God, he is deadn'
no, he is not. the wife answered
going softly to him. He often looks4
so, when he is weary"
And in the same second he opened
his eyes with faint smile.
You have come back, my guard
an angel, said he-and Mary made
haste to introduce her friend,
Il have been asleep he resumed.
Il dreamed | was eating and drink
ing wine, and fruit and jellies, Oh. thu
anguish of waking
God help us!'' groaned the poor
wife, wringing her hands. I'VE arr
starving and he dreams of such
things as this,'
Starving, Mary once more ech-
oed Kitty
Mrs. Ford opened IA drawer anG
pointed to the crust of bread.
That's all we have" said she
That's all we shall have until to-
morrow night. | can eat it. soaked
in a little water. but he-he has the
appetite of an invalid and
dry bread is certainly not aninvitin@
diet" with a Earring laugh
MARY, sobbed Kitty Kane, cling
ing around herfriend neck. i never
dreamed of restitution and misery
like this. Here, take my money
spend it, and she put her purse into
Mary's wan hand. My God. and
not an hour ago | was repining be
cause | could not waste it in silks and
aces and gew-gaws.'
Mary Ford looked eagerly at the
bills.
Ten dollars, Ten dollars" she
gasped, feebly as she looked down AT
5he crumpled bits of paper ''Do YOU
mean all this for me?''
Take it,
"God bless you, Kitty" said Mary
Ford, with a choking sob in her
jhroat ITO me it is more than ten
thousand would have been two years
ago" .
"And l will go home" Kitty added Ii
for some wine and Jelly. end delicate
such as invalids like. l will
lot be gone long, dear Mary" hi
Kitty Kane did not go to the par 81
~. She spent no time on flounces .s
md furbelows. All her leisure hours 81
we're devoted to the sad necessity OF a.
her friends. Of
The evening after the party Mr.. II p,
Fordyce called. q
You were not at Mrs Porter's last e. e,
night" he said, when the first greet q
ngs We're excha.. sed. s.
NO X
But know whele you were. Kitty. 81
never felt toward you as l felt when ii
he poor SICK man in the tenement .
house told mo how you had been an $
angel of merry and tenderness to him r.
and hist d,
How did you happen to know :: 8
him. Kitty asked coloring Il
"A friend, a benevolent old clergy q
man desired me to go there. They d
need help said he. All Gods chill >,
lren should help one another You i