The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-02-26
f he took money it was a gift for kind


ness.
''Wfii you come upstairs and see your
room, Miss Armstrong. before 1 goes
about and gets your supper for your ex-
claimed Miss Bax.
"Have you got no baggage" inquired
old Bax. jerking the kitten on to the ia
BILE
1T will follow me to London" said Miss
Armstrong, and she rose and went up
stairs with Miss Bax.
Hardy sat down upon the sofa and Bax
went to work to lay the cloth. There
was plenty of room at that little table for
two. Bax had been gardener in great
family, and had often helped the coach
man, the footman and the butler to wait
He possessed some good old-fashioned
table apparel and before Miss Armstrong
returned the room looked bright and hos
pitable with the light of an oil lamp re-
fected in cutlery, glass and cruet stand.
Julia entered and Bax walked out. She
went and sat beside Hardy. and the
lovely Persian kitten sprang into her lap.
Her hair was as beautiful as her figure,
and her gray eyes were full of heart and
meaning. You could not have called her
pretty, yet you were sensible of a charm
in her face that had nothing to do with
the shape of her nose or the character of
her mouth.
Much; I never thought to find myself
stopping night here. OF course. 1 have
been the means Of your losing your
train?"
Tomorrow will do just as WE'LL he an
swered. where did you mean to sleep
when you got to London tonight?"
81 should have found room," she an
swered.
"Win they send on your luggage If you
write for ft?''
Father WILL" she replied. Eyes, he will
do that, but he will not write to ask me
to return. He does not care what be-
comes of me. He never cared what 1 did
when 1 left his house to I'LL a situation"
| Her nostrils enlarged, her eyes looked
angry. A little blood visited her pale
cheek. Hardy's memory pictured her
father; a middle sized man with pale,
weak eyes, a ehuckfing laugh like the CUR
gle of liquor, much reference to his ships
and to naval things in general. large
Micawber-like Indifference to his existing
circumstances. and a quality of talkative-
ness about outside matters, such as the
queen, the trouble at Pekin, the discovery
of the North Pole, which would make you
think that he did not know what home
worries were.
"Bax," said Hardy. may covertly send
along to let them know you are here"
what of that?" she exclaimed. eff
they were to send twenty men they would
have to drag me to move me. I would
| not set foot In that house again If my
stepmother lay dead In the gutter oppo-
site the door. It is my fathers fault
She bit her lip. stroked the kitten and
said, oh, It Is hard upon girl to have
bad father-a weak, selfish, foolish
father"
Here Bax came again with tumbler
full Of autumn flowers. He placed them
in the middle of the table and went out,
looking nowhere, ais IL he walked in his
sleep. but whilst the door lay open they
heard the splitting of the frying-pan.
What are you going to do when you
get to London?" said Hardy.
81 mean to find situation on board
a ship" she answered.
What situation do you expect to f1nd?"
81 shall try to get q post as steward
ess. or as an attendant upon a sick per-
son. / cannot pay my passage out even
| In the steerage, therefore must work.
/ Now, Miss Armstrong, said Hardy.
stroISing the kittens head on her lap,
sit is impossible for me to be rude to you
because I want to be. and mean to be.
your friend" She looked at him swiftly,
any question I may put to you. How
much money have you got?''
Seven pounds. twelve shillings and
-; she drew out little purse, opened
it, counted some coppers. and added,
'feurpence."
What is that money going to do for
you in Lendon?" said Hardy, after
pause Of pity.
''It will support me-" she answered,
until I have obtained a situation on
board a ship"
situations for girls on board ships are
very few" said he. what part Of the
world do you want to sail fort"
Anywhere, anywhere" she replied.
'.Rut 1t must be to some place where
can get living"
cit would not do to sail to China" he
exclaimed. india doesn't provide much
for people whose wants are yours 1t
must be the Great Pacific colonies.
Aren't there agents and institutions
which help young girls to get away
across the sea? This We will inquire into
when we arrive In London"
She looked at him gratefully and waA
about to speak, but was interrupted by
Miss Bax, who staggered in with a ira,
load.
cTo Be Continued Next Weekly