Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1901-02-14
The Old ual ACROSS the Hall
Ry ROSE HARTwIcK THORPE.

"How delicious they are, Jennie!
They remind one of the dear old farm
in Hillsdale."
Maggie Wells dropped a large, pur-
Mo grape between her rosy lips, and
her brown eyes took on dreamy look
as she thought of the farm among the
bills
She was just about plucking an
other grape from the stem, when she
looked up suddenly, and said:
81 wonder if the old man across the
hall wouldn't like some of these
grapes? He seems worse than ever
tonight"
Poor old man. replied Jennie, with
a ready sympathy shining in her blue
eyes. 1T is bad enough to be poor, ;"
she added, with a troubled glance
about the bare little room she occupied
in company with this other poor girl,
who, like herself, was trying to make
a living at corset-making in Nine.
DanfOrd'S rooms.
The rooms were not sitting, and the
two country girls missed the freedom
Of their old life and the fresh breeze
sadly.
1T is bad enough to be poor" she
repeated, thoughtfully; ''but to be old
and sick, too 1t must be dreadful!
say Maggie, I'll donate my share
Of this poor little Saturday-night treat
10 my sick neighbour"
"And I'll give all of mine, except
The two I've already eaten," said Mag
We, laying the bunch Of tempting
grapes back on the plate. "And be-
cause | have eaten of them, will vol
unteer to carry these in to him."
wouldn't venture into the room,
maggie said Jennie, with anxiety.
lie srOanS and takes ON so terribly
mat he may be very cross"
l believe he has the gout," said
Maggie as she spread the grapes out
I'LL the table, turning the freshest and
WOSl tempting side uppermost.
Nhat makes you think sop
lie couldn't be so dreadfully sick
every night as he is, and be able to
81 ABOUT the next day, with anything
eSe. Besides, you know, l met him
n Tue hall one day, and he was hob
'His along, so feeble that | have
"'i' wanted TO do something for him
ever since"
Mell' Maggie, see that you don't
t naae MN angry by your kindly in
sI'oi'S' cautioned Jennie. IF he
-S w TIE govt, he is sure to be irritable. ,
s. a"ssle was brave enough until she
sl., stepped INTO the hall, and had
,''Seu The door between herself an6
W., then her heart began to fail
m1. sue almost wished she had moi
pa ,s''Aen to do this kindly act.
~ uuaps he m ght consider her in
% hoo S' oU' at any rate she would MOI
sA, 10 be laughed at by Jennie.
y prolonged groan from the room
tan Jss the hall found it's way to he]
Courage ''' ie'''eu nef naggins
manu- sFppns hastily across to the ole
nomon. "Oot' she raped, without {
cOn,ona hesitation in which to LOSE
and a. from within babe her enter
thar - sDe opened the door she noticed
sod = "e room Was in semi-darkness
larps S@il'ary figure was sitting in ,
H.r tu"F by the table.
BE- ,ota s accomplished her errand
Rart1e %Valed to her own room. a littl,
hs ber at her presumption in enter
but bnor. sr""Se neighbours apartment
BAD bean 10y glad that the first cal
itle kin,I made. and a way opened TO,
The r,s I' acts in the future.
bebins H'olnent she had closed the doc
brps a . her, the occupant of tina
lulsoa N,''' arose to his feet and in
-s H. IN low, but hearty. laugh.
Eterls ss her dear little heart,5 h,
ID ''1 He'd She thinks | am old an,
FNr "' Na' Hello, George, is tina
Eepn, ooo'-knob turned; the doc
aa The ap ra and a Young man steppe,
pt tba ! IN this moment. George. rv
Fr n a6. choicest bit of romane ss to tel
pap.s %V r;l.. 1t all comes of I1ncl
b ap s.sl, to my den here the othe
Tho G :, elocution"
on, ,o aea of Your taking this horri,
Iassf f4 ~ said George ,'1 h eT,hn
: teEer tS to a chair and cigar i 1T,
: Iop ligb imam n, L. pocket here. Why don,
j. are thu pat patience, my dear fellow
gAt up n Darkness, You know: but r,