Evening star., 1901-12-14

sobbed.
The woman on the. bed opened her eyes
madam she murmured in wonder, not
understanding.
Then Isabel recovered herself.
Child taking out her purse, "go this
moment. What are you standing there for,
doing nothing? Haste! Haste! Buy a
basket; bring back food-anything-foo
do you hear? bottle of wine-bread, cold
peer, what you can get-and Strawberries
there are Strawberries and cherries in the
market. Covent Garden is close at hand
Go this moment. Oh, how slow the girl isI
The money! forgot the money Here,
child Don't look at ME. Don't stare. Run"
She took the girl by the shoulders and
pushed her out of the room, for indeed the
girl seemed not to understand.
When she was gone Isabel turned to the
woman on the bed.
Your daughter" she said. has told me
that you were poor, but 1 was not prepared
for poverty such as this. Have you no
friends who can help your
Mu husband had tavern friends once:
they give him food still from time to time,
but their patience is exhausted. He mas
cousins and relations, too, but he has tired
them out. They will not help him any
more; they are tired Of helping him-and
Can he not find employment"
Alas madam, one who has been himself
In business knows too much to be employed
as a salesman. They will not have bank
rupt; they mistrust an unfortunate man.
Besides, they want young man, and nv
husbands character, 1 am ashamed to saw.
is gone. He has always been too fond OF
the tavern"
The woman's voice was soft and quiet,
and her manners better than one expects,
In such position.
Tell me-" said Isabel, about yourself"
L have nothing to tell, madam I had
Two cnlIoren-a prave boy and a good girl.
MY brave boy ran away from our misera-
BILE home and has gone off to sea: nv poor
girl is good still, thank God, but you have
seen her."
She is pretty girl; it is dangerous for
her to be In this poverty
The woman clasped her hands. .I have
but one prayer left" she said. '.I pray
daily that we may both starve, rather than
that she should yield to temptation
you must be taken out Of this Mace
said Isabel. you must be carried to a
lodging where you will have pure air and
clean house and"
Madam madam The woman
half-raised herself on her elbow I'm the
name Of God, who are you? Some angel,
sure Oh! It is three years since mtsfor-
tune fell upon us; no one has befriended us.
no one has visited us. A bankrupt and
bankrupt's wife are like two tainted sheen
in the flock. They tossed up a few shillines
at first, but they soon left us to our misery
and you-a stranger-f1nd us out-and YOU
She could say no more; she turned
her head upon the miserable sacking that
| made her pillow and she sobbed in silence.
Isabel stood watching her the tears roll
ing down her cheeks. This was her doing:
this was her handiwork; by her own wick
edness she had brought the poor woman to
this misery. Never before had she under
stood what the consequences of her act
might be. This woman, sinking deeper and
deeper into misery undeserved and she her
self living in luxury and comfort, her very
conscience quiet and still unmindful Of
what might happen!
Il thank God!" she murmured, but the
other did not understand, that / have
found YOU"
Then the girl returned with a basket
filled with the things she had bought. she
gazed with wonder at her benefactress.
Why, she was crying. However, Isabel
dried her tears and assumed a cheerfulness
which she did not feel.
'"The first thing,y said Isabel, "is to take
some food-both of you. What? There is
but one knife? We must provide two Of
least for the future. Meanwhile we must
make that one knife do. Only one plate?
Then, poor soul. you must have the plate
and your daughter must make a platter
OF bread. So, now, eat, drink and refresh
yourselves"
When the meal was finished. .Now.
child,'' said Isabel. come with me In
search Of lodgings We must find rooms
with a purer air-nearer the country-bet-
ter furnished Oh, be assured. we shall
take care of you"
They found lodgings easily in one of the
new houses beside the Founding HOSPITAL.
a quarter which is close to the green fields
and the country, where the air is fresh and
there are no crowds; It Is place remote.
from the busy parts of the town and from
the amusements-the theater, the garden
the taverns the coffee houses-yet for
such an one as this poor woman. who
wanted, above all things, rest and freedom
lodgings could be found.
Isabel, in her pity for SO much misery