New-York tribune., 1902-12-17
RY CLIFFORD MILLS.

'can see through brick wall
We'll did I say how He couldn'tf-I hopes ne
enjoys HisseIf,' and Maria's brown eyes nasheo
defiance at the strip Of sky above. Seems TO me-
II 1 God Almighty, I'd find somethink pet
ter do than a-spying at folks through orlcA
walls
1T amt spying" objected Liza.
Well waht do you call it. thenT'
Liza pursed her lips pr1ully. Her regular at
! tendance at the Sunday school was well known 70
the inhabitants Of the slum in which she lived. ana
the burden OF her reputation pressed upon her az
! Marias defiant but eager gaze sought her face
! But her Christianity was but Sunday garo' that
left her naked weekdays
| "'Tain't spying" she refeated feebly II foiKs
! is bad, then Gawd what they are up TO- even
| through brick WALL and when they dies he sehoS
! 'em hell
Maria flung back her head and shook her name
! of tangled curls. THAT amt news" she saio
/ scornfully: "I knowed that years ago. But ah
a-going to give Him the trouble of looking at me
| through a brick wall; am a-gotng to De oao
where He just see me, stralght-theFe'
Liza experienced delicious little thrill OF OUT
! ragged propriety as her companion spoke; she nao
| not credited the long enduring Maria with re-
bellion
"Just YOU wait minute" Maria cried ominously.
| as regardless of danger she dashed across the
| narrow street in time toddlng oaDy
! boy from the wheels of a passing milkcart- Sne
| brought him screaming and kicking INTO saieS'
! and set him down at her feet.
worn look her young face. "One can't LOOK
| round, but he's off; sometimes I feels Mt TO XIII
! him"
.sMyI you are bad girl" gasped Liza exultins-
| ly, regarding her companion with e1peclan. essa
Maria's growing impiety was a oyword In Ihe
slum but to none did it afford such entertainment
| as the sanctimonious Liza
Maria wiped the babys face with his pinafore.
| YES" she said coolly. I'm bad-I knows am;
but"-and she turned and looked scorn1uliy at her
| inf what i 8-SOlng
! to be-
| MY goodnessr' gurgled Liza with round eyes
Maria watched the baby with anxiety until his
| unsteady bowed legs carried him to the family
| threshold YES" she said, IT don't mind telling
yer am tired Of this 'ere-I am a-gons to run
| away
"Ior'' cried Liza with a little of horror.
| glancing at her companion. Within the memory
| of the Quest child in the slum Maria had never
| been known before to shirk the dreary round OF
| duty that her lot.
Maria shufied her feet uneasily on the pavement
| and patch of color burnt on her cheek yes.
| she said doggedly, without lifting her eyes, an
| other baby come last night" and she jerked her
| head toward the door where the twelve-months-
old boy sat in the dirt on the threshold. another
| baby to worrit all day and screech all night I'm
/ sick OF 'em!"
| Maria lifted her head and met 'Lzas puzzled
| squint regarding her. "Goodby," she said care
Iessy; '1 don't suppose as I'll see you again afore
| 1 CO."
"Goodby." Liza answered. with sanctimonious
| sniff.
| Maria walked a few steps to the house. then she
| turned 'If you split me- she exclaimed, with
| sudden ferceness IN wiring your neck"
| 81 amt a-going to- Liza gasped regarding her
companion with shifting. frightened eyes as she
ran off
| The new baby lay crying the tumbled bed, its
| putty red fists entreating the empty air. Its
mother. deaf to its entreaties. was sleeping the
heavy sleep of exhaustion. rendered the deeper by
| three-pen'orth of gin supplied by a sympathetic
| neghbor.
With imperturbable countenance Maria stood
| looking down the pair Her heart lay ike a
stone in her breast unstrred by any emotions.
For full five minutes she stood in silence, then she
| gave odd little laugh. and bent down over the
whimpering babe .You a little fool to come
! here she said-"a gal, too: oh. q little
| fooli'
| The sight of Maria that evening walking down
the street without the inevitable baby in her arms
| occasioned many remarks, not always fnaudible,
| from the neghbors- But Maria paid little heed
At the end of the street girl Of sixteen Marias
senior by a year. stood in doorway arranging
| the bedraggled feathers OF a gaudy hat Her
| cheeks painted to a. poppy red At sight of
Maria she gave little start, and horrtd CLEAN OF
satisfaction shone In her eyes Soon the neighbors
| would have other tales to tell each other-she
! would not be the only
| Meantime Maria continued her way. Her hat
was battered, her boots shocking. Her dress, faded
and stained and long since ou~SroWn, displayed an
undue length Of limbs. To conceal the shortcom-
ings of her bodice she had folded her breast
a cotton Paisley handkerchief
Whenever her appearance attracted immoderate
! attention from passersby, Maria's immediate re-
taliation grimace- 1t was grtulace she
prided herself upon. and both startling and
terrible to beholders. a finish about IL
that truly appalling, for she had practised 1t
| upon the many babies entrusted to her care. and
had found 1t useful and effectual in reducing them
| to quietude when more ordinary courses failed
| But Marias peregrinations Gyere not taken hap
| hazard. The moon looked down that night
| through the trees of st. James's Park, and found
| Maria sitting the borders of the lake there.
! She had had some trouble in evading the Wig
| lance of the authorities at first, but there was
little to fear after nightfall The solitary keeper
| whose duty it to that all right. was
not given inspect too closely where the shadows
in the darkness. but Maria had not felt alarm She
| knew 1t but one of those Door vagrants who
the moon shone out turning the place into fairy
as6 she q T f enh %R head over the % and
called pet names TO the sleepy dqcklngs; then.
and stockings and dipped her tired, dusty little
feet in the cool. clear water Presently from pm.
Of bread and bottle Of Of milk The fiI milk was
ing. Maria being bad to the hest of her
But excitement had robbed her of her appetite
and she soon her attention to the other
s6hy o5 black hfF d gloves arf Feat
as she contemplated them Her new acquisitions
merous funeral parties that occurred in their
street Many time had Maria left at home with
| these same, and to wear them had been the desire
After a moment of rapturous contemplation she
took up the bonnet and with i ga gasp of G delight g
! This done, she put on the gloves They were
| but She buttoned each button with care and de
| liberation; then pursng her lips demurey. leaned
! But the satisfaction obtained from her unlaw-