Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1902-05-24

Her maiden aunt had all day been
sounding In her ears the praises of
certain modest young man aud her
maiden heart had rebelled. because 1t
is very hard on girl to listen patient.
ly to what others take for granted
and she Is very uncertain about.
She had no way of knowing that he
cared more than other men for her.
He called and was a jolly good fellow,
full of fun, entertaining and good to
look at. He had never even limited at
anything other than a warm friendship
for her. or course she was fond Of
him: so were the other girls. but he
had a way of dancing more with them
and Of sitting out OH the steps with
them between dances. and when she
had first dared to favor him ut the
cotillon he had grown SO white ana 81
lent that she never did 1t again.
She had been shopping downtown,
and 1t was after her hour for getting
home. The car was crowded. An OLD
gentleman, a friend Of her father, had
given her a seat. 4 few blocks be-
yond he had said goodnight ana LETT
her alone. She was good deal fright.
ened In the crush, when the young
man appeared. helping Il very drunken
man, bearing a baby In his arms, onto
the car. She saw him step on the toes
of big fat man who was taking TOO
much room. until he. being afraid to
fight, got of the car. Then she saw
him force the drunken man into the
seat, where, maudlln and pathetic, he
crooned to his baby.
Then he saw her aud flushed erin
son, for she did not bow. She was too
angry to believe that he might be play.
ing the part of the good samaritan.
She looked him straight In the eyes
without a sign OF recognition. Then
he was white as he was that night NJ
tue cotllon when she favored him ana
he did not seem to understand. And
he was handsome, as he was that
night. The seat next To the drunken
man was vacated. His broad shout
ders kept a too eager occupant from
the seat.
Nora" he said. speaking to her, Just
as IL she had been his sister or his
wife. sit here and take the baby.
am afraid to do 1t myself, for might
break its back. don't know how To
hold them
She changed her seat and took the
baby. IL stopped its crying and snug
Cling up TO her fell asleep. 1t had beei
good to hear him call her Nora, even
II he was in the company OF hopeless
Is drunken man. They got OIL fal
from her home and from his. He led
the drunkard and she carried the baby
They had not spoken since his com
mand, though she had several times
soothed the little one in a way thai
made IL desperation for him not to tel
her what was in his heart; the hope Ia
had scarcely dared to dream, he miyhl
even think Of daring TO tell.
They climbed two flights to coZy
little hat, where the door was opened
by an old woman. The drunkard was
somewhat revived by his nap and the
walk from the car. Thanking his new
friends for their kindness, he stumbled
into the kitchen 10, as he said, get ain
ner for all.
The old woman explained that year
ago her son had lost his wife. He had
Insisted on taking the baby To visit a
sister. She was to have met him at
the Brooklyn bridge. Evidently they
had not met,
The young people left behind them
the good wishes of the season. With
out asking him where he had found
the unfOrtunates, and fOrgetful OF any
preliminary remarks, she said;
THAT was good in you, Jack
He did not seem to hear the las
word says the New York Times. IL
had lost all his commanding air ant
was crestfalen and fearful.
But | called you Nora"
"And I called you Jack"
Dil he DrOBDSe or did Snpt