, 1902-10-02

III vi NlHt III lnG ldlNE@. " II NlGN
lifted him IN. blood was lowing from A
cut on b;s temnle and instantly tbe sa.
lion ropg with oatbe and excIamations
Sobered by thu. shock. the girl give "A
low cry and knoll; Tx her unconscious
father. KISSING his hands and holding
Them ia her check with "A gesture al.
most motherly in its tenderness The
abuse nf the wnmen who crowded
around she bore with a kind of fierce
DIGNITY OILY when. after a~rranpinr
that Merrrjdew should remain with the
oId man Austen was obou, to leave in
seorch NJ "a coh her moutb ouivered as
sbe looked around the ring of angry
faces
sLet me come with you!" she said
family. Austen bowed assent, and
Needless of the ieers of the ,rowa they
passcd out together in the darkness.
The rain had opped or rather turned
info that mixture of frost and fog known
only TO ond in November: raw,
trimming opaoue. II cnrulfed them as
they STAINED into its nall of silence
put your arm in mine. unless YOU
will 20 back" said Austen briefly, and
for answer felt tn. girls hand upou his
| sleeve. For twenty minutes or so they
crept along. Austen feeling his WAY b,
the Rulings and puIded by the mufIied
| sounds that came to them through he
steaminr rawness. Sbaddowy slipshod
forms psssed them. oatbs. and ribald
F. words struck them ike blows. and Aus.
ten forgot his crrand, forgot The beauti
ful figure by his side, in the vearning of
| his soul to wash this great people from
their fuulncss.
At length as the fog grew densnr. the
glimmcring lights less frequent. Austen
stopped. II think / have taken a wrong
turning" he said apoligeticalIy: We
ought To have struck the Mile End
Road long ago. am sorry YOU have 10
walk so far"
The girl made no answer. Austen
could dimly see her white face turned
to him beautiful and tragic IN it's dis
pair. For another half hour they drag
ged on till a belated hanson frnnted
them through the gloom. and tine driver
upon being hailed by Austen told them
that they were .arr wye To Bishopsglt,"
and that he would drive them West.
but not East. AS his stables we're in
Westminster.
Where do YOU livcf' Austen asked.
turning 10 the girl. 81 fear we cannot
get back 10 the your father;
my friend will see to him till the morn
ing
I'VE have NO home she said stopilv.
We were turned out of our rooms this
morning for owing three weeks rent
| have broken his heart and now | have
killed him. Oh! father. rathrr!'
Austen thought she was about 10
faint and half helped. half lifted her in.
to the cab. .'l23. Victoria Street he
said to the cahmcn. and a sovereign
il you get there
The girl leaned back with closed ewes:
at length she spoke nhrnutlv. II
you must think mc all that is bad. |
am bad; for | have broken my old faith.
er's heart, lost my engagement at the
Opera, ruined our lives by my love ion
drink she paused, then laughed brok.
emily. what would o have?" she
said. My mother died from drink
when ! was not a year old NJ" as
Austen would have spoken. DIDN'T ex
cuse me. | am as bad as | can be. only
wanted you to know that | am not o..
that | have always been about with him.
and he :" She broke down. un.
able TO finish her %sentance.
Turning to her Austen lifted his hat,
and the lamp burning behind them,
showed her his grave. strong face, his
tender. serious eyes. 81 am taking YOU