The evening Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1902-1902, 1902-09-04
THE GIRL
OPPOSITE.

a Seat. His a-mful Of papers slid to
the floor.
As he stopped to recover them his
glance fell upon the face Of the al
opposite.
It. was delicate and sensitive, fran.
ed in a soft mass Of hair, There Was
something attractive in the otear pal
lOr of her cheeks and the appealing
dfoop of the mouth. Yet Aston
smiled grimIy.
'One of the clinging type that 1
despise, he said to himself. The
kind that sore am alta mouse, and all
women are more or less Of that var
iety. 1t only shows how stubborn
UrsulaiS when she argues that they
have courage. Courage!"
But the girl must have become
conscious OF his conteluptuous scru.
tiny, for flush rose to her cheek and
she turned toward the window. Il hus
admonished, Aston bctook him self
I'd his paper.
He had just buried himself in the
stock quotations when the sheet was
almost torn from his hand. Some one
lurched heavily against him.
He looked up III surprise not un-
mixed with anger, but the aggressor
was already part way up The aisle.
1t was woman, who staggered
blindIy up the car. Now she turn.
ed uneertaiDly so that he could see
her face.
She was no pleasant sight. She
was black-halred, black .browed,
midGle-age and drunk. Dirt aud
Crime had taken all vestige of re-
spectabilty from her shabby
clothes. A rusty black bonnet
was percbed rakishly on the back
OF her head. From beneath this
gray-blaek locks struggled. On
one cheek was the mark Of a bruise.
AS she again ,lurched past. evident
sly CROPPING f9rAthe door. her eyes
were fixed in CLASSY stare. Her
lips mu.tcred unIntelligib1y.
Aston IS ear caught sIsh that
was half a sob. The girl opposite
was gazing at the woman with faci-
mated. tear-dllated ewes. Oilers
10 the car were watching-and
smiling. Now. as lureh of the
train flung her into au empty seat,
there was an audible litter. Not a
hand"as raised 10 help her.
In a moment she was ON her feet
again, but the shock had turned her
round and she began IL second lab
I ored passage up the car.
The girl had sunk into Il miser-
able little heap. Aston watched
Der half pitingly, half anxiously.
Ssh e was just the kind Of a girl to
faint away" lie told himself.
AS the woman passed hs caught
among her nutterings the word
"twenty-third." Evidently that was
the station where she wished to get
off. Some ono would have to help
her. Whol The motorman stood
stolldly Oh the platform between
the cars. Aston cOlnforted himself
the reelection that it was no bushes
of his if a woman got so jolly drunk
that she could uot take care of her.
self. City life superinduces GER
tain hardness.
10 quiet his guilty conscience he
turned again to the girl.
She, two, had caught the word
twenty third" 1t was the next
station. She looked around appeal
ingly. She was the only woman in
the car. The men were engrossed
in their papers Or smiling broadly
at the fun.
Her face whitencd int determine.
tion. She got up hastily and touched
the woman on tie arm. The wretch
ed creature turnc! aggressiyeIy, but
something OF the pain and pity In
tho young face seemed to pierce her
befuddled brain.
"Twenty.third street., shs said
thickly, while fatuous smile spread
over her lace.
"You want 20 get off at Twenty.
third the CIR! repeatedly gently. Yes
l know. l will help you Off,"
Aston spraDg to her side. "Let;
me help he itnplorcd.
The girl turned to HIM detiantly.
No; thank you" she said in cool,
oven tones.
She drew her slcuder figure to its
full height and took the woman. sarm
In hers. As she guided the trembling
figure down the long length of the
car the smiles died away. There was
such unveiled contempt in her flash.
ingeyes that evsry mAn cowlreL.
Aston watched her in shame
faced wonder. This creature of
fine and passion was very different
from the shy girl who had shruuk
from his gaze.
Before he realized the train had
stopped, it had started and 23d
street WAS left far behind. The girl
opposite did not come back to her
seat. She had left the car with her
charge. As he thought OF the gray
eyes that had not tinched during
the journey down the aisle, the sat
listed look of the self-appointed
judge gave place to new humility.
"Alston, l want you to meet Miss
Harcourt," his sister Ursula said as
he stro!led into her drawing room a
night or two later. He saw>a slen-
der figlFe in pale gray and deli
cate face framed in soft hair His
heart gave a great leap.
You have often heard mo speak
of Elizabeth But she broke off
IN astonishment. A slow flush had
crept up to the roots of her BROTH
er's hair, and, turning, she saw it
was wildly reflected in the cheeks
Of the girl at her side.
"Oh, then You have met before2
And l had baen conpratnlatinr INV