The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-07-12

Acious policeman. Tt never had occurred
10 her that her situation was anything
less tHaH refined
Come here. little girl" said the
young woman invitingly. wouldn't
you like to come with me and have a
nice. cool bath2"
Nav" said Ardelia.
You Wouldn't Wei. wouldn't you
like some bread and butter and JAM"
What's JAM" said Ardelia conserva-
lively.
Why, it's-er-marmalad the
young woman explained "Au sweet,
you know"
Now" and Ardelia turned away and
fingered the refuse with an air of fin
ality that caused the young woman to
sigh with vexatiOn.
Il thought you might like to go on
picnic" said she helplessly. 4 thought
all little girls liked"
"Picnic2 When2" cried ArdeHa.
moved instantly to interest. I'm go
i'm"
She brushed the garbage from her
dress and regarded her rescuer impa
tiently.
What's the matter?" she asked. I'm
all ready. Hump along!"
Wen go and ask your mother first,
won't we?" suggested the young wo-
man. a little bewildered.
Jagged" Ardelia returned laconic-
ally. shed lift VT face off yer! Is
It the Dago picnic2"
The young woman shuddered. Seiz-
ing the hand which she Imagined to
have had least to do with the refuse she
led Ardelia away.
Ardelia's origin was shrouded in mys-
J terry At the age Of two months she had
been handed to a policeman by "A scared
leaking boy, who said vaguely that he
found her in the park unser a bench.
The policeman had added her to the
other foundlings waiting that day at
headquarters and carried them 10 the
matrOn of the institution devoted to
their interest. where one of the scrub
bing women named her.
Later she had taken up her residence
with Mrs. Michael Fahey. who had con-
scented TO add 20 her previous income by
this means and at the age OF 4 she be
came the official nurse of Master John
Sullivan Fahey. A terrible hot August.
unlimited cold tea and a habit of play
ing in the gutter in the noon glare
proved too much for her charge and he
died on his third birthday. The ride to
the funeral was the most exciting
event OF Ardelia's life. Mrs. Fahey had
so long regarded her as one of the
family that. though her occupation was
gone and her board was no longer paid.
she was whipped as regularly and
es--sed as cOmprehensively in her foster
mothers periodical sprees as If they
had been closely related.
What time she could spare from help
ing Mrs. Fahey in her somewhat casual
household labor Ardelia spent in play
ing up and down the street with band
of little girls. or. in the very hottest
days. sitting drOwsy and vindictive at
the head Of fight of stone steps that
led into a downstairs saloon. The
damp. fiat, beer-sWeetened air that
rushed out as the men pushed open
the swing doors was cool and refresh
ing TO her; she was in a position to
observe any possible customers at the
three push carts in her line OF vision,
and could rouse d tagging interest in
life by listening to any one of the alter
cations that resOunded from the tene-
ments night and day A policeman
was almost always In sight, and one of
them. Mr.. Halloran, had more than
once given her a penny for lemonade.
In the room above her head an Italian
band praCtiCed every evening. and then
Ardelia was perfectly happy. Often
hurdy- gurdy would station itself at the
corner and Ardelia and the other little
girls would dance about singly and Ia
pairs Ardelia was the Iightest-foOteG
: of them all. her hands held her skirts
out almost gracefully. her thin little
legs flew highest. Sometimes the sa-
loonkeeDer-they called him old
Dutchy' nod approval as Ar
della skipped and pranced and beckOn
her to him mysterioUsly.
you trow your legs goOt." he would
say. 1--WE shall see you already dane
ing. no? Here is an olluf; eat her"
And Ardelia who loved olives to dis
traction would nibble off small. sour,
salty mout hfuls and suck the pit lux
uriously while she listened 70 the Ital-
ian band.
Ardelia's journey to the Settlement
House was one Of interest to her. She
was a silent child and though she did
not understand why the young woman
from the Settlement should cry when
she introduced her to two other wO-
men. nor why so many messages should
be left for her mother and so many To-
cal and general baths administered,
she said very little. She was not ac-
1ustOmed to question fate. and when ii
sent 20 her fried eggs-she re-
fused to eat them boiled-fOr her
breakfast she quietly placed them in
the credit column as opposed to the
baths and held her peace.
Later. arrayed in starched and creak-
ing garments. she was transported to
the station. and for the first time in
troduced 70 the railroad car. She sat
stiffiy on the red plush seat. with fur
tive eyes and Sucked-ln lips, while the
young woman talked reassuringly of
daisies and cows and green grass. As
Ardelia had never seen any of these
things il is hardly surprising that she
was somewhat unenthusiastic; but the
young woman was disappointed by this
lack OF ardOr.
YOU can roll in the daisies, my dear,
and pick an YOU Want-alli' she urged
eagerly. But no answering CLEAN woke
in Ardelia's eyes.
cav right" she answered guardedly
and stared into her lap.
Look out. dear and see the fields
and houses-see that handsome dog.
and see the little pond"
Ardelia shot a quick glance at the
blurrinE green that dizzied her as il
rushed by Then. with a scOwl she re-
sumed the contemplation OF her
starched ginEham lap The sweitering-
~ hot day and the rapid, unaccustomed
motion combined 20 ahlict her with a
strange internal anticipation OF future
woe. once last summer. when she ate
the liquid dregs Of the ice cream mans
great tin and fell asleep in the room
where her mother was frying onions.
she experienced this same forebOding
and the climax Of that dreadful day
fingered yet In her memory. So she set
her teeth and waited with stoical res
f-nation for the end, while the young
woman babbled of green fields and
wondered why the child should be so
sullen.
Al last they stopped. The young
woman seized her hand and led her
through the narrow aisle. down the