The Savannah morning news., 1903-01-25

turned home, my brain in a fever and
my spirits at zero.
The dinner, you may as well know,
had been in honor of myself, and my
self being Scotch, mine host had
thought to please me by ordering a
dish of haggis, forgetting, poor man
that to be asked to eat haggis on tenn
perate principles to the accompani-
ment of ice water is as much as to be
asked to sign your death warrant. No
wonder I was feeling restless and de-
Jectedi Pausing a moment before at
tempting to cross a street, and ponder
ing over the amount of Vicarious suf-
fering in this world, I suddenly be-
came aware of the presence of girl
beside me. She looked troubled and
concerned and something prompted me
to speak to her. l cannot tell you
what it was as l think of her now,
there was certainly nothing specially
prepossessing in her appearance, at
least as regards first impressions. Her
clothes were mean and shabby-but in
color quiet. over her arm she carried
a large basket which was partially hid
den by a small cloak carelesSly thrown
around her She was rather under the
average hight-if / remember rightly
slim, dark hair, dark eyes and sal
low complexion. Her mouth was large
but at the same time, flexible and ex-
pressive. / saw she was scrutinizing
me somewhat narrowly and I made
bold to ask her what was the mat
ter.
II have lost my way, SIR" she re-
piled in accents wonderfully soft. 1
found myself growing interested in the
girl She could not have been more
than 10.
Where do you live?" I said.
She gave me her address. 1t was I'M
known to me.
II wish 1 could direct you" 1 said,
but 1 am a stranger here. You will
allow me however to call a hanson"
"But-but-I have no money, she
faltered. II left it at home by mis-
take"
"Do not trouble about the money"
I said CALAMITY. 81 myself shall see
you home"
"Ah, sir, thank you, thank you.
You are indeed kind" and with a lit
tie touching gesture, she laid her dis
engaged hand in mine. l called a
hanson, helped my companion to n
seat, and soon we were whirling along
goodness knows where. twas now quite
dark and I felt curiously excited. My
present position struck me as decided
~ OAN VI tic WHO WAS ILLS
girl that she should trust me so COM
pletely? In Scotland, l reflected, we
were more cautious. Supposing l had
been robber! a william! murderer!
What possibility could there have been
of escape for her?-None! 1 glanced
at her a moment wondering If l could
detect the same thought in her face
but she sat motionless, her eyes fixed
ahead.
Can not relieve you of your bask-
ETY. I asked, bending towards her.
mo, no. please not, it is very light"
But may not put it down for
you?"
mo. pIease-please not" and she
clasped the basket tightly, fearing, l
suppose, poor child, that 1 would take
1t from her by force. l repented of
what had said and sat still. On and
on we ratified until 1 began to think the
cabman had lost his way. 1 ventured
to express my misgivtng to my COM
panion. She looked out of the window
and assured me it was all right. We
went on like this for well-nigh twenty
minues before the hanson was
stopped. The night was bitterly cold
and fog was slowly, but steadily en-
veloping all around in a misty dark
ness. In an hour or so, it would be
impenetrable; just now it was bad
SAOuSh' JuiupcO Oh 10 the pavement
and lifted the girl down. In doing so
knocked against the basket and it
fell to the ground with a dull thud.
ALLOW me-" said, STOPPING to pick
1t up, but she was before me. l held
out my hand to her. You are sure
this is where you liver" 1 asked, anx-
ious, / hardly knew why, to defer my
departure.
quite sure" she replied, and then
with a most winning smile and a most
captivating manner she begged me to
accompany her upstairs in order that
her father might have the privilege of
thanking me personally for my kind
ness. At first 1 hesitated, but even
tually L yielded to her entreaties, dis
missed the hanson, and followed my
guide. Owing to the fog and to the
absence of all light. 1 was obliged to
crepe my way, but after stumbling
once or twice my companion gave me
her hand, and we went up and up
what seemed to me-interminable
stairs. My feet began to ache, and
there was a curious sensation of dizzi-
ness in my head.
Are we nearly there?" 1 asked,
painting.
Eyes, nearly there" and the girl
laughed merrily, probably amused at
my faint-heartedness. I'VE live right
at the top Of the house." she explain
ed. 1T is brighter and breezier there"
made no answer and we climbed on
without further comment. After two
or three minutes we came to a dead
halt.
Il think perhaps we had better go
alone here" said my companion.
"Why?" asked, not quite relishing
the idea of losing my one friend.
"Because the stairs are much mar
rover" replied the girl. "If you are
afraid, stay where you are and l will
go and bring a light"
"Oh, am not afraid" said prompt
ly. Il am willing to follow you
wherever you CO." and stimulated by
the worlds, l went on. 1t was a most
curious experience. Had it been light.
should certainly have laughed, but
the darkness made all the difference.
am really not a coward by nature,
but l must confess at that moment
heartily wished myself back in the
city.
Suddenly a sound arrested my at
tention. My companion had tripped.
Thudl thud! thudi Where had 1 heard
that noise before? Thud! thud-and
all the while it seemed to be coming
nearer me. Ah-hl The basket! the
basket! The girl must have dropped
1t. Quick to act, put out my hand to
stop its progress downstairs. 1 touch
ed something, and it was cold and
clammy! l drew back my hand with
curious revulsion of feeling, and the
blood seemed to freeze in my veins.
Meanwhile the girl had reached a
door and opening it she called to me:
Here we are, sir Come in and I
shall call my father"
must NOT CT cola A