Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1903-11-04
stain 6F YELLOW GOLD
By Ellen Pace Finn.

In poor attire she was and poverty
had drawn it's gaunt lines on all OF
her environment, but there was
rich beauty in her face, and the SEN
suous symmetry of figure seemed to
give warmth and color to the thin and
faded gown she wore.
Her little room was high up, and
near its one window she sat by
small table on which stood typewrit-
er. 4 few sheets Of paper were
strewn around, and half page on the
machine showed her work had ended
with no more to follow.
She sat with her hands folded in her
lap-clenched,, if the tense lines were
read aright-and gazed helplessly and
hopelessly out toward the gray SKY
that seemed to come so close down,
and yet was so far away. Tear stains
were on her cheeks where the pink
was fast fading, and what was gentle
in her face was growing harder as she
fought day by day and night by night
the desperate fate that was crowding
her to the wall.
That temptation was, hers could be
easily said, for is not beauty in ad-
yersity the first food of the tempter?
But she had struggled bravely. and
the sharp click, click of her typeWrlt-
er had been sweeter music to her than
the song of the bird in the gilded cage
belonging to the girl who occupied the
suite of elegant apartments on lower
floor.
Still, she could not help thinking,
help contrasting her starvation, her
rags, her dreadful poverty with the
luxury and ease she saw about her,
ready to come at her call.
|. She was cold, hungry and penniless;
the pawnbroker had everything ex-
cept gold medallion of her mother
which she wore around her neck. She
look it in her hand, and, as she looked
into the face so like her own, the
tears came to her eyes again, and
throwing her head. upon her arms on
the typewriter, she sobbed aloud.
FOR an instant only she gave way
to- her feelings; then she rose to her
feet and, standing by her typewriter,
she laid her hand upon it as If 1t were
sentient and knew.
BE still now if you will, my dear"
she said to it smiling. "but tomorrow
you may click again, for know l
shall get something to do. and then
we will have a royal feast, fire and
good cheer. You and =
She was Interrupted by knock at
the door.
Come in she called cheerily, and
man whom she had seen before
came in.
Excuse me, miss" he said, not un'
kindly: but | come for the pay for
| he typewriter. You are two months
behind. and the boss said If you
couldn't pay l was to take it away"
All the sunshine gone at one short
message: all the hope. all the comfort
he hopeless always find in to-morro"
all gone, and with moan she sanR
;nto the chair by the table.
The collector in his poor way trieo
o cheer her, but she only shook hel
| ,ead.
Suddenly she dashed the tears from
Ter eyes, her face grew desperately
erce and hard, and she shook her
self as if she would be rid of hel
burden.
Come tomorrow morning" she
said harshly. "and if have no none!
you may take the machine
"It's contrary to orders, miss, but
ri do that much for Il poor girl, ever
| If ] have to suffer for it. Hoping vol
will have good luck, miss, good day
miss" and he went out, wondering
what there was in the face of the cir
he had never seen there before.
An hour later she was in the office
| of broker for whom she had done
some work, and who offered her othel
assistance, which she had refused.
When the collector called the mex
morning he found the typewriter II
it's case waiting for him.
Here's your money" said the girl
"and you may take your machine.
shall have no further use for it"
The man was curious, and woult
have questioned her, but her eyes for
babe either curiosity or sympathy
and he turned to go out with the ma
chine and the money he had come tx
collect.
Here" she said to him, as she helt
out the picture Of her mother, "yol
have always been kind to me. Take
this and give it to your little girl. the
one with blue eyes like mine, wiz
came here with you once. Tell htL i
Is the picture of a mother whose 1T
tie girl was lost in the great city
That is all; goodby."