Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1903-11-05
BY ellen Page Finn.


had drawn its gaunt lines on all Oh
her environment, but there was a
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 a
small table on which stood a typewrit-
err. A 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-
versity the first food Of the tempter2
But she had struggled bravely, and
the sharp click, click Of her typewrit-
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 a gold medallion of her mother
which she wore around her neck. She
took It in her hand and, as she looked
nto the face so like her own, the
tears came to her eyes again, and,
throwing her head rpon 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,
The laid her hand upon it as If it 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 I
shall get something to do, and then
we will have a royal feast, a fire and
good cheer You and /"
She was interrupted by knock at
the door.
Come In" she called cheerily, and
a man whom she had seen before
came In.
Excuse me, miss" he said not I'M
kindly: "but I come for the pay for
the typewriter. You are two months
behind, and the boss said If you
couldn't pay was to take 1t away"
All the sunshine gone at one short
message; all the hope, all the comfort
he hopeless always find in tomorrow
all gone and with a moan she sank
into the chair by the table.
The collector IN his poor way tried
to cheer her, but she only shook her
head.
Suddenly she dashed the tears from
her eyes, her face grew desperately
ierce and hard, and she shook her
self as if she would be rid Of her
burden.
Come tomorrow morning" she
said harshly, land if have no money
you may take the machine"
"It's contrary to orders, miss, but
I'll 90 that much for a poor girl, even
If I have to suffer for it. Hoping you
will have good luck, miss, good day,
miss" and he went out, wondering
what there was in the face of the girl
he had never seen there before.
An hour later she was in the office
of a broker for whom she had done
some work, and who offered her other
assistance, which she had refused.
When the collector called the next
morning he found the typewriter in
its case waiting for him.
Here's your money" said the girl,
land you may take your machine. |
shall have no further use for it."
The man was curious, and would
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 TO
collect.
Here" she said to him, as she held
out the picture of her mother, you
have always been kind to me. lake
this and give It to your little girl, thst
one with blue eyes like mine, who
came here with you once. Tell he 1t
is the picture of a mother whose lit
tie girl was lost in the great city