Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-12-03
HER HEARTS DESIRE

mot often is there any element OF iuh IL
connection with misplaced charity. SAID
travelling government official. But there
was some fun as a sequel to an incident III
which l myself was joint almoner at IN
dependence, Mo-. some months ago Inc
stories appearing recently in the Washins-
ton papers about the woman In the reo
hat a mysterious female possessing Inc
acquisitive knack. remind me OF IT,
IA train on which I was riding was
stalled at Independence. Mo-. for three
days between couple of washouts. we
had no sooner got into Independence than
a torrential rain storm broke. causing the
track washouts to the front and rear
Independence. Mo-, is no very hilarious
ly diverting community. but we did the
best we could. That is to say, we stroiieo
about the town in the mud. looking Tor
things to eat, for the dining car larder Oh
our train gave out on the first day OF our
enforced stay on the Independence siding.
independence isn't strong on restaurants,
but succeeded in arriving at compost
tons and dickers with private natives TOT
meals, and these natives made gooo
thing of it.
MY pal on these foraging expeditions
was the auditor for big western rail-
road. He was travelling through Missouri
ing the monotonous stay in Independence
was a thing of value to me. for l had
known him for good many years.
I'm parading around the streets OF Inde-
pendence on the second day, our attention
was attracted by the window display of a
little millinery store. The display con-
sisted Of single piece of feminine head
gear 1t was about the most ornate red
turban that / ever saw before or since. 1t
was of crimson velvet, bordered, front.
sides and back, with a heavy mass of gilt
fligree work, and 1t was labeled '$15.' 1t
was. say, the only hat in the millinery
window, and my friend, the auditor. and
stared at it for long while. We wondered
what possible use any Independence woman
would ever have for a Empowering of that
splendiferous character. and we wondered
If it would ever be sold.
$50 for the premise and the Introduction
of the red hat. All Of the passengers on
the train. we found upon comparing notes.
had noticed that red hat on their strolls
about town, and all had marveled over 1t
and wondered If 1t would ever find buyer
in Independence. Mo. :
ION the second day of our tie-up on the
Independence siding one of the women pas
sengers observed the plight Of a meanly-
dressed young woman who was riding on
second-class ticket. The girl was plainly
Of mountaineer extra ction, and she was
bound for the Ozark country after a visit
with relatives in Iowa. She wore q ging-
ham dress that was broken at many of It's
seams, and a sunbonnet to match that in
dicated great deal Of hard usage. She
was not bad-looking girl, but her skin
was hard and yellow. and she did not look
well nourished.
One of the women passengers discover
ed that this girl was getting nothing to
eat The girl would go Off on strolls
through the town. but she did not attempt
to make any terms with Independence folks
for food and on the second day she looked
SO pallid and weak that she attracted the
attention Of the kindly woman passenger
The Samaritan in skirts got into converse
ton with the ginghamed girl, who said
ho bo1
the pride of the poor, which pracIudei the
possibility of her notifying her fellow pas-
seneers of her plight.
The kindly woman passenger first took
the girl to a private house and purchased
her good square meal. Then. returnirg
with the girl to the train the kindly wo-
man approached the auditor. my friend. as
being perhaps the most important: individ-
uai on board. and told him of the girl
situation.
Gwen start little subscription through
out the train and get enough to see the
girl through to her journeys end, said
the auditor at once.
He Clipped in the first subscription, /
the second. and then the paper was passed
through the train. Most of the passengers
men and women. appeared to be poor folk
but they all gave what they could toward
helping the penniless girl, so that at the
end of the last car the sum In hand was
handed over to the kindly woman passen-
ger. who approached the ginghamed girl
with 1t.
my DEAR she said to the young wo-
man. here is little change which Will en-
able you to get through to your destina-
ton without further distress. You need
feel no hesitation In accepting 1t. We are
all liable to know the hand Of want at
some time in our lives
''The girl took the money. somewhat gin
serly, but with obvious gratitude.
About an hour later. at the hour when
the other passengers were leaving the STALL
ed train to dig around In search Of sup
per, the girl left the train
when she wandered back to the train,
about dusk, she was wearing that scrump-
tiferous SIS red turban. and looking as
proud as peacock in itr'