Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-08-24

SlalFS. feFndpS tue SGlic Sniiu ooSoA stay there very long. but there'll always be children to fill it-more's the cruel pity!
 Then the bishop and I climbed up there to see it and plan about it. But I couldn't really see it, Mag, nor the poor. white-faced, wise-eyed little waifs that have succeeded us, for the tears in my eyes and the ache at my heart and the queer trick the place has of being peopled with you and me, and the boy with the gouged eye, and the cripple, and the rest.
 He put his gentle thin old arm about my shoulders for a moment when he saw what was the matter with me Oh, he understands, my bishop. And then we turned to go downstairs.
 "Oh-I want-I want to do some thing for them" I cried. T want to do something that counts, that's got heart in it, that knows! You knew, didn't you, it was true-what said downstairs? Iwas-I am Cruelty girl. Help me to help others like me-
 My dear" he said, very stately and sweet, ''Ill be proud to be your assist ant. You've kind, true heart and
 And just at that minute. as was pre- ceding him down the narrow steps, girl in a red coat trimmed with chin chilla and in red toque with some of the same fur blocked our way as she was coming up.
 We looked at each other. You've seen two peacocks spread their tails and strut as they pass each other? Well, the peacock coming up wasn't in it with the one going down. Her coat wasn't so fine, nor so heavy. nor so newly, smartly cut Her toque wasn't so big nor so saucy and the fur on it-not to mention that the descending peacock was brunette and well, Mag, I had my day. Miss Evelyn Kingdom paid me back in that minute for all the envy I've spent on that pretty rig Of 1 hers
 She didn't recognize me, of course, even though the two red coats were so 1 near, as she stopped to let me pass, that they kissed like sisters, ere they parted | But Mag, Nancy Olden never got naughty that there wasn't fall waiting for her. Back of Miss Kingdom stood ] Mrs Kingdon-still Mrs. Kingdom. 1 thanks to Nance Olden-and behind 1 her, at the foot of the steps, was a frail little old-fashioned bundle of black satin and old lace. I lost my ! breath when the bishop hailed his wife
 Maria he said-some men say their wives first names all the years of ! their lives as they said them on their wedding day-'I want you to meet Miss Olden-Nance Olden, the come dian She's the girl I wanted for my 1 daughter-you'll remember, it's more than a year ago now since began to i talk about herr"
 1 l held my breath while I waited for her answer. But her poor. short sighted eyes rested on my hot face without sign.
 Its an old joke among us," she said, pleasantly, about the bishops 1 daughter"
 We stood there and chatted, and the bishop turned away to speak to Mrs. Kingdon. Then seized my l chance.
 I've heard, Mrs. Van Wagenen," said. softly, and oh, as nicely 9as~ could, of your fondness for lace We are going abroad in the spring, my husband and l. to Malta. among other places. Can't I get you a piece there as a souvenir of the bishops kindness to me?"
 Her little lace-mittened. parchment like hands clasped and unclasped with an almost childish eagerness.
 "Oh, thank you, thank you very much; but if you would give the same sum to charity"
 II will" I laughed. She couldn't guess how glad was to do this thing And I'll spend just as much on your lace and be so happy if you'll accept It."
 I promised Henrietta a box for to- night, Maggie, and one to Mrs. King. don. The dowager told me shed loys to come, though her husband is out of town, unfortunately, she said.
 But you'll come with me, won you, bishop?" she said, turning to hin And you, Mrs. Van?"
 The bishop blushed. Was he think ing of Beryl 1 wonder. But I didn' hear his answer, for it was at tha .loment that I caught Fred's voice .Ie had told ne he was going to cal for me think he fanciei that th old Cruelty would depress me-a dreams of 1t have, you know; and b wanted to come and carry me ava from 1t. just as al night. when rv walked shivering and moaning, I've fe his dear arms lifting me out of tn black nigb-memory of it
 But it was anything but dolefV Nance he hound and hurried down th snowy steps out to a hanson and O to rehearsal For the bishop had sai to me: God bless you. child" whe he shook hands with both of us parting. and the very Cruelty scene to smile a grim benedIction, as W drove on together, on Fred and
 SANCY O.
 THE END.