Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1905-08-26
THE ONLY SMITH,

She shivered through the Strand under
the black arch of the sky. The mighty,
onrushing human tide swept about her
unheeding while she hungered. Han
SONS ciattered up in long procession to
the garish fronts of the theaters. Well
grOomed men handed out laughter-light.
gayly-dressed women, too intent on their
pleasures to look into the girls white.
drawn face and see the woe in her eyes.
On she walked shivering, hungry, with
body weary for rest. with heart empty
of hope. The cold sliced through her
clothing and cut into her flesh razor
keen. Three weeks ago the play in
which she had small part had come to
an end. Now she was in the streets,
without money for a lodging. foodless.
NumbneSS crept upon her like par
alysis 1t was difficult for her to keep
her limbs in motion.
She came to Westminster bridge. Over
the parapet she could see the embank
ment lights change the snow into glitter
ing tranSparencies of silver as the White
flakes rustled down into the deep, still
water She shuddered as she leaned over
the parapet and glared dull-eyed into the
gistening depths.
She thought she heard voice call to
her out of the water. 1t seemed to say,
Come. Come nOw!'
her heart in a riot she glared into the
river. She seemed to hear the whisper
sI'Il come" she cried. hoarsely. 1t
was a cry hoarse ana poignant. She
thought of it only as an answering
whisper.
A man rushed out of the gloom from
a point not ten yards away. An instant
later she felt her shoulders gripped.
I -hYa1 fnOf
with young manhood, sought her fright
ened eyes.
mo, no." said the man. Don't do
that" His tone was pleading, compass
sionate. Come away from the river
Without waiting for an answer he
slipped his arm through hers and drew
her away. She went with him as one
walking in a dream.
lit is better 20 come away said the
man in a gentle voice. 1T is all a mis-
take, that, l can see it now. You saved
me"
Saved you?' was the faint question
ing.
Eyes: | came, too-just for that
There seemed no other way. The hope
had gone. The despair had come. 1t
had got the grip of me. I'm glad you
saved me. Why were you going to do
it?'
II was destitute. shivering with cold
and hungry. Do you know what it is to
struggle and fall and suffer-"
DO | know what it is?" he repeated,
quivering Il know it right to the mad
ness that makes you give up wishing for
life. I've borne all. I've suffered all.
But for you l would have ended all.
When a woman gives up it's sign to
man that he can live longer You've
taught me to know myself That's it,"
He led her on. Across the bridge he
drew her toward the door of cook
shop. The steam ooZing out from the
cooking pans into the outer air was n
welcome odor to her. She was so fam
ished now that she could have eaten Il
crust from the gutter. Yet when her
companion tried to pull her through the
door she drew her arm away quickly.
He stole his hand into his pocket to feel
the milled edge of his shilling. He want
ed to make sure it was there. 1t was
the last he had in all the world.
Come along" he entreated. you're
hungry-and cold. You can't refuse
food. And there's warmth, too. With
that great grid, and the gases lit it must
be splendid inside. Come along. I've
plenty of money He tried TO maintain
the fiction by maintaining the smile
It's not true" She said. Her eyes
were dim, her mouth in CULVER. You
know it's not true You're hungry and
shivering-just like me-
He turned his face away from her.
and answered nothing, bu. drew her al
most roughly into the shop. and there
gave her to eat.
You're the kindest man | have ever
known. she said. after a while. with her
voice in tears. Only good men are kind
and chivairouS. and Eerciful To women.
Tell me your name, will you? iii like to
remember it. IL want TO write il on
my heart"
"Oh. I'm only q man named Smith.
I've been round and round and round
again wearing out stone steps by walk
ing up and down them. Plays, books,
articles, StorIes-always the same. I'm
only Smith-declined with thanks. some
times without thanks" His lips quiv-
cred a while, and then hardened to a
straight line.
They came out of the cookshop To-
gether into the cold night They were
not shivering now. For both Of them
the world looked brighter The snow
had ceased. Here and there ,lbove them
they could see the stars shining ont.
Where are you gong o. rest tc-
nisht:' he asked furtively He had
SiNpenCe left.